Custom/duty/import fees from Japan to USA

[sparky1971]

I bought a Gucci from Japan. First time I am buying outside the USA. Got it within a week after I paid.
The mailman dropped off the package but it was COD for the customs fee (9%) + Customs Processing Fee $5.50 + USPS handling fee $6. Total COD $52.

Thought I would get lucky and avoid the customs fee. But not so for me.
I read somewhere on the PurseForum blog that Hawaii does the customs charge very frequently. I think she is right!

I am happy with the bag as it was way much better than described.

 

[MoRe18]

My packages got mailed by EMS (Japan post) so it got delivered by USPS, the invoice came along with package, they delivered to my house and I paid by personal checks. If you couldn't pay when they deliver, you can come to post office and pay later then pick up the package. Basically you can't get the package without paying if there's invoices from customs.if you want to protest there's 2 ways : 1) you pay and get the package then send them info about the sale for them to re-evaluate the value 2) you don't pay but provide infos to USPS and they will send them out to customs office and hold your package til they get decision from customs.

Hi Boboxu! I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering if did you ever file a protest and got a refund from customs?

 

[boboxu]

Hi Boboxu! I know this is an old thread, but I was wondering if did you ever file a protest and got a refund from customs?

I did dear, plus they paid interests lol ) it took a year but yes I got the money back

 

[MoRe18]

Thanks for the quick reply! I bought a bag for 279 and got a customs fee of $101.50. I have to go tomorrow to the post office and see what the deal is, I don't know if I should pay and then ask for a refund or wait for customs to adjust the fee and then pick up the bag, but wanted to know how everything came out for you.
Glad you got your money back!!!

I did dear, plus they paid interests lol ) it took a year but yes I got the money back

 

[boboxu]

Thanks for the quick reply! I bought a bag for 279 and got a customs fee of $101.50. I have to go tomorrow to the post office and see what the deal is, I don't know if I should pay and then ask for a refund or wait for customs to adjust the fee and then pick up the bag, but wanted to know how everything came out for you.
Glad you got your money back!!!

Mine was $6xx so I fought for it. I paid post office first and appealed my case with CBP. And follow up til they sent me the check. But how come it turned out $101 for your case? I thought it roughly 10% value only? So $279 you should get $30 max or sometimes they wouldn't bother to charge you tax for that small amount of money. Unless your bag costs more than what it was declared and they have their own people to determine the price of that bag.

 

[MoRe18]

Mine was $6xx so I fought for it. I paid post office first and appealed my case with CBP. And follow up til they sent me the check. But how come it turned out $101 for your case? I thought it roughly 10% value only? So $279 you should get $30 max or sometimes they wouldn't bother to charge you tax for that small amount of money. Unless your bag costs more than what it was declared and they have their own people to determine the price of that bag.

I have no idea how they came up with that number, that's why I refused to pay the mailman and told him I would go to the post office. I don't have a problem paying taxes, even if I have to pay the 101, I just want a logical explanation to why I have to pay so much. Hopefully I will get an explanation tomorrow and I can pay just 9% if I fight it. Thanks for your replies, you have been most helpul!

 

[ThisVNchick]

Thanks for the quick reply! I bought a bag for 279 and got a customs fee of $101.50. I have to go tomorrow to the post office and see what the deal is, I don't know if I should pay and then ask for a refund or wait for customs to adjust the fee and then pick up the bag, but wanted to know how everything came out for you.
Glad you got your money back!!!

Not sure why you're getting taxed...i thought the threshold for tax free on imports into the US was everything under $800?

 

[MoRe18]

Hey I just wanted to let you all know, that the weirdest thing happened. I went to the post office and at first they couldn't find my box, I had to wait like 40 minutes, then they handed it to me and didnt charge me anything??? I said nothing, but when I got home I noticed there was a customs letter attached to the box. The invoice said the bag was valued at $ 1,000 and that's why I had to pay 101.50.
Should I contact customs and say I got the box without paying and send the actual ebay invoice for the $279? Should I just forget about it?

