Hi. I just ordered a bunch of stuff from Play-Asia, and I realized it's probably above the threshold for import duties (the threshold is $2000 for goods in general, but I think it's $250 for toys and games; curse customs and its classifications).
Anyway, this is shipping via UPS, and I was wondering if anybody's done this before, and knows what I have to do to get it through customs. Will UPS contact me? Do I need to contact customs myself? Do I need to hire a broker?
The UPS site is pretty confusing on the subject, since they seem to be catering to business importers. The US customs service just says that "Goods shipped by courier, express, or other commercial service usually are expedited through CBP by a customs broker hired by that commercial service and then delivered seamlessly to your door."
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/infre ... chases.xml
Does this mean UPS will just take care of it? Somehow I doubt that.
Clearing customs on UPS shipments
Has the order shipped yet?
If it hasn't, you can try e-mailing play-asia to under-declare the value (you specify the value) and maybe you can get away. At the very least, you'll just pay fewer duties.
Edit: I'm not sure how it works, but I suspect UPS takes care of it to bring it into the country, but then they give you an invoice to cover the cost. Same thing in the end.
If it hasn't, you can try e-mailing play-asia to under-declare the value (you specify the value) and maybe you can get away. At the very least, you'll just pay fewer duties.
Edit: I'm not sure how it works, but I suspect UPS takes care of it to bring it into the country, but then they give you an invoice to cover the cost. Same thing in the end.
Thanks for the help, though I'd rather not lie to the US customs service.
As it turns out, UPS just cleared it straight through and it arrived without my having to do anything at all. Maybe I was wrong about the customs classification of video games and hardware? Or maybe customs is just overwhelmed by the volume and overlooks a lot of stuff.
Anyway, just thought I'd follow up and let you guys know what happened, in case anybody else out there is as new to importing as I am.
As it turns out, UPS just cleared it straight through and it arrived without my having to do anything at all. Maybe I was wrong about the customs classification of video games and hardware? Or maybe customs is just overwhelmed by the volume and overlooks a lot of stuff.
Anyway, just thought I'd follow up and let you guys know what happened, in case anybody else out there is as new to importing as I am.
According to the US tariff chart, there aren't any duties placed on amusement type goods from Japan. I've never had to pay any customs charge myself, but then again it's never gotten over $1800 (marked as 'merchandise', with commercial invoice attached).k_seattle wrote:Maybe I was wrong about the customs classification of video games and hardware?
Well, Play-Asia's in Hong Kong, not Japan, and the US customs site says something about toys and games being special goods. So it's hard to say.
Actually, the customs site says that customs clearance agents train for months to learn the hundreds (thousands?) of pages of the customs code, so I'm not going to try to guess whether a video game counts as a toy or consumer electronics or media goods or whatever.
Actually, the customs site says that customs clearance agents train for months to learn the hundreds (thousands?) of pages of the customs code, so I'm not going to try to guess whether a video game counts as a toy or consumer electronics or media goods or whatever.
It's fairly clear on this tariff chart for toys and games: Duty free, unless coming from Cuba and North Korea.
http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/tata/hts/ ... 602C95.pdf
Index:
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm
http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/tata/hts/ ... 602C95.pdf
Index:
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm