Importing Leather Shoes to India in 2025? Here’s What You’ll Pay in Duties & Taxes

Cybex Exim Solutions
Jul 31
2 min read

India’s demand for international luxury products, especially leather shoes, continues to grow in 2025. Whether you're an importer, footwear dealer, or a buyer of branded shoes from abroad, understanding India’s leather shoe import duty structure is crucial for cost planning and compliance.

What Is the Import Duty on Leather Shoes in India?

Leather footwear imports are taxed based on the CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight). As per India’s 2025 customs structure, the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on leather shoes typically ranges from 10% to 15%. Other taxes include:

IGST (Integrated GST): 18%
Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS): 10% on the BCD
Countervailing Duties: Applied in special cases (luxury, anti-dumping, etc.)

The combined tax burden typically falls between 28% and 35% of the total CIF value.

Example Calculation: Leather Shoe Import to India

If you import 100 pairs of leather shoes at ₹2,000 per pair CIF:

Total CIF Value: ₹2,00,000
BCD (10%): ₹20,000
SWS (10% of BCD): ₹2,000
IGST (18% of ₹2,22,000): ₹39,960
Total Cost with Taxes: ₹2,61,960

That means you're paying about 31% in total duties and taxes on your imports. If the footwear is luxury-classified or branded, you could be taxed even more.

Importing Branded or Luxury Leather Footwear

Leather shoes priced over ₹5,000 per pair may be classified as luxury goods by Indian customs, especially if they are branded imports. In such cases:

Duty rates may increase
Brand verification and invoice scrutiny are common
Importers may need to provide origin declarations and full documentation

To avoid complications, consult with a licensed customs broker and check Cybex’s Import Alerts.

Taxes on Leather Belts, Wallets, and Accessories

If you’re importing belts, wallets, or leather bags with shoes, note that they are also taxable. Most leather accessories have a 10–15% BCD, plus IGST, making the total tax similar to footwear.

How to Check Duties Before Importing

To make accurate financial decisions:

Confirm the right HS Code
Use Cybex’s Leather Product Import Data tool
Monitor updates from DGFT and the Customs Tariff Act
Get country-specific duty breakdowns via trade dashboards

Cybex offers real-time, HS-code–based import data to help you forecast duties and track market trends with precision.

Conclusion: Import Smart with Verified Data

With the 2025 customs structure, staying informed about import taxes on leather shoes is vital. From CIF-based calculations to IGST and luxury item classification, every detail matters.

Whether you're importing for resale or personal use, avoid hidden costs by using verified tools and trade intelligence.

Source for this blog:https://www.cybex.in/custom-data/import-export/all-countries/product-shoes-leather

For complete insights, duty calculators, and real-time data on India’s leather shoe imports, visit www.cybex.in.