Customs

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alvie223

Member
Apr 24, 2006
2,955
2
#1
I'm curious about how one finds out what Customs is going to cost. Is it something you can find out b4 you buy an item. How do you find out. Obviously you pay the governemtn for importing an item, i understand that.

But I think what i'm asking is how do you go about paying for it?
Is there a website, how does this work?

I founda bag I want to buy froma webstie based out of Hong Kong.
The site says they ship free worldwide, but I can't find anything out about customs, and I wouldn't even know wehre to look on here.

Also the item is in the $300-$350 range

thanks
 
#4
I have ordered things from overseas and the seller has always put on the customs form that the item worth was like $10-$15. I have never had to pay fees.
 
#5
Irishgal said:
I have ordered things from overseas and the seller has always put on the customs form that the item worth was like $10-$15. I have never had to pay fees.
Click to expand...

what is the limit on how much you can receive without paying duties?
 
#6
hey ya
everytime i get something from overseas... sometimes it clears without occuring any charges... BUT about 3 times now (as each bag was declared to be over $1000 NZ dollars) i've had to pay TAXES etc...
The way of payment....
1. UPS ppl called to let me know something had arrived and i paid by Visa and got a recepit in the mail and my bag came on the day i paid for it.
2. this time... when Chanel landed... a letter got sent to me from NZ Customs... so i just rang up and again - i paid via Visa.
i hope this give you some kind of idea... :-)
 
#7
I believe it's $15 from HK to the US. I got a Speedy 30 (which I sold later on) from HK and the seller put $15 on it. If something happens to the package though....=(
 
#8
For my LV book which cost $94 I paid 5.35 EUR in Customs.

For my Golden Girls DVD that I just got today which cost $40, I paid 7.80 EUR.

Hmmm...IDK why it cost more than it did when I bought my LV book.
 
#9
My postman stands at the front door with my package and won't let me have it until I give him the cash. I have no idea on when they are turning up or how much it is until he's there. If you don't have the cash on you they take it away, back to the post office for me to pick up.
 
#10
There is information about importing items into the US at this site:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/infrequent_importer_info/internet_purchases.xml

From that website:

Paying Duty: The importer is ultimately responsible for paying any duty owed on an import. Determining duty can be very complicated, and while shipping services will often give an estimate for what the duty rate on an item might be, only CBP can make a final determination about what is owed. You should not be misled into thinking your purchase price includes duty because the seller cannot say with absolute certainty what the duty will be. As a rule, a purchase price that includes shipping and handling does not include duty or any costs associated with clearing the goods through CBP. First time importers are often surprised by bills they receive for duty, U.S. Customs and Border Protection merchandise processing fee, and something referred to as "customs fees," which are actually charges for the services of the broker who cleared your goods through CBP.
How you pay duty depends on how your goods were shipped. If your goods were shipped through the International Postal Service, you will need to pay the mail carrier and/or go to your local post office to pay any duty and processing fees owed when your package arrives at that post office. If your goods were sent by a courier service, that service will either bill you for the duty they paid on your behalf or require payment on delivery.
If your goods were sent by freight, there are two possible scenarios for paying duty.
  • If no arrangements were made to forward the goods to your door, you will need to either clear them through CBP yourself, in which case you will pay duty directly to CBP at the port where your goods arrived. Alternatively, you will need to arrange for a broker to clear your goods. If you hire a broker, they will bill you for their services and any duty they paid on your behalf.
  • If arrangements were made to forward your goods to you, you will be billed for any duty owed, and for the services of the broker who cleared them through CBP.
Reminder: U.S. Customs and Border Protection holds the importer - YOU - liable for the payment of duty not the seller.
 
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