avante Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Thinking about buying some new toys for the season I am curious whether I may need to pay an import tax on them. The price is about $850 + shipping. If I have to pay tax on that what might the rate be? And how it all happens? Do I get an additional bill or I have to do lots of paperwork with customs on my own? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avante Posted November 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Ok, I have found tariffs, but still don't know the procedure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BXFR70 Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 It really depends how the shipper codes it and what value they assign to each code. You will definitely pay with UPS or Fedex. I know USPS is not as strict or careful about collecting import duties. I have some experience with watches from Europe. You may ask the seller or shipper how they will code and what value they assign. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Avante- What are you looking to get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmorita Posted November 20, 2015 Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 If it's marked as used, I have found it does not get slapped with an import duty. New items do. Also, sending from and to a residential address often helped when I lived in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avante Posted November 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 Avante- What are you looking to get? MPride skwal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avante Posted November 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2015 It really depends how the shipper codes it and what value they assign to each code. You will definitely pay with UPS or Fedex. I know USPS is not as strict or careful about collecting import duties. I have some experience with watches from Europe. You may ask the seller or shipper how they will code and what value they assign. Hope this helps. Thanks! In my case it will be Swiss post I guess, so it should be handled by USPS on our side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordmetroland Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 What are you looking to get? Well, since you're asking, a Pogo Wingergun 205. But my wife would murder my a** before it even left German airspace, let alone made it to US customs. I live vicariously through others' tariffs and duties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 For reference: In Canada, there is a percentage of the sale price that's charged as a tariff (aka 'Duty'), then sales tax is added on top of that, then UPS or FedEx adds what seems like an arbitrary percentage for their fees on top of that. The UPS/FedEx 'brokerage fees' are often as much or more than the governmental taxes. Canada Post charges a flat $5 fee for brokerage, so we try to get things shipped that way if possible. I imagine there's a similar fee structure in the US. We generally pay about twice the US price after all the fees and the conversion to the Canadian Peso. Note that the tariffs can vary greatly by item. Snowboard boots get charged a 22% tariff, while ski boots get no tariff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowrider Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 On top of everything Corey mentioned I was hit with a $9.95 handling charge as well. Importing is a total scam when it comes to Gov't charges. Call your customs office in advance get someone to explain it to you and then make a record their name and the time of your call. Happy shopping ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Donnelly Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) Yikes! Edited November 21, 2015 by Pat Donnelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ursle Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 Google "vat refunds in the us", then follow the procedure, the merchant has to comply, it can't be their first sale to the US, 24%? is well worth crossing the T's and dotting the I's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wesleywarren Posted December 18, 2015 Report Share Posted December 18, 2015 Ordered a Pogo Maverick last June from Martin and Yogi. I think the Vat Tax was 2-3%. I think I paid 45$. A lot better than the 350$ it cost to ship A 7ft 6 in boat to the states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 I bought 3 Euro boards this year and if there were any tariffs they must have paid it themselves and included it in the shipping charge because I just clicked "purchase" and then they arrived. :) No probs and no extra bills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avante Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Thanks everyone for your feedback! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st_lupo Posted December 29, 2015 Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 It depends on the reported value of the imported items. For some reason the value $150 sticks in my head. IE if the reported value of the item is less than $150 the item is VAT free and no processing fees. If the value is over that amount you are liable for both VAT and any related processing fees, it depends on what the sender reports. When I've been shipping stuff (to Norway at least), the VAT and processing fees are typically handled by the freight company (UPS, DHL) and billed to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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