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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Purchasing lenses online from Europe - taxes/duties | |
timn421 wrote:
I'm looking at purchasing some used camera equipment from a dealer in Europe that will be shipped to the United States. The two lenses I'm looking at total about $7000, but they are still at a discount to what I can find over here. I was trying to get an estimate on how much I might be looking at in duties and tax.
I was thinking worse case scenario would be around 10%, would that be about right?
I think the direct answer to this is as already mentioned - up to 2.3% duty. Taxes owed will depend on your state's requirements for paying sales tax on items imported from out of state.
sirimiri wrote:
Avoid anything and anybody except Express Mail Service (EMS). At those values, whether truly duty free or not, you can expect some scrutiny from FedEx, UPS, DHL or the like.
I don't know what the 2015 dutiable threshold is for formal versus informal importation, but it is in those aforementioned logistics companies financial interest to declare high, claim they are covering their butts (not untrue!), and charge you brokerage fees even on things the Harmonized Tariff Schedules plainly state are duty free. Just touching a package spawns extra fees.
Once you are the importer of record and especially on a declaration of formal importation (which those guys can and often will obligate you to provide for high-dollar items) depending on how organized your state tax authority -the Franchise Tax Board in California plays a mean game of raquetball- is they will be waiting with a tapping foot when you file that year's taxes.
Of course, you should pay what's due, but nothing more. I'll repeat what I've said in prior threads about buying gear that by circumstance(s), must be imported from abroad:
You're an adult, you can handle your own taxes, and even if you do everything by-the-book the state or federal authorities can sometimes still come knocking because they didn't like the look of some paperwork or you forgot to dot an "i"...and if they do, you've already lost your time, there is often a presumption of wrongdoing, you'll be under their microscope, might be hit with penalties, and needless to say, must play by their rules.
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TLDR: Ship solely via EMS, choose an HTS code that fits, and consider having them sent in separate parcels because of scrutiny and insurance limits. Never, ever use FedEx or UPS....Show more →
Reading this and I have to say, maybe it's not so bad to be in Canada where one doesn't have a choice and must automatically pay the (relatively high vs. US) sales tax on importation... at least on typical courier shipments. I also don't share the utter dislike of UPS and FedEx, so long as the item was shipped express brokerage included service. Yes, EMS often slips through untaxed and is a great option for moderately costly items...
Not sure if this also applies to the US, but in Canada, if the item is considered high value (IIRC over $1600 CA), the shipping company is required to confirm with you how you wish to have the item cleared through customs. With UPS/FedEx express shipments, they'll do this for you as part of the service included in the shipping cost (after confirming with you). With EMS, if it doesn't slip through, you will have to do this yourself, resulting in additional time and paperwork to clear the shipment. And it means it will be taxed, so you're not really saving anything for the extra aggravation. I guess here it's somewhat different with the US since there won't be state sales tax collected up front, so the potential savings by neglecting to later file and pay the state 'use' tax will be tempting.
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