Taxes when shipping to the US?

[Ivar B]

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In the past, I have sent a few items to buyers in the US. Normally, this has been no problem at all and no taxes to pay, but one buyer reported he had to pay $200 in import duties on a Summilux 1.4/50 I sold in the Buy and Sell section some weeks back. Now the question has arisen again as I have some items for sale, and I would like to ask if any of the US based members know what the regulations are?

[stunsworth]

I can't speak specifically for the US, but I've bought quite a few things of reasonable value from outside the EU and whether duty is charged or not is rather hit and miss. I've had some parcels charged and others not. I think it either depends on the volume of parcels passing through customes, or they only process parcels selected at random. I assume something similar is happening in the US customes.

 

One exception appears to be Fed-Ex. They apply the custome charges themselves to all their deliveries from outside the EU and send you an invoice which _has_ to be paid - if you try ignoring it you get a rather snotty letter threatening legal action. I assume they are collecting this on behalf of the relevant government agency.

[etp095]

In the past, I have sent a few items to buyers in the US. Normally, this has been no problem at all and no taxes to pay, but one buyer reported he had to pay $200 in import duties on a Summilux 1.4/50 I sold in the Buy and Sell section some weeks back. Now the question has arisen again as I have some items for sale, and I would like to ask if any of the US based members know what the regulations are?

 

hello all,this is my first post

i'm wondering about the tax man too.i'm thinking about buying a pair of leica ultravid hd binoculars(10x42) from a uk dealer(reddot camera),and have them shipped to my home in the usa.

[glenerrolrd]

There is a US Gov publication that spells out the tariffs / taxes on imported goods. Anyone importing camera equipment or lenses will owe a tariff. From a practical standpoint the enforcement of these tariffs seems to be quite random. You should hear from individuals that say they have never had this problem and others that were charged by the carrier.

 

My experience has been that only once on a shipment from Germany was I charged a small tax....all others have gone thru without a charge.

[enboe]

I echo the experience. I purchased a 75 Summarit from Canada and had it sent to California. There was an import tariff, but the worse one was that the courier, DHL, charged a 100% markup for their handling of the import tariff. I told the seller about this, to which they apologized, but provided no refund of the excessive fees.

 

Good luck, and plan on an extra 10-20%. Maybe you'll get lucky and you won't be chosen.

 

Eric

[peter_n]

It is my understanding (only an understanding mind, based on information from others) that still camera equipment enters the USA duty free. The rationale given is that there is no still camera industry to protect in this country. I have bought many cameras/lenses from foreign countries over many years and have never paid any import duty on anything.

 

The one issue I've had is that certain carriers like to charge a "broker's fee" for "clearing" the item through customs here in the US. This "detour" actually appears as a line item in the online tracking report, if you can believe that. I've only actually experienced this with UPS, and they charge 3% of the stated value on the customs form. This is a total rip-off as still camera equipment is duty-free and they know that. FedEx and DHL also use this practice and I understand that DHL in particular charge enormous fees. Bottom line: always use the postal system when selling into the US and the buyer should be OK. Never use a courier.

[robsteve]

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One hint regarding the brokerage fee is to send the item via the one or two day air service. It may seem more expensive, but air includes the brokerage fee in the rate.

 

Also, if it is a lens or camera made in Canada, mark the country of origin Canada. There is a free trade agreement between Canada and the USA, so Canadian made items do not incur duty.

 

Robert

[derek_stanton]

I've bought a lot of gear, from Europe and Asia, and never had any clue that a US citizen COULD be charged fees for import taxes. This happened to me one time, though, earlier this year, on a Hasselblad package from Switzerland. When i was tracking the package and found that it was being held up in customs, an agent from the import service contacted me and told me of the fees. I thought it was a scam, actually. I looked online for the regulations, but never did find anything that stipulated the law in clear language. I ended up paying about $75, just because i wanted to get my stuff quickly. But, because i still don't understand the legalities, i'm hesitant to buy from non-US sources. Of course, my memory is pretty poor, and i now remember i've just ordered something (small) from Hong Kong.....

 

Either way - the seller from Sweden did note in his ebay listing that import taxes/fees were the responsibility of the buyer. But, as i did not think that applied to US citizens, i paid no attention until it was too late.

[wildlightphoto]

I have never paid import duties or brokerage fees on items sent to me from outside the USA. Use the postal service, not UPS or FedEX or DHL.

[derek_stanton]

I have never paid import duties or brokerage fees on items sent to me from outside the USA. Use the postal service, not UPS or FedEX or DHL.

 

I would have said the same thing - i never paid anything either - until this past summer.

Using the postal service, if that is somehow excepted from fees, is a nice idea, but i don't think the consumer always has the option to choose what service the seller will use.

[farnz]

... One exception appears to be Fed-Ex. They apply the customs charges themselves to all their deliveries from outside the EU and send you an invoice which _has_ to be paid - if you try ignoring it you get a rather snotty letter threatening legal action. I assume they are collecting this on behalf of the relevant government agency.

Steve,

 

I had exactly the same experience with Fed-Ex over a digital camera. Digital cameras and their accessories are not subject to customs and excise duty in the UK (film cameras and their accessories are - something that continues to puzzle me) but, infuriatingly, on contacting Fed-Ex I couldn't get past the "Computa sez Nahhh." girls. Fed-Ex flatly refused to deliver my goods until I paid the charges that it had calculated and levied. I even threatened legal action because I was willing to pay whatever a Customs and Excise review decided so continuing to withhold my goods was technically theft. Made no difference and I was obliged to pay the charges up front in order to prevent my goods being returned to sender and starting all over with additional shipping charges. They've got you every way you turn.

 

I contacted C&E to complain about Fed-Ex (incorrectly) calculating and applying the charges on C&E's behalf but the people I spoke to clearly couldn't give a flying fu*k. "The courier companies are responsible bodies, Sir." ... "If the courier companies didn't fulfill this role your income taxes would rise, Sir." (yeah, right!) ... "If you wish to lodge a claim for overpaid duty then apply in writing for a copy of form xyz-stroke-E, Sir, and the matter will be dealt with in due course." Perhaps I wasn't talking to the right C&E officer. I didn't bother.

 

I shall not use Fed-Ex in future and shall continue to ask overseas vendors to kindly use another means of shipping.

 

Pete.