Custom/duty/import fees from Japan to USA

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#151
MoRe18 said:
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?
Click to expand...
I've had a purchase that was suppose to be COD (custom tax) but the guy that delivered never bothered to collect. I didn't say anything. It's been 8 months now and still nothing. There have been other members who stated on here that they got tax but the PO forgot to collect and they never follow up. Fingers crossed for you!
 
#152
ccbaggirl89 said:
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.
Click to expand...

No, sometimes you get lucky with USPS and the box just continues onto its final destination without being flagged by customs. Usually, they like to flag the bigger looking boxes. I've had purchases well into the $5000 range that didn't get picked up. But in OP's case, there is an official rule that anything imported into the country under $800 is tax free. That's why I was so confused that she was being taxed on a $300 purchase.
 
#153
I haven't had a chance to read everyone's responses, but hopefully these tips might be helpful.

For goods mailed to the United States:
1) Anything over $200 is subject to taxation. The $800 exemption for duties is only for goods being brought into the country by you when traveling (on your person/in your luggage). Mailed in goods qualify for a $200 exemption but anything higher can be taxed, although will not always be. (official ref here).
2) If U.S. CBP decides to tax your imported package, and it is a handbag, and it is from most countries such as Japan (but not Singapore, Australia, etc., due to FTA), the taxable rate is 8% of the declared value of the bag. (official ref here).
3) Many CBP agents aren't the brightest, and the declared value is never written down in USD but in the foreign exporting country's currency and they sometimes calculate wrong. This could end up with higher or lower taxable fee perception by the agent. This can be an instance where you pay more/less than expected. In addition, your shipper may declare a lesser value.
4) At the end of the day, CBP may open your package by random inspection and compare it against what is declared to see if it's declared correctly or incorrectly. Their estimations on market value have no rhyme or reason, which is why you can contest your duties paid - this is why you should always take a snapshot of the form you fill out at the post office when paying your duties. This can be another instance where you pay more/less than expected.
5) If your seller ships through a non-state-sponsored service such as UPS, DHL or FedEx, there may be additional brokerage fees added onto the duties, that are imposed on you. This is never pleasant, so beware. The upside is that when they use brokers, usually nobody opens up packages and just go by what is declared by the sender. State-sponsored services (government carriers, such as Canada Post, Royal Mail, EMS, etc.) change hands to USPS control once crossing the border and leaving customs.

Technically, anything over $200 is supposed to get taxed when coming in through EMS/USPS, but when it doesn't it's because I think CBP is understaffed or #3 calculates wrong. The large boxes being flagged thing is really when it undergoes #4 above.
 
  • Like
Reactions: smooches, Maijp, BeccaChris and 2 others
#154
Roku said:
For goods mailed to the United States:
1) Anything over $200 is subject to taxation. The $800 exemption for duties is only for goods being brought into the country by you when traveling (on your person/in your luggage). Mailed in goods qualify for a $200 exemption but anything higher can be taxed, although will not always be. (official ref here).
Click to expand...

The link above is outdated from Nov 2015, the new rule when into effect in Mar 2016 can be read in full here https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/de-minimis-value-increases-800. The primary rationale behind the rule was to reconcile the inconsistency between $800 allowance exception when carried by person but yet only $200 by mail.

WASHINGTON — As agreed in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, signed by President Barack ***** Feb. 24, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that March 10, it raised the value of a shipment of merchandise imported by one person on one day that generally may be imported free of duties and taxes from $200 to $800. This raising of the de minimis exemption is due to an amendment of the Tariff Act of 1930 included in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.

Shipments valued at $800 or less for the de minimis exemption will be eligible under the same processes and with the same restrictions that currently apply to de minimis shipments of $200 or less.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maijp, whateve, Roku and 1 other person
#155
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Of the 5 times I've purchased goods from Japan, 3 were for goods priced at $2600 and above. They were all sent by EMS with the purchase price fully declared on custom forms and yet, I've never once been taxed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maijp and Roku
#156
jmc3007 said:
The link above is outdated from Nov 2015, the new rule when into effect in Mar 2016 can be read in full here https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/de-minimis-value-increases-800. The primary rationale behind the rule was to reconcile the inconsistency between $800 allowance exception when carried by person but yet only $200 by mail.

