Customs and their import fee - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: VEGETA
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2016, 11:08:16 pm
content: Hi, I live in Jordan where customs control everything that gets in... even Theeb movie prize (golden covered statue) got a fee of nearly 130$ xD.What about your country? here are my questions:1- when you buy component kits from aliexpress, ebay.... what happens at customs? what about digikey?2- how do they declare a fee when they don't know the thing you got?3- MOST IMPORTANT: what if you got a PCB? or multiple panels? < you would look like a reseller. we don't have electronics design culture so getting pcbs is weird... what happens with you?4- what if you really are doing commercial work! i.e u designed the thing... how much are u going to pay?5- will they take them away or prevent you from getting the boards?Someone like Dave is ideal about answering this. I ask because I really want to go to the next level and start designing my own boards on PCBs and real professional components from Digikey instead of through hole kits from aliexpress. And I might be lucky and sell some of it!I have more questions.... xDthanks!

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 12:01:03 am
content: I feel very fortunate to live in the US with respect to this issue. Tariffs are low with most of the world and most goods classes, and they don't apply to small personal purchases.There is no tariff at all on printed circuit boards.

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 12:23:35 am
content: HiThere is a broad rule that stuff under $400 really isn't worth them messing with. Once you go over that point, you are going to get a bill for duties owed. Their first reference for the value is the (possibly faked) import documents. On something that is physically small, they probably use the numbers on the documents. Once the object gets bigger than a football, they do some checking. You likely get billed for the real value of the object.Bob

author: VEGETA
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 12:47:44 am
content: Thanks everyone for your answers.So if I want to make a small batch of a design I made, let us say 50 boards (5 panels for example). So I would get 5 PCB panels without components assuming I will solder the SMD component because I am poor and can not afford PCB assembly. one board would cost 10$ with shipping... so each panel is 50$ -> 500$ total for 5 panels.Should I tell them that? most of the times they won't listen or believe me... my nightmare is that if they said it will cost me a lot more than what I expect. 500$ say 20% fee which is high but common = 100$. So my total payment would be 600$ to get the damn thing to me. = 12$ per board. assume components will cost 18$ per board (with customs) I would get to 30$ in cost only!!!So my whole point that even a very simple design will not be economical to sell due to these stuff. So how does Dave and others so this in a cost effective way WHILE selling their goods at reasonably low price! uCurrent is about 60-70$ or so I guess.I thought about a USB isolated supply which is nearly the same as dave's one... I did the math and resulted in about 50$ components + PCBs with minimal customs rate... how will I sell this? 50$ * 2.5 = 125$. < would anyone buy it at this price? would you? BTW, what is the suitable price for such a project do you think?Customs and shipping is a bad nightmare for people like me, even Digikey and mouser supports only shipping via DHL\UPS\Fedex with a 75$ fixed rate! I solved that problem by sending the stuff to a local US company then ship from there. However, I want to know how others deal with customs and pricing of their hardware products.sorry for long post!

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:12:03 am
content: HiThe first answer is to get the boards for $1 each rather than $5 each. Now 200 boards cost you $200. Shipping, packing, brokers, and customs adds < $100 to that. You are at < $300. It runs through a customs broker and the $20 you pay him is more than made up by the numbers always coming out the same every time. You may laugh at the price difference, but that is the real number when you start buying a couple hundred boards a month rather than 50 boards once and then never again. Repeat business is *much* less expensive when it comes to pc boards.Parts wise, you bring them in once every three months. They also run past the broker. You have them packed and shipped in a single lot by an agent on the other end. Again you have a fee. That fee is more than made up by the lack of nonsense when the shipment arrives and the consistent costs.Bottom line: This is part of doing business. You have to learn how to do it right or it will be very expensive. Every country is a little different. The formula above is approximately correct, but there will always be details that are country specific. There may be a day or a week that is much better to bring things in on. If you are importing cheese to the US, you want to bring it in in December ....Bob

