HS code 9401 covers chairs, seats, and office furniture. These attract BCD 20% and IGST 18%, giving a total effective duty of approximately 41%. Anti-dumping duty may apply to certain Chinese-origin furniture.
Quick answer: HS code 9401 covers office chairs, swivel chairs, aircraft seats, and other seating furniture. BCD: 20%. IGST: 18%. Social Welfare Surcharge: 10% of BCD. Total effective duty: approximately 41% on CIF value. No mandatory pre-import licence. Anti-dumping duty may apply on some Chinese wood-based furniture.
HS code 9401 covers seats and parts thereof. 94013000 covers office chairs and swivel chairs. 94012000 covers aircraft seats. 94016900 covers other seats with wooden frames. 94036000 covers wooden furniture including storage units. Knock-down (flat-pack) furniture is classified the same as assembled furniture.
Metal furniture uses HS 9403. Wooden tables and desks use HS 9403. Mattresses use HS 9404. Upholstery fabric uses HS 5407/5408. Correct classification between seating (9401) and other furniture (9403) affects duty only marginally as most furniture attracts 20% BCD.
Related resources: find HS codes for other products, startup and office imports to Bengaluru.
Total effective duty on CIF value = BCD + SWS (10% of BCD) + IGST on (CIF + BCD + SWS). For HS code 9401, BCD is 20% and IGST is 18%.
| Duty Component | Rate | On ₹300,000 CIF (30 office chairs) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Customs Duty (BCD) | 20% | ₹60,000 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) | 10% of BCD | ₹6,000 |
| IGST | 18% | ₹65,880 |
| Total Customs Duty | ~44.0% of CIF | ₹131,880 |
Note: CBIC has levied anti-dumping duty on certain Chinese office chairs in the past. Check current DGTR notification status before ordering. Your CHA verifies ADD applicability for your specific product and manufacturer.
Furniture does not qualify for EPCG unless used as capital goods in export production (e.g., BPO or export-oriented manufacturing unit). Generic office furniture for domestic operations does not qualify.
Use our import duty calculator to compute exact landed cost for your shipment.
No mandatory pre-import licence for chairs and furniture. Anti-dumping duty may apply to certain Chinese-origin furniture — verify current DGTR notifications.
No mandatory import licence is required for chairs, seats, and office furniture. Standard customs clearance applies with commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, IEC code, and GST registration.
CBIC has levied anti-dumping duty on certain Chinese office chairs in the past. Check current DGTR notification status before ordering. Your CHA verifies ADD applicability for your specific product and manufacturer.
For retail sale, furniture must display: product description, material composition, country of origin, MRP in Indian rupees, and importer name/address.
Need help with compliance? check your compliance requirements or read our customs clearance guide.
Typical lead time: 30–40 days via FCL sea freight from China.
Our customs clearance guide explains each step in detail. For Bengaluru-bound cargo, we clear at BLR airport (6–12 hours for green channel air freight) or ICD Whitefield (2–4 days for sea freight).
Office chairs and seats (HS 9401) attract BCD 20%, SWS 2%, and IGST 18% — total effective duty approximately 41% on CIF value. The same applies to modular desks (HS 9403) and storage furniture. Wood-based furniture may face additional anti-dumping duty if originating from China.
CBIC has levied anti-dumping duty on certain Chinese office chairs in the past. Check current DGTR notification status before ordering. Your CHA verifies ADD applicability for your specific product and manufacturer.
FCL (20ft or 40ft) is standard for furniture due to volume. A 40ft container fits approximately 50–80 office chairs depending on packaging. LCL is used for smaller orders (5–15 chairs). Air freight is rare for furniture due to weight and volume.
Yes. Flat-pack (knock-down) furniture is classified identically to assembled furniture under HS 9401/9403. Same duty applies. Importers must ensure clear description of the complete article on the Bill of Entry, not individual components.
Modular furniture and kitchen units (HS 9403) attract BCD 20%, SWS 2%, IGST 18% — same 41% effective duty as chairs. Wood-based kitchen furniture may attract anti-dumping duty from China. Verify with your CHA before placing order.
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