WASHINGTON — As agreed in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, signed by President Barack ***** Feb. 24, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that March 10, it raised the value of a shipment of merchandise imported by one person on one day that generally may be imported free of duties and taxes from $200 to $800. This raising of the de minimis exemption is due to an amendment of the Tariff Act of 1930 included in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.

Shipments valued at $800 or less for the de minimis exemption will be eligible under the same processes and with the same restrictions that currently apply to de minimis shipments of $200 or less.
Click to expand...
This is good stuff! Didn't know.
Thanks!
 
#159
Roku said:
Lol so mighty generous of them huh
So pretend it's $1000... you pay tax on $200 or on all $1000?
Click to expand...

Yep all of those oversea online websites (I.e. Italist, Farfetch) sent those emails. Great way to boost sales to the US!

I believe you pay the difference after $800 is deducted. When I was pulled aside by customs coming into the country via plane, the agent taxed me on the total value declared minus our $1600 (DH + myself) allowance.
 
#160
Roku said:
Lol so mighty generous of them huh
So pretend it's $1000... you pay tax on $200 or on all $1000?
Click to expand...

ThisVNchick said:
Yep all of those oversea online websites (I.e. Italist, Farfetch) sent those emails. Great way to boost sales to the US!

I believe you pay the difference after $800 is deducted. When I was pulled aside by customs coming into the country via plane, the agent taxed me on the total value declared minus our $1600 (DH + myself) allowance.
Click to expand...

Now see I believe it's the opposite.. LOL
If the item is over $800. you pay on the total..
I recently ordered some boots they were (cough cough) $1200. and I paid on the entire amount.
There's a scale on the site and I don't see where it starts with -800 and so on.
Sadly, I believe we pay on the whole thing if it's $801. and above..
That's for ordering..

There are larger exemptions for purchasing abroad & bringing it back. I believe that goes up to $1600 and another $800 at 3% or something like that..
You are allowed a lot more when you shopped on vaca. LOL

I could be wrong.. The whole thing is complicated as heck! Different countries have a different VAT and to complicate it even more, different items have a different charge! Gold vs Gems vs Leather Goods and so on! It'll make your brain explode. :shocked:
I use an online duty calculator, enter all the info & it figures it for me. :smile:
 
Last edited:
#163
It is per day.
De Minimis Value Increases to $800
Release Date:
March 11, 2016
WASHINGTON — As agreed in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, signed by President Barack ***** Feb. 24, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that March 10, it raised the value of a shipment of merchandise imported by one person on one day that generally may be imported free of duties and taxes from $200 to $800. This raising of the de minimis exemption is due to an amendment of the Tariff Act of 1930 included in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.

Shipments valued at $800 or less for the de minimis exemption will be eligible under the same processes and with the same restrictions that currently apply to de minimis shipments of $200 or less.

CBP plans to publish an Interim Final Rule amending the appropriate regulations and soliciting comments from interested parties. CBP has the right to require a formal entry on any shipment where additional information, bonding or protection is required. In the case of low value shipments, it is important to note that this treatment can be denied if used for the purpose of avoiding compliance with any pertinent law or regulation.

In fiscal year 2015, CBP processed more than $2.4 trillion in trade, processed approximately 33 million import (entries) and collected roughly $46 billion in duties, taxes and other fees – the largest amount collected in the last five years.
 
#165
I wanted to make sure I understand this right. The limit amount is $800 through shipment, so there shouldn't be any charge for custom/duty/import fees right? If I purchase any handbag less than $800 and seller declare under $800 and seller used DHL shipping method, DHL shouldn't charge any custom/duty/import fees right? Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top