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:14:48 am
content: In Australia anything under AU$1000 (inc shipping) sails right past customs.Anything over AU$1000 is automatically held by the courier companies like Fedex, UPS, DHL etc, and pot luck by regular post if it'll get nabbed or not.My Digikey orders are often magically under AU$1000, even multiple orders on the same daye.g. most of my uCurrent parts are Digikey, and it's often cheaper overall to get several DigiReels of parts than one big reel that would put me over the customs limit.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:49:32 am
content: Here in NZ, provided there are no additional duties payable (clothing, cigs, acohol and some other stuff...) when broadly if the total is under $400 NZD inc shipping, it will pass through with no fees (I could explain the reasons for this figure but it's unimportant to an international audience).Over this threshold and you get slapped with 15% GST, plus another flat fee of about $40 NZD (call it a processing fee, again there are reasons but it's unimportant to go into) regardless of the value.Over $1000 NZD package and you will also have to register as an importer and file an online import clearance.If multiple packages arrive for you at customs on the same day, they can group them together for purposes of valuation... but I've never heard of it happening, probably they only bother if they were really obvious an attempt to circumvent the thresholds.Every now and then the retailers kick up a stink about these low-value imports coming in without fees, and the government generally makes noises about potentially reducing the threshold, but so far has always put it in the too-hard basket.As for the OP's problem, the best idea may be to ask your customs department for advice.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 02:51:45 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on September 06, 2016, 01:49:32 amDigikey offer 3 different couriers for the same price ;-)QuoteThe Oz government want to lower it again or remove it entirely. It used to be $300 but they increased it to $1000 quite some time back.I get charged GST if it's over $1000 but because I'm a GST resisted business I get it back at the end of the month.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 03:27:29 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on September 06, 2016, 02:51:45 amThe GST side doesn't really bother me if they drop the threshhold. It's only 10%. (When Gerry Harvey was shouting about the GST 'unfairness' I felt like walking up to him and giving him the 10% on my recent purchase. It would have been $3-$4 ... and even then, the total price paid would have been WELL WORTH it.)Whatdoesconcern me are the processing fees. A GST registered business might have some benefit, but those import processing fees are a consideration - and sometimes significant on the value of the imported items.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 03:33:05 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on September 06, 2016, 02:51:45 amWas that an auto-correct substitution for "GST registered business"?

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 03:45:16 am
content: Quote from: VEGETA on September 06, 2016, 12:47:44 amThe good news is that your competitors (in Jordan) are fighting the same issues, so you will be price competitive with them. The bad news is that at those prices your market will be small.One way to approach this is to try to get inside the heads of those setting the tariffs. Are they trying to protect a local market? Trying to keep dual use technologies out? Just out to make money? The answers will give you guidance on how to at least partially avoid the tariffs.

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 05:25:31 am
content: In Finland you are required to pay VAT (24%) on all purchases (you also have to pay VAT on the shipping cost) where the amount of tax exceeds 5 €. So anything over ~20 € might be caught in customs. In practice (with experience of around half a thousand packages over the years) vast majority of packages from China are not caught in customs because they know they are very low value stuff and not to be bothered with. If the package is big/heavy/expensive looking in x-ray then it will most likely go to customs. If ordering from the US almost all packages will go through customs except the smallest ones. The actual customs declaration is thankfully very convenient, you just get a letter with the customs information, then you can declare your package online (you don't even have to submit any documents even though you are naturally required to have them) and pay from your e-bank and package is immediately released. There is also a customs duty for packages over 150€ which usually is 0-5% with some exceptions (clothes, tobacco, alcohol) where it is higher.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 11:05:32 am
content: High taxes are simply the side benefits of a state that takes care of all aspects of your life.

author: Nuno_pt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 11:33:17 am
content: In Portugal, everything above 35€ will be charge in 23% (VAT), and 10€ for the customs opening the package.Above 45€ till 150€ you pay 23% (VAT) + 10€ for the customs opening the package.Above 150€ you pay 23% (VAT) + 10€ for opening the package + tax customs, here it depends on the product.Most of the electronic and Ham radio gear don't pay tax, only the 23% (VAT).Most of the stuff coming from China never stop in the customs, if the package is small size.Some time back I order a GPS antenna from Chine for 17€, since the package was large it stop the customs, I receive a letter after 1 month of the package arriving in Portugal, to submit confirmation of the payment from PayPal, after submitting that they let it go arriving at my home 1 1/2 month later.The 10€ of opening the package, you only pay if they open the package.Last week I've bought some item from US with Global Shipping Program, they charge the 23% and after 1 week the guy from the post office knock on my door to deliver the package.I think that the shipping cost was a little on the high side, but no stress or delay in the deliver.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 12:51:42 pm
content: "Some time back I order a GPS antenna from Chine for 17€, since the package was large it stop the customs, I receive a letter after 1 month of the package arriving in Portugal, to submit confirmation of the payment from PayPal, after submitting that they let it go arriving at my home 1 1/2 month later."Nice service, I have to say.

