US buyer from overseas vendor and customs duty

[noj]

First, I have looked around on this site and web for more information, but it's still not clear exactly what happens, or what is recommended.

Assume for the moment that I wish to buy a knife (or stone, if that makes any difference) for over $800 USD (the duty threshold as I understand it). Assume I know about splitting shipments on multiple items to avoid $800, if applicable, and the vendor will not modify the declaration (ie cheat). I care more about avoiding damage or a return to the vendor, than I do about shipping cost or delays. I want a well known method for duty notification and payment before I place an order.

I would like to know if there are preferred shippers for this (DHL, DHL express, etc.). How am I notified about the duty? Who do I pay the duty to (the shipper)?

Nothing urgent, but if something "pops up", I'd like to know how things work. Suggestions welcome, especially the stuff I didn't know enough to ask;-) Thank you!

 

[noj]

(early) bump, and ...

What (approximate) amount/percentage is charged for import duty? Does this apply to BST via paypal (again assuming seller declares the actual price)?

If it matters, you can assume the item is over $800 USD, but definitely not $8,000 (randomly chose 10x, that isn't a real number).

 

[daveb]

I've never been asked to pay import duties on any knife and have ordered a couple few from both Japan and Euro that were over the $800 threshold. Occasionally a Euro vendor may tack on VAT like they do on their Euro deliveries but that should not be incurred by a non-Euro customer.

 

[noj]

Thanks daveb! Additional feedback/confirmation welcome. Not doubting your answer at all. I read some other threads about a duty was due, the buyer wasn't notified of anything, and after some time, the item(s) were sent back to the seller. I purchased some audio gear (Bryston) from Canada, and there was a duty charged, but I forget the details (and it was 10 years ago).

 

[WildBoar]

Interesting. When I sent them my amp for repair/ updating they had me ship it to a NY address. They seemed to smuggle them into Canada and back to the US, as no duty was charged.

US customs duties cannot be covered with a simple single answer. There are different tax amounts, thresholds and exclusions depending on the country of origin. Knives I received from Japan and Australia were sent EMS, and I never had to pay duty. A couple knives from England were sent DHL, if I remember correctly, and I did not have to pay duty. But I recently sent a knife to someone in Canada, and they indicated their province is very strict about collecting duty, and as a shipper I had to fill out a couple detailed forms to include with the package.

 

[Delat]

I’ve never been charged duty on knives inbound from Europe and Japan, but all those were <$600. I have one incoming now from France that’s already cleared customs that’s over $800, again no duty fee was assessed.

 

[simona]

https://www.simplyduty.com
This seems pretty accurate.

 

[Homechef]

I recently had to pay $25 on a $1,400 knife (from EU). Shipped in with packlink and picked up by UPS at the border. Had to pay UPS to get the package released. Felt like $25 wasn't to bad to be able to claim the full amount for insurance if needed.

 

[simona]

I recently had to pay $25 on a $1,400 knife (from EU). Shipped in with packlink and picked up by UPS at the border. Had to pay UPS to get the package released. Felt like $25 wasn't to bad to be able to claim the full amount for insurance if needed.

Bargain! - I would have to pay around 500 USD on import duties and vat on a knife that price

 

[Homechef]

Bargain! - I would have to pay around 500 USD on import duties and vat on a knife that price

Haha, I thought the same thing! I knew it wasn't going to be bad, but that was even cheaper than I expected.

I'd also add, connecting the dots between UPS and Packlink wasn't the easiest thing to do. UPS sent me a text message alerting me they had my package, but didn't connect me directly to it. I had to dig pretty deep on the Packlink website to find the UPS tracking number (enter the seller's shipping info, email, and date originally shipped). Once I had the tracking number it was easy to work with UPS, but for a brief period I was dark and a little panicky this was going to get lost in between borders and companies.

My advice, watch that package closely and be ready to jump in and problem solve if necessary!

 

[Chicagohawkie]

Guess, I’ve been lucky. Never paid a dime of duty for any knife in over 10 years. At least of what i can remember.

 

[silylanjie]

Last month I purchased from Ai & Om and I had to paid duty for the first time ever. It was ship by UPS and I had to paid the duty of $115 USD before they could proceed with the delivery. I had orders from Japan that cost more and didn't had to paid duty.

 

[noj]

For those that did have to pay, please share how you were notified that a duty was due, and who you paid (ie was it the shipper?). If you already said so, I DID notice;-)

 

[noj]

One more question for stones. Is there anything I should ask for regarding the declaration of contents/code (or whatever it's called)? I could imagine a JNS categorized as a precious mineral/gemstone, or sharpening equipment, with different treatment (or not).

 

[silylanjie]

For those that did have to pay, please share how you were notified that a duty was due, and who you paid (ie was it the shipper?). If you already said so, I DID notice;-)

I have an account with UPS and I received a notification to pay the duty for it to be release.

 

[Pie]

I haven’t been dinged bad by duties, although I fear it significantly. My wife has had items where the duty is almost the same cost as the product, but it seems to not be the norm. Iirc the item was about $100. I’m not sure what happened in this case.

$30 is the most I’ve had to pay, it was on a stone ~$200. A $500 stone from DHL in Germany had zero duties attached (???).

In Canada, most stuff goes through Canada post, and there’s an option to pay the duty ahead of time.