 

[ccbaggirl89]

Not sure why you're getting taxed...i thought the threshold for tax free on imports into the US was everything under $800?

i bought a bag from Japan earlier this year - 1475 - and didn't pay a thing. maybe people are buying new vs. old/vintage? it could also be how it's sent... like USPS, FedEx, UPS, and other services which may/may not include charges? some places tack it on when shipping the item out (like Selfridges to the US will tack on duties so you won't pay extra). maybe some people are flagged? i don't know what triggers a customs payment, but i've had high price points, and sellers use gift/merchandise and other stuff and none have required payments.

 

[caannie]

Hey I just wanted to let you all know, that the weirdest thing happened. I went to the post office and at first they couldn't find my box, I had to wait like 40 minutes, then they handed it to me and didnt charge me anything??? I said nothing, but when I got home I noticed there was a customs letter attached to the box. The invoice said the bag was valued at $ 1,000 and that's why I had to pay 101.50.
Should I contact customs and say I got the box without paying and send the actual ebay invoice for the $279? Should I just forget about it?

Most of the items I get from Japan have the value marked on the Customs form in yen, not dollars. I wonder if it was $1000 yen?

 

[bernz84]

Hey I just wanted to let you all know, that the weirdest thing happened. I went to the post office and at first they couldn't find my box, I had to wait like 40 minutes, then they handed it to me and didnt charge me anything??? I said nothing, but when I got home I noticed there was a customs letter attached to the box. The invoice said the bag was valued at $ 1,000 and that's why I had to pay 101.50.
Should I contact customs and say I got the box without paying and send the actual ebay invoice for the $279? Should I just forget about it?

I would try to contest it. I am all for paying customs and fees as required by law, but to pay $101.50 on something you paid less than $300 is excessive.

 

[PikaboICU]

Hey I just wanted to let you all know, that the weirdest thing happened. I went to the post office and at first they couldn't find my box, I had to wait like 40 minutes, then they handed it to me and didnt charge me anything??? I said nothing, but when I got home I noticed there was a customs letter attached to the box. The invoice said the bag was valued at $ 1,000 and that's why I had to pay 101.50.
Should I contact customs and say I got the box without paying and send the actual ebay invoice for the $279? Should I just forget about it?

If the USPS didn't charge you- it might be over but... It's not impossible to get an invoice in the mail.
If you get a bill, call them & explain you'll send them the receipt/invoice to prove you only paid $279.
That should be enough to end it..

 

[Chanbal]

Hey I just wanted to let you all know, that the weirdest thing happened. I went to the post office and at first they couldn't find my box, I had to wait like 40 minutes, then they handed it to me and didnt charge me anything??? I said nothing, but when I got home I noticed there was a customs letter attached to the box. The invoice said the bag was valued at $ 1,000 and that's why I had to pay 101.50.
Should I contact customs and say I got the box without paying and send the actual ebay invoice for the $279? Should I just forget about it?

Enjoy your bag, I don't think you will get another invoice for it. I wouldn't contact customs at this point. I wonder how customs valued the bag at $1K; is it LV or Chanel? 1K would be too little for an used Hermes.

 

[MoRe18]

If the USPS didn't charge you- it might be over but... It's not impossible to get an invoice in the mail.
If you get a bill, call them & explain you'll send them the receipt/invoice to prove you only paid $279.
That should be enough to end it..

Thanks! I am kind of thinking I am going to get an invoice+interests, but in case I do, I will contest it. Fromm what I read, you shouldnt get taxed if the item is under 800, and taxes should be 9%. The thing is the seller sent an invoice in yens and customs valued the bag at $1,000 ( I only paid 279 for it).

 

[MoRe18]

Enjoy your bag, I don't think you will get another invoice for it. I wouldn't contact customs at this point. I wonder how customs valued the bag at $1K; is it LV or Chanel? 1K would be too little for an used Hermes.

It's a Vuitton Mary Kate. It's not the fist time I bought from Japan, but it's the first time I got taxed. I have no problem paying taxes, I just wanted to be taxed the right amount, not $100 for a bag that cost $279. In the end I think I would have paid, it still was a great deal and I love the bag.