author: System Error Message
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:00:49 pm
content: Customs and parcelforce in the UK take too much. Not only do you have VAT to pay but also other fees that they screw you with. The best way to order expensive stuff in the UK from abroad is to use one of the express stuff like UPS, fedex, DHL as they will pay for you and deliver your item. The trick is that they will charge you the fee for tax + admin but they cant enforce it like parcelforce does so if you dont order to the same address its a sure way of not paying tax.the UK govt is too taxing that they will tax you even for the non relevant stuff such as if you were buying something for your studies (which in their document states doesnt have to be taxed) and even with the right documents will still tax you.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:04:19 pm
content: UK is crap.Anything imported over £15 (~20 USD) via Royal Mail is +20% + £8 (~11 USD) handlingAnything imported over £15 (~20 USD) via UPS is +20% + £11 (~15 USD) handlingOn top of that, UPS will try and mug you for the cash at the door. Royal Mail will make you go to your local depot and pay for it before they let you have it.The trick is when you're working with Chinese folk on aliexpress is ask them to leave the invoice out of the package and leave the declaration amount out. Whizzes straight through every time then.Then again it's sometimes cheaper and faster to use CPC etc in the UK which are stupid cheap on some things.

author: System Error Message
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:10:07 pm
content: well the chinese have perfected a way of getting things through customs so even if you order expensive stuff you dont have to worry about customs.However UPS, fedex and the like will mug you for money but when they call you and ask you can say its not you or if they send letters just say the previous person moved out. I have before ordered stuff using them and they paid the taxes for me and asked me for money but i didnt pay and nothing happened. They cant legally force you to pay and they cant bring you to court for it because you can dispute their extra chargers so they use scare tactics. In order for them to stay in business they have to show that they are fast in delivery so they pay the tax for you to avoid that week or 2 delay by parcel force mailing you to pay up.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:16:41 pm
content: Most of them just refuse to deliver it if that is the case now unfortunately. Watch out for "Northampton Bulk" as it's known as which is an automated county court service you can just wire unpaid debts into. They use that sort of crap now and they will find you because it's cheap and they just charge you for handling the unpaid debt on top. I had a run in with them a few years ago and they're 100% untouchable and 100% incompetent. Had to fire a sueball back which cost a small fortune just to avoid being shafted by a CCJ.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:17:27 pm
content: "The trick is when you're working with Chinese folk on aliexpress is ..."The "fair share" folks objecting being taxed tend to advocate taxing others aggressively.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:23:19 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on September 06, 2016, 01:17:27 pmI'm more of a black market supporter

author: System Error Message
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 01:29:16 pm
content: As i said if you wish to rip off fedex, ups and the like dont order to the same address each time. That way they will just keep delivering even if you dont pay the tax + admin. Dont do it too often either. Its like when you're trying to trick pizza companies in US for more free pizza, too often with the same address and number and they will know its you.When i say the govt is too taxing it is true, besides with the sort of silliness that the UK have for politics should we really be putting our hard earned money into that especially with the media bias? America can make companies do recalls (such as tp link having to recall av500 and av600 products in US) but the rest of the world doesnt have the same kind of luxury so we tend to be at the whims of greed. So its not that i dont want to pay tax but its the huge cost + companies taking their cut to a govt that doesnt have your interest at heart.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 04:56:12 pm
content: I'm not sure how it works in the UK. I suspect that once they notice frequent deliveries they start to tax. I was for the first time charged duty on Dave's uCurrents but it was less than the VAT so not massively worried.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 05:25:36 pm
content: In DK anything with a value over 80DKK (~12$), will be stopped in DK mail for Tax/VAT.The DK-Mail fee for handling the VAT is ~24$, and then comes the actual VAT : 25% of the packet value, and 25% of the shipping cost on top.This means a $20 PCB order will end up in : ~ 20 + 24 + 5 (VAT) = 49$I wish the Customs limit was , at least $50 then one could buy some useful things on *bay or Ali.Ie. i'd like a Cyclone4 board 26$ , but if i get caught in customs , it'll be another $30 in fees.And ie. my TL-866A programmer was stopped by DK-Mail , and they said the declaration wasn't ok , and i had to forward proof of payment , in order to be taxed correctly and get my package. Else it would just be returned.Sometimes the "Expert Chinese sellers" marks it as a"Gift"... That's for DK-Mail import department , like waving a red cloth to the Bull.Remember they make $24 for every package they stop , after they were allowed to do that.Not much of the "larger" stuff slips through.But the small bubble envelopes seems to slip through, unless the "Experts" write $14 on a $9.5 shipment (i tried that) too./Bingo