 

[Homechef]

3 duty charges noted above, all through UPS...

I've had 3 different knives ship in to the states via DHL and didn't have to pay import tax, but they were all less than $800.

 

[Se1ryu]

First, I have looked around on this site and web for more information, but it's still not clear exactly what happens, or what is recommended.

Assume for the moment that I wish to buy a knife (or stone, if that makes any difference) for over $800 USD (the duty threshold as I understand it). Assume I know about splitting shipments on multiple items to avoid $800, if applicable, and the vendor will not modify the declaration (ie cheat). I care more about avoiding damage or a return to the vendor, than I do about shipping cost or delays. I want a well known method for duty notification and payment before I place an order.

I would like to know if there are preferred shippers for this (DHL, DHL express, etc.). How am I notified about the duty? Who do I pay the duty to (the shipper)?

Nothing urgent, but if something "pops up", I'd like to know how things work. Suggestions welcome, especially the stuff I didn't know enough to ask;-) Thank you!

For Custom duty & Tax you need to pay it yourself as a receiver of the package (Buyer). Normally shipping courier like DHL, FedEx, EMS, etc..will add this fees and you have to pay them either online or when you receive the package.



In the US for item price bellow $800 buyer doesn't have to pay custom duty and tax but shipping courier like DHL and FedEx charge some extra hidden fees like handling fee, etc. EMS doesn't charge any hidden fees (from my experience).



For people who want to check Custom duty and tax in their country can check here:
https://www.simplyduty.com/

 

[sansho]

detailed assessment i posted earlier:

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/vat-from-eu-to-usa.57851/post-888593

 

[Choppin]

bumping this to check if anyone has anything to add

I’m about to order a package from Japan valued above $800 and shipped via courier to NY (not sure which one yet… DHL, UPS, Fedex, etc).

I assume the courier will let me know (by email?) if I need to pay any duties, and I can pay them online before receiving the package? Could anyone confirm?

I’m sending it to a relative’s place and don’t want someone showing up at their door and asking for $$$ lol.

 

[cwk.v]

Yes, you can pay duties online before the package arrives. If you don't pay in advance, they ask for payment at delivery.

Just did that yesterday for a package via UPS. Have also done it for UPS, DHL, and Fedex before as well.


Edit: if it's over $800, expect to pay

 

[Choppin]

Yes, you can pay duties online before the package arrives. If you don't pay in advance, they ask for payment at delivery.

Just did that yesterday for a package via UPS. Have also done it for UPS, DHL, and Fedex before as well.


Edit: if it's over $800, expect to pay

Thanks, that’s helpful. Did the courier notified you by email that you had duties to pay? Or it showed up in the tracking info?

Also, do mind sharing what % of taxes incurred in your packages?

 

[cwk.v]

Both for my most recent package.

And no clue, didn't calculate. I just pay them when they come.

 

[Molokai Livin']

Just wanted to add my experience. I've made two separate orders from Japan over $800 and did not have to pay duties on either. It was sent via EMS/USPS. I had two other orders from Germany over $800 that was shipped via FedEx and also did not have to pay anything. Maybe I just got lucky?

 

[noj]

Just wanted to add my experience. I've made two separate orders from Japan over $800 and did not have to pay duties on either. It was sent via EMS/USPS. I had two other orders from Germany over $800 that was shipped via FedEx and also did not have to pay anything. Maybe I just got lucky?

You may find that it depends on the declared value. You may find that declared value is less than the sales price, which could mean it's insured for less also.

 

[cwk.v]

You may find that it depends on the declared value. You may find that declared value is less than the sales price, which could mean it's insured for less also.

I've had this be the case on some items before. Low declared value can have it's upsides and downsides

 

[Molokai Livin']

What a coincidence.... I just checked my (snail) mail and I received an invoice from FedEx for my last order from Germany. This invoice was prepared after the knife was already delivered to me. It consists of "customs duty," "Food and Drug Administration clearance," and "disbursement fee." It totals a little over 7% of the purchase price. What's weird is that it was prepared after delivery and also, I never received this FedEx bill from my prior order from the same vendor, which was declared at full value.

 

[nhb22]

What a coincidence.... I just checked my (snail) mail and I received an invoice from FedEx for my last order from Germany. This invoice was prepared after the knife was already delivered to me. It consists of "customs duty," "Food and Drug Administration clearance," and "disbursement fee." It totals a little over 7% of the purchase price. What's weird is that it was prepared after delivery and also, I never received this FedEx bill from my prior order from the same vendor, which was declared at full value.

this happened to me with some knives I bought from Japan and shipped via FedEx.

 

[dreamwalker]

What a coincidence.... I just checked my (snail) mail and I received an invoice from FedEx for my last order from Germany. This invoice was prepared after the knife was already delivered to me. It consists of "customs duty," "Food and Drug Administration clearance," and "disbursement fee." It totals a little over 7% of the purchase price. What's weird is that it was prepared after delivery and also, I never received this FedEx bill from my prior order from the same vendor, which was declared at full value.

This happened to me once from FedEx, they tend to send you custom bill after delivery. But DHL will send you the custom bill before they release your package.

 

[JayS20]

Worst sht is when you get it from FedEx without paying anything and three! weeks later you get an invoice. I was like nice it got through and suddenly f u too.