New York (AP) – US consumers are getting used to it Shop the world Without paying customs duties in international packages, they receive from large e-commerce companies such as: Scene and Temspecialty stores and companies that sell products in online markets such as Amazon, Etsy, and eBay.
That era is It’s about to end. On Friday, the US plans to eliminate tariff exemptions that allow imports of less than $800 to enter tax-free countries. in “de minimis” exemption sunsetsuch shipments will have flat tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% of the declared value, or between $80 and $200 per parcel for the next six months.
“Consumers will be shocked,” said Alison Layfield, vice president of product development at international shipping and logistics provider Epost Global. “I think they’ll see that extra cost, either in sticker shocks or somewhere along the way.”
Customers are not necessarily in the hook to pay all import taxes on their orders, depending on where they shop, what they buy, and how much of the cost retailer decides to set themselves up. But considering the confusion Foreign Postal Serviceprivate shipping companies and merchants have expressed their new obligations, with some delays and other hiccups likely to be inevitable.
To avoid the surprising customs bill, there are several factors to keep in mind when shopping online.
Where does the product come from?
It may seem easy, but finding the country of origin for items sold online is not always easy. According to Epost Global’s Layfield, it may contain high information, so please click on the product description to continue expanding. Once you find it, you can look at US tariff charges for the goods in that country to estimate what the import cost is and see if the seller lists customs duties at checkout.
Those who cover delivery obligations
Shoppers may need to pay a bill to receive their order through customs and may not be necessary. The former means that the vendor plans to pay import taxes and process related documents, but some may raise customer prices and recover costs. If the website says that it is unpaid obligation, also known as “delivery in place,” then paying it will fall to the buyer.
How are orders processed?
Another way to avoid import taxes is to check if the company you are purchasing meets your order from a US warehouse. Check the “Ships From” notes in product details to see where your order will be packaged and shipped. For example, eBay users can only search for products shipped from US brands with overseas headquarters.
When US Customs and Border Security Intervene
Once the package arrives in the US, the first stop is customs clear skies. Therefore, the boundary agent reviews the digitized harmonization system (HS) code of the Customs Declaration. This code is a numerical method used worldwide to classify traded products and determine obligation rates.
If a package is shipped via the International Postal Service, which is part of the US Postal Service and is subject to customs fees or obligations, you may need to pay at the time of delivery or pickup. Courier services such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS require customers to bill or pay for delivery.
What to do with surprise import fees?
Since the last thing sellers and shippers want is an angry customer, there is an incentive to make the costs associated with termination of the exemption as clear as possible. Unfortunately, there is not much that consumers can do if they receive an unexpected customs bill. If you don’t think your obligation is right, you can challenge it. You may also refuse delivery, but a refund may not be made.
