Shipping a watch to the US, are there taxes?

[yoda888]

Not sure where to post this, hopefully this is the right forum.

If someone ships me a used watch from Asia, how does customs/taxes work for me receiving it in the US?

The watch will be insured for full value.

[John Deaux]

If everything is claimed and insured properly, yes you will pay something. I had a watch shipped from Italy once and Fed Ex hit me up with the bill.

[yoda888]

What if the watch shipment was fully insured and the item was marked as a gift. How would that work? The watch likely will be shipped via FedEx if that makes a difference.

[yoda888]

Originally Posted by John Deaux

If everything is claimed and insured properly, yes you will pay something. I had a watch shipped from Italy once and Fed Ex hit me up with the bill.

Can I ask what the bill was as a percentage vs. the watch.? Hoping it’s reasonable.

[77T]

You will be assessed a duty based upon the declared value that the seller puts on his export form. It’s a sliding scale that begins at 0% for $800, 8% at $5,000 and flattens out approaching $100,000.

How much is your import?

Either way…
The carrier becomes a 3rd party to collect duties before the shipment is released by US customs and delivered to you.

Don’t suborn fraud on the sellers part - you’ll be risking more than the few $$$ you should pay by a factor of 10x if that “gift” gets queried.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[yoast]

Ypu need to include a watch sheet which you can download from Fedex.
This is the tax value breakdown:

HTS Code 9102.21.70
* Movement – Flat fee of $1.53
* Case – 4.2%
* Bracelet/Band – 9.8% for textile/metal, 2% for others (9102.21.90)

Don't include any exotic straps under any circumstance.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by yoda888

What if the watch shipment was fully insured and the item was marked as a gift. How would that work? The watch likely will be shipped via FedEx if that makes a difference.

It is an import, which has import duty due.

Doesn't matter if it is a gift or not. An exception might be if it was originally a US purchase that is being reimported since import tax is only applied once.

Often the shipping company pays the tax and passes it on to you.

[SMD]

If your state has a sales tax you will also owe that on the purchase as well.

[yoda888]

Who fills out the watch sheet? The shipper or recipient?

The watch is ~$11k from Hong Kong to California. I did not think duty would be so high on a watch. This has got me re-evaluating things. May be less expensive to ship things in pieces!

[John Deaux]

Originally Posted by yoda888

Can I ask what the bill was as a percentage vs. the watch.? Hoping it’s reasonable.

It was quite a few years ago. I may be off, but my total was around $4000 and I think the amount owed was roughly 8-10%, maybe a hair less.

[RichardBartlett]

Easier probably cheaper and better to take trip out there to enjoy the area for a few days and do the deal face to face..

[yoast]

Originally Posted by yoda888

Who fills out the watch sheet? The shipper or recipient?

The watch is ~$11k from Hong Kong to California. I did not think duty would be so high on a watch. This has got me re-evaluating things. May be less expensive to ship things in pieces!

Shipper fills it out.
I don't think i am allowed to state the way to fill it out but seems obvious enough?

[DARK_KNIGHT]

The safest way is to declare the approximate value and pay the taxes. You will have no regrets.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by SMD

If your state has a sales tax you will also owe that on the purchase as well.

Yes, the shipper who collected the customs duty will also notify your state taxing authority of the value for sales tax purposes.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by yoda888

What if the watch shipment was fully insured and the item was marked as a gift. How would that work? The watch likely will be shipped via FedEx if that makes a difference.

I wouldn’t recommend trying to be cute with customs.