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 07:17:04 pm
content: I think customs criteria should look at whether the product type is made in the country of destination, if it is then fine tax away as the import helps no one. If the item is not made locally it should not be taxed up to a certain value.

author: VEGETA
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2016, 11:42:54 pm
content: Quote from: uncle_bob on September 06, 2016, 01:12:03 amWell, buying lots of components is the key but for me or any beginner getting low count stuff is a must, especially if you don't know if they will sell or notFor PCB cost, I am not so worried, the real cost is for components. Taking into account buying low quantity first (< 20 boards) due to unavoidable budgetary reasons... it will be high. I mean, for the portable power supply with isolated usb charging, I guess parts will cost 30$ for one single board... buying components for 20 will probably reduce it to 25$/board. Say 5$/board + shipping + postage + others = 50$/final product (assuming soldering is up to me, no PCBA). 50$*2.5=125$... say 100$. From my minor point of view, no one will be interested in buying it at this price. what do you think?Perhaps, it is the best or nearly the best choice in terms of costs here... so maybe the real topic is the practicality of selling such stuff. Maybe some products are worthy and some others are just not worth and will not worth... maybe. And for someone like me I don't know a way to figure if such project will have potential buyers or how many are they. I don't know how to learn that without spending thousands of $ trying out. Do you know a reliable way?I will deal with Digikey only, because of HUGE and inflexible shipping rates. Digikey and Mouser offer only one fixed pricing to Jordan which is 75$ which is not really reasonable for small quantity stuff. I searched and found a company that gives you a warehouse area in the US then you could ship from there with cheaper ways. So 8$ shipping from Digikey to them, then 20$ from them to me in Jordan. 30$ is way much less than 75$ for sure. I wonder if you people are doing such stuff too and what companies you use. I said using Digikey only because it is the best supplier and I can not use multiple suppliers because it will increase shipping and postage. I wonder if there are some companies that offer such warehouse storage in China where we can buy from multiple Aliexpress shops and ship to that company in China, then make one shipment to us. This will be fast and efficient, and maybe will allow buying cheaper parts from there.As for prototyping boards and components I don't think I should care about the pricing too much because it is one time only and no reason why it must be the same as production pricing.

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 12:28:14 am
content: HiOn something like a USB charger, you will not be able to make it below 10 pieces a day. A better target is 100 pieces a day. These are low cost, high volume items. By the time you get them into some form of distribution network, the price has crept up. If your share of the sale comes out to a dollar after costs are taken out, that is about it at a 10 per day rate. You might do a bit better at 100 per day.This gets to the question of : can you sell 100 a day, 5 days a week for a couple of years?Here is the other issue : can you guess the market close enough that you do not have a bunch of inventory when they stop selling?It is very common for people to have a big pile of parts at the end of a year rather than $2000 in the bank.Bob

author: VEGETA
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 12:54:20 am
content: Quote from: uncle_bob on September 07, 2016, 12:28:14 amWell, it is not a USB charger, it is a portable power supply from Li-ion battery that can be charged via isolated USB. I don't think I can sell 10 pieces daily, perhaps you said that assuming it is one of these 5$ usb charger cables or similar stuff. How many uCurrents do you think is sold monthly? what about uSupply or such stuff? it is totally different than ultra cheap usb cables.QuoteIf I will do it, I won't reach such state. Either I manufacture stuff that I am sure they will be sold, or just never do it. I don't have the financial capability of risk.

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 11:07:58 am
content: HiFor a wall charger the minimum build would be up in the 1,000 to 10,000 a day range. There are a lot of these things sold in order to geat the price close to where it needs to be. The real build would be in panels rather than pieces if it was done SMT. A panel might be a 10 by 20 array. On an automated line it would go through in < 20 minutes. Yes you also could kit assemble them one at a time for around 10 cents each.Volume counts on consumer stuff.Bob

author: VEGETA
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2016, 04:41:17 pm
content: Quote from: uncle_bob on September 07, 2016, 11:07:58 amWell, it is not a USB charger, it is a portable power supply from Li-ion battery that can be charged via isolated USB. much like dave's one.

