An Indian tourist who spent nearly ₹1.3 lakh on shopping in Japan is facing a customs dilemma after discarding all purchase receipts, according to a Reddit post shared this week. The traveller bought clothes, shoes, manga, figurines, stationery, chocolates, toys, and video game discs during the trip. The issue arose upon return to India due to the lack of receipts for the goods purchased, as per livemint.com.
The traveller asked on Reddit if there would be any trouble at customs for carrying goods worth ₹1.3 lakh without receipts. The post sparked a discussion on India's customs regulations, particularly the rules for goods brought by travellers from abroad. Under the Baggage Rules 2026, Indian residents returning from foreign countries have a duty-free allowance of ₹75,000 for goods carried on their person or in accompanied baggage, an increase from the previous ₹50,000 limit, according to livemint.com.
This allowance also applies to tourists of Indian origin and certain other passenger categories, including foreigners with valid visas. Since the traveller’s purchases exceed the ₹75,000 duty-free limit and receipts are missing, customs officials may require proof of purchase or impose duties on the excess value. The situation highlights the importance of retaining receipts to avoid complications during customs clearance, especially when shopping abroad.
The revised baggage allowance of ₹75,000 came into effect under the Baggage Rules 2026, aiming to ease the customs process for travellers. The traveller’s case has drawn attention to the practical challenges faced by Indians returning from overseas with high-value goods and no documentation to verify their purchase price.