Vipin Upadhyay Shares Insights on India’s Smartphone Import Duties and Pricing

Vipin Upadhyay was quoted by News18 India in its article, “iPhone Duo: How A $1,999 iPhone In The US Costs Rs 3 Lakh In India.”

Explaining the tax structure applicable to imported smartphones, Vipin noted that India’s import duty operates through multiple components rather than a single flat rate. He explained that the 15% Basic Customs Duty (BCD) is supplemented by a 10% Social Welfare Surcharge on the BCD, followed by 18% IGST calculated on the assessable value along with the applicable BCD and surcharge. According to him, this compounding effect results in an effective landed cost of approximately 37–38% above the base price, rather than simply 15%.

Vipin further clarified that the difference between the landed cost and the final retail MRP should not be attributed entirely to customs duties. He noted that the final price also reflects mandatory compliance costs, including BIS certification and e-waste Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations, as well as distribution and after-sales service costs incurred once the device enters the Indian market.

His comments provide context on the various components that contribute to the price difference between smartphones sold in the US and India.

Read the full article here: https://www.news18.com/business/economy/iphone-duo-how-a-1999-iphone-in-the-us-costs-rs-3-lakh-in-india-ws-l-10327382.html 

Last Updated on 23 September, 2026