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 08, 2016, 03:41:26 pm
content: Quote from: VEGETA on September 07, 2016, 04:41:17 pmHiOk, let's try this another way:How much do you expect to be able to sell it for?How much do similar devices that are already on the market sell for?How much do you expect to sped on the distribution part of the selling process?Bob

author: VEGETA
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2016, 09:24:49 pm
content: Quote from: uncle_bob on September 08, 2016, 03:41:26 pmOK, I will try to answer.I don't have any expectations because I am afraid they will be wrong. I re-picked some of the parts and maybe I will make it cheaper which will help. However, generally I prefer it is under 100$, great price will be like 50-70$, but my point is that it might not be possible.I didn't find similar devices, but some near concepts because the concept of a battery powered supply is not unique. However, I didn't find one that supports isolated USB connection for charging. Again, no clue about price. You might as well compare such designs to professional one made by big companies, but I don't think it will be fair. How much money do you think Dave's supply is to be sold? that will give a clue.I didn't quite get the point of the question, but for this I will make prototypes until I am satisfied then make a small batch, after that scaling as much as I can. I will sell direct and ship myself.Thanks Bob.

author: uncle_bob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 08, 2016, 09:53:30 pm
content: Quote from: VEGETA on September 08, 2016, 09:24:49 pmHiOk, there are solar chargers on the market, there are also solar battery packs. There are USB battery packs. I suspect there are also combo's of the three. If I understand correctly, your idea fits into that space. You can look at the prices these sell for ($20 or so) and figure out if your "value added" is 2X or 10X. I would suggest that it rarely will be 10X.Starting from a market price is *vital* in any design. There are a lot of things that are great ideas, but simply are to expensive for the market. The smaller the volume of manufacture, the more likely this is to be true. Competing against "comparison" devices that are volume produced will just make things worse. The customer will not dig into the volume issues, they will just look at the price.In any business plan, the cost of raw materials is only one aspect of the process. It's easy to get hung up on parts because you can price them out to a fraction of a penny. There are many other aspects to a running business. They typically soak up a lot of time and money. Since they are less easy to "see" often they do not get evaluated as carefully. Often you see "multipliers" tossed around as a way to estimate these costs. Some talk about a 2X parts multiplier, others talk about a 5X. There are a lot of numbers, it is well worth digging into them.Bob

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2016, 08:42:59 pm
content: Rampant capitalist here. Couldn't agree more. I'm forever getting shafted by the UK government.

author: VEGETA
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2016, 09:59:02 pm
content: Quote from: DiligentMinds.com on September 09, 2016, 04:45:23 pmI agree with you. However, these types of governments are usually corrupt just like ours. full of thieves and traitors, that is why they have huge taxes and strict security procedures. The security departments takes control of everything and intervenes in everything.However, lately I visited customs office and talked to them, they seemed cooperative enough to encourage me to dig into my hardware business. Thank God for that xD

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 01:32:53 pm
content: MY mom just had to pay 38$ import duty .. on a 24$ item ... ABSURDISTAN BELGIUM

author: Assafl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 06:25:26 pm
content: In Israel (next door- the cutoff is 75$. Above that you have VAT - and the next step I think is 150.But, if you use Israeli Post most stuff gets through. Prices in Israel are very high (even for crap stuff) so last year I think 50 million packages went through. And it is rising exponentially. They can hardly keep up with the amount of packages they have.So as long as you keep away from Fedex, DHL, UPS and any other currier - you will most likely sail under the radar.Does Israel have a free trade agreement with Jordan? If so - Maybe you can get stuff from here?

author: Assafl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 06:43:24 pm
content: So I asked a friend of mine who owns a bonded warehouse for delivery to Jordan on the Israeli side of the King Hussein bridge.He said there is a duty free area in Zarqua but he doesn't know if it will apply to an electronics hobbyist.His suggested to buy in Israel and hand carry through any of the 3 bridges. There are many reasons, including lower cost. As an example, companies such as Lion.co.il represent farnell, take farnell pricing (without shipping) and if they have it in local stock you sometimes get it near the waterfall price they had purchased it.But you need a visa to Israel which he says is not very easy to get (there is no visa waiver agreement between the countries).

author: Bryan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 06, 2017, 10:11:26 pm
content: In Canada anything brought in by mail with a vale of over $25.00 is subject duty and taxes. Although over the last couple years they don't seem to enforce it for personal. Not sure what the threshold is, but suspect it depends on what it is you are importing and the value. I have been pretty lucky and rarely get dinged if it' under $100.00. The big rub though is the courier companies just love to take advantage of this rule and slap on brokerage fees on anything over $25.00.

