US Import Duty

nordicstyle · Feb 19, 2009

Originally Posted by jcc123

U.S. Customs will tax anything larger than $200 for personal use. In order to avoid such nonesense just ask whoever is sending you the merchandise to put on the customs declaration amount less than $200 U.S. and make sure to label "For personal use".

You're complaining over a $200 import limit before tax? Try paying 25% VAT on anything imported worth more than $30... (Oh, and the shipping company usually charges $20 or so for "processing").

Labeling stuff with "no commercial value", "product sample", "gift", "for personal use", etc. is fraud, by the way.

jcc123 · Feb 19, 2009

Originally Posted by nordicstyle

You're complaining over a $200 import limit before tax? Try paying 25% VAT on anything imported worth more than $30... (Oh, and the shipping company usually charges $20 or so for "processing").

Labeling stuff with "no commercial value", "product sample", "gift", "for personal use", etc. is fraud, by the way.

I think you're confused. Saying something $2000 is worth $200 is fraud. Saying that it's for personal use is not since that's what its used for. I'm not reselling it as most of the people here aren't.

apropos · Feb 20, 2009

Originally Posted by triniboy27

Yes. FedEx will most likely charge you a handling fee.
My gosh - then what is the seller paying for?

Keroberos · Feb 20, 2009

Originally Posted by NukeMeSlowly

This thread has got me nervous since I have some Loakes on the way.

What method does Pediwear use to ship to the US?

Royal Mail.

TRINI · Feb 20, 2009

Originally Posted by triniboy27

Yes. FedEx will most likely charge you a handling fee.

Originally Posted by apropos

My gosh - then what is the seller paying for?

My point is that FedEX and other such shippers will go out of their way to make sure it goes through customs so that they can claim the handling fee.

Kent Wang · Feb 20, 2009

Isn't the WTO and NAFTA supposed to be getting rid of this?

RIDER · Feb 20, 2009

Originally Posted by triniboy27

My point is that FedEX and other such shippers will go out of their way to make sure it goes through customs so that they can claim the handling fee.

FedEx and UPS have Customs facilities on-site - it's not an option. When an international package flies into Memphis, it goes thru the process w/o question. By choosing one of these carriers you are, by default, giving them the brokerage responsibility for your 'importing' activity...which you will pay for, generally. Also, the onus is on you to be aware of the duty classification and any licensing issues. For example, you cannot buy an alligator belt or wallet from off shore and have it shipped here without the proper CITES paperwork, and a Fish & Wildlife License. Any company would know this and not deliver, but you can't get something like this from Ebay/UK, for example. At least legally.

Holdfast · Feb 20, 2009

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Isn't the WTO and NAFTA supposed to be getting rid of this?

If only.

They're too busy arguing over farm quotas to actually do something useful...

TRINI · Feb 20, 2009

Originally Posted by RIDER

FedEx and UPS have Customs facilities on-site - it's not an option. When an international package flies into Memphis, it goes thru the process w/o question. By choosing one of these carriers you are, by default, giving them the brokerage responsibility for your 'importing' activity...which you will pay for, generally. Also, the onus is on you to be aware of the duty classification and any licensing issues. For example, you cannot buy an alligator belt or wallet from off shore and have it shipped here without the proper CITES paperwork, and a Fish & Wildlife License. Any company would know this and not deliver, but you can't get something like this from Ebay/UK, for example. At least legally.

Ah. The more you know!

Biscotti · Feb 20, 2009

I believe that when shipped through regular post, and if the goods are clothes/shoes for personal use, they are not slapped with an import tax unless the value is $2000 or above (not $200). I've never been slapped with a duty fee, and I have purchased clothes of $300+ properly labeled and no fee.

BevisFrondFan · Mar 15, 2009

Hello. New member here. Does anyone have a link to what the actual US import duty schedule should be? I tried to google and could not find anything like a table of duty versus value. I am interested in buying shoes from England would like to know what my liability might be (Price > $200 equivalent).

I tried the search function for Styleforum but did not see anything other than members' varying experiences regarding duties being assessed or not being assessed.

Thanks in advance for any help.

DrPat · Mar 15, 2009

When having things shipped to Switzerland I always ask the seller to
(1) Declare purchase a gift
(2) Send invoice separately

Some will do this and some won't. I'm not sure if it depends on the country or origin but below is my experience so far. I've only gotten nailed at customs once, and that was from a package from the US. Almost all of my packages have been opened though.

From the US: retailer said it is illegal and refused
From Australia: declared as gift and no invoice in package. True value of item written on box.
From the UK: depends on the company. Some will, some won't.
From Hong Kong: declared as gift with no invoice. $20 value stated instead of the actual value of $200 (I didn't even have to ask for this)

zippyh · Mar 15, 2009

Originally Posted by BevisFrondFan

Hello. New member here. Does anyone have a link to what the actual US import duty schedule should be? I tried to google and could not find anything like a table of duty versus value. I am interested in buying shoes from England would like to know what my liability might be (Price > $200 equivalent).

I tried the search function for Styleforum but did not see anything other than members' varying experiences regarding duties being assessed or not being assessed.

Thanks in advance for any help.

See chapter 64.
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm
When it comes down to it though, it ends up being around 8.5% to 10%.

jon5986 · Mar 15, 2009

I paid $56 on my last pair of shoes. Sometimes I pay nothing.....

Just depends on who is sending them and the value.

sf_esq · Mar 15, 2009

Unless you can get the shipper to declare a low value or declare as a gift, it's best to ask shippers to ship with anyone but Fed. Ex. or UPS. As mentioned above, they usually bill you $25 just for their "efforts" at customs brokering, which is complete BS. Then your package is scrutinized by customs so you may end up paying duty as well. Much better off getting shippers to ship with their local/national postal service (i.e., Royal Mail, POS Malaysia etc.) so that it is passed onto the USPS. I have yet to be assessed duty on anything delivered by USPS.

US Import Duty

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