Heading · Chapter 85 · Section XVI, Machinery and mechanical appliances

HS 8531Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 8530

Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles

Customs duty
0% to 10%
6 tariff items
GST now
18%
or 5% for some goods
Import policy
Free
Export policy
Free
Unit
kg or units
Duty in China
0% to 10%
On Indian goods
Search codesRates as on 19 Oct 2026

Codes under this heading

4 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.

Codes under this code
CodeDescriptionCustoms dutyGST nowUnit
8531 10Burglar or fire alarms and similar apparatus10%18%units
8531 20 00Indicator panels incorporating liquid crystal devices (LCD) or light-emitting diodes (LED)Free18%units
8531 80 00Other apparatus10%18%units
8531 90 00Parts10%18%kg

Importing into India

Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 6 tariff items: 0% to 10%. The rules below cover this whole code.

Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty

None in force on this code as on 19 Oct 2026.

Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items

  • Free: 6 tariff items

GST

IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.

  • Now 18%, or 5% for some goods.
  • Until 21 September 2025 18%, or 12% for some goods.
  • Change: Unchanged.

The rules that set it now

GST rate rules in force
NotificationGoodsRate
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 503Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 853018%
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 437Following renewable energy devices and parts for their manufacture:- (a) Bio-gas plant; (b) Solar power-based devices; (c) Solar power generator; (d) Wind mills, Wind Operated Electricity Generator (WOEG); (e) Waste to energy plants / devices; (f) Solar lantern / solar lamp; (g) Ocean waves/tidal waves energy devices/plants; (h) Photo voltaic cells, whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels. Explanation:- If the goods specified in this entry are supplied, by a supplier, along with supplies of other goods and services, one of which being a taxable service specified in the entry at S. No. 38 of the Table mentioned in the notification No. 8/2017- Integrated Tax (Rate), dated 28th June, 2017 [G.S.R. 683(E)], the value of supply of goods for the purposes of this entry shall be deemed as seventy per cent. of the gross consideration charged for all such supplies, and the remaining thirty per cent. of the gross consideration charged shall be deemed as value of the said taxable service5%
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 387Parts suitable for use solely or principally with power driven pumps primarily designed for handling water, namely, centrifugal pumps (horizontal and vertical), deep tube-well turbine pumps, submersible pumps, axial flow and mixed flow vertical pumps18%
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 473E-waste Explanation.- For the purpose of this entry, E-waste means electrical and electronic equipment listed in Schedule I of the E- Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 (published in the Gazette of India vide G.S.R. 338 (E) dated the 23rd March, 2016), whole or in part if discarded as waste by the consumer or bulk consumer18%

History

GST rate history
PeriodRateNotification
Until 21 Sep 202512% or 18%1/2017-Central Tax (Rate)
From 22 Sep 20255% or 18%9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)

Exporting from India

Export duty

Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.

Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)

All Industry Rates of duty drawback under this heading
Drawback itemGoodsRateCap
8531Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 85301%—

Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 19 Oct 2026.

Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items

  • Free: 6 tariff items

China: the same goods (8531)

China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 6 in force and 4 expired under 8531. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.

China's tariff for these goods
China codeGoodsDuty on Indian goodsMFNImport VATExport rebateLicences
8531.10.00.00Burglar or fire alarms and similar apparatus防盗或防火报警器及类似装置10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)10%13%13%AL
8531.20.00.00Display panels with LCD or LED有液晶装置或发光管的显示板0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)0%13%13%None
8531.80.10.00Buzzer蜂鸣器10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)10%13%13%None
8531.80.90.00Other electrical sound or visual signalling apparatus其他电气音响或视觉信号装置0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)0%13%13%None
8531.90.10.00Parts for burglar, fire and similar alarms防盗、防火及类似装置用零件0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)0%13%13%None
8531.90.90.00Parts of other sound or visual signalling apparatus其他音响或视觉信号装置用零件0%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)0%13%13%None
  • India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
  • The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.

China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.

Nearby codes

Previous8530Electrical signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for railways, tramways, roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installations or airfields (other than those of heading 8608)One level upChapter 85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articlesNext8532Electrical capacitors, fixed, variable or adjustable (pre-set)

Sources

For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.