author: Sarah1390
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 02:57:33 am
content: Quote from: Bryan on February 06, 2017, 10:11:26 pmSo far I have yet to be dinged with import tax for eBay items but if it comes for example from amazon I get dinged 13% taxes for living in Ontario called the Harmonized sales tax. But on the other hand getting frustrated with shipping times over two months for eBay. A month I can easily handle but I hate the game when is it going to arrive.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 03:36:51 am
content: Tarifs seem to be very sporadic here in Canada. Generally there are none but think it really depends on where the item comes from and what it is. I got hit with a $600+ tariff once on electronics.

author: Assafl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 06:45:22 am
content: Quote from: Bryan on February 06, 2017, 10:11:26 pmMy conclusion was when I moved back to Israel that the only people that should ever use a courier services were businesses that are do their own customs brokerage. I don't blame the couriers, but the local outposts slap taxes (and on top of that handling and registration and other taarifs) on anything they can - and nearly always.I got taxed on a book twice. While there is no customs on books, they can be placed on the registry and you pay a handling fee...Recently they interviewed the local DHL managers and they were complaining that it wasn't their fault - since they are a brokerage as well they are required by law to register everything (or they are in violation of the law). Meanwhile the local postal service is not a brokerage - they have a customs office at the airport that transfers the package to them. They have a few workers there that pick large and/or strange and/or registered and/or phone shaped boxes (they also have dogs that look for stuff like drugs). So if you buy pharma in the US, the postal service will let it through, while DHL will need an import license.This is also true to the US. I imported a Paco-Jet from Canada and some artwork from Singapore, both used a courier - and both slapped with taxes. Anything that got in with USPS was customs and tax free.Wild west....

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 08:03:17 am
content: Yeah seems Canada Post / USPS is usually the way to go, but if it's like Ebay or something then you normally don't get to pick.

author: hans
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 09:20:09 am
content: In the Netherlands you have to pax taxes above 22 euro order valueTherefore most of my Ebay orders stay under.If you do have to pay more than 22 euro there is also an additional 10-15 euro fixed import tax and on top +21% VAT. Above 150 euro there is also 4.2% import tax, which you have to pay VAT over. Great! Certainly discourages people to buy crap abroad.That means an order just over 22 euro will suddenly cost 40 euro (+80%). And worst(actually best..) case, like if you buy 1-10kEUR worth of stuff, it's up by ~27%.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 09:29:37 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on February 06, 2017, 01:32:53 pmSimilar in Germany, just ridicules!The worst part here is the travel to the customs office and then stay there in line for an hour or three.And I don't even think that the money they are making will pay for the expenses they have in the customs office.

author: Assafl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 10:09:39 am
content: Quote from: hans on February 08, 2017, 09:20:09 amWhen I built my 3d printer I had lots of purchase orders under 70$ (shipping included). There were two packages that were over the 70$ (the reprap prints and the E3D hotend) and these sailed through undetected.The motors, controllers, displays, etc. were all in small packages under 70$ each. And in china you usually do not pay shipping.It's probably THE one reason that the US is so far ahead of all of our petit-bourgeois countries: the US government allows people far more freedoms of "doing stuff".And it isn't just purchase power - want to hotrod a car (and learn a bunch about mechanical engineering)? Legal in the US, illegal in Israel. Want to build a car, retrofit it with an electrical engine? (yes - there is a bit of paperwork - but it isn't illegal - it is encouraged).A kid wanting to build a robot is 10's to 100's of dollars away from parts in the US. The same parts - add a delivery markup (& customs & VAT & registration fees) - and combine with lower purchase power - and the kid needs to come from substantial wealth to be able to afford the same hobby here. And the diversity and accessibility are stunning: online, hobby shops, and McMaster carr for the outrageous (and usually expensive) stuff.

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 11:32:11 am
content: I can see Trump whacking an import tax on to parcels into the US.Here it is the same as many other countries. If an item is over about €22 comes in by normal post you are unlucky if it gets taxed, and if it does they use the declared value on the documentation and have a small handling charge. For example I was charged nothing on Dave's BM325, but now he has changed to DHL...If it comes in by courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS) they will always charge you, they ignore the value on the documentation (if from China etc) and if the postage was 'free' or not specified they use how much it costs to send the item back to calculate it. They then add in the handling charge of around €25. So with 'low' value items it is possible to end up paying much more in taxes and charges than the item originally cost.

author: jm_araujo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 11:56:11 am
content: Quote from: Towger on February 08, 2017, 11:32:11 amSame here in Portugal.Thanks to DHL services, had to pay 240€ in taxes and handling charges for a 3d Printer of 200€ with free postage.