FedEx Duty and Tax Invoice

[NHBull]

Howdy Folks,

 

I got a JDM reel from Digitaka a few weeks ago and got a tax invoice for 43.76. 

 

This is the first time getting one.  Anyone else get one?

[Dwight Hottle]

Never got one with about 20 reels purchased from Japan. But I always new it could happen. Who was the shipper?

[DomQ]

This is why I hate surprises 

[Spankey]

Gets a bit too personal when that happens. Heck only a fishing reel. 

[NHBull]

30 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Never got one with about 20 reels purchased from Japan. But I always new it could happen. Who was the shipper?

FedEx 

[Dwight Hottle]

8 minutes ago, NHBull said:

FedEx 

That's a covid result because they usually ship EMS then USPS but EMS is disrupted. 

[JustJames]

Was it come in separate mail or on packing list? I never opened packing list when received the package. I plan to order another reel and rod from Japan and hope this doesn’t happen. 

[NHBull]

3 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Was it come in separate mail or on packing list? I never opened packing list when received the package. I plan to order another reel and rod from Japan and hope this doesn’t happen. 

 

3 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Was it come in separate mail or on packing list? I never opened packing list when received the package. I plan to order another reel and rod from Japan and hope this doesn’t happen. 

It came in a separate envelope a couple weeks later....?

[A-Jay]

Was only a matter of time ~

?

A-Jay

[Deephaven]

How much was the total purchase?  I was told by an exporter that if it was over $800 then you would get fee's....but that number may have been different as it was over a year ago.  ie, $600 or something.  Just wondering if you broke the threshold.  

[Tim Kelly]

You're lucky. We get charged tax (20%) and duty(8%) plus a handling fee (£12) for anything over £18 ($25ish) And get done on pretty much everything. Very rare to get something sneak through without attracting the full hit. For some reason things from China (Ali Express) rarely get taxed, but then it's quite difficult to spend £20 on lures from Ali as they're so cheap! LOL

[KP Duty]

I purchased several  jdm rods last year, and got hit each time.  I have ordered countless reels and baits from japan in the past, and wasn't bothered.  I ordered two rods at a time to save on shipping, but averaged about $67 in customs fees per rod tube through fedex.

[NHBull]

8 hours ago, Deephaven said:

How much was the total purchase?  I was told by an exporter that if it was over $800 then you would get fee's....but that number may have been different as it was over a year ago.  ie, $600 or something.  Just wondering if you broke the threshold.  

Under 500.00

[Deephaven]

Oh that sucks.

 

[Jigfishn10]

Is it that much cheaper to buy Japanese products (less duty and tax) now or are certain products no available over here and you kinda have to buy overseas? 

I would think at one point back in the day where the USD was worth a lot more than the Yen it would be advantageous but now? Not so much.

Just wondering if there are advantages or not?

[NHBull]

3 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Is it that much cheaper to buy Japanese products (less duty and tax) now or are certain products no available over here and you kinda have to buy overseas? 

I would think at one point back in the day where the USD was worth a lot more than the Yen it would be advantageous but now? Not so much.

Just wondering if there are advantages or not?

While things are cheaper for me it is usually about buying gear that is not in the US market or hard to find

[JustJames]

I’m with @NHBullhere. I ordered some reels from Japan if the same reel is significantly cheaper but mostly for the needed specs that is not available in US market. 

[LCG]

I ordered a reel from Japan and shipped via FedEx. Duty was $43, Canadian as well so that may have some bearing. But still cheaper and the reel I bought wasn't available here anywhere remotely close. 

[bulldog1935]

On 1/29/2021 at 7:57 AM, Jigfishn10 said:

Is it that much cheaper to buy Japanese products (less duty and tax) now or are certain products no available over here and you kinda have to buy overseas? 

I would think at one point back in the day where the USD was worth a lot more than the Yen it would be advantageous but now? Not so much.

Just wondering if there are advantages or not?

using Stradic for example, the reels are $50-$70 cheaper than buying the US-market version here, and with Asian Portal, they pick up the Fed-Ex Express tab for any $100 order.  If you keep it at that level, you'll never get a Customs invoice.  

They'll also get it to you in 3-4 days (I've had as short as 40 hours), and we know how USPS and UPS can bog down on our shores.  

 

Any time the dollar is worth more than JPY 100, it's worth buying in Japan.  

 

Found this on US Customs website, when you're charged import duty, its because a customs inspector makes the call the item is not for personal use.  Ordering two rods at a time is probably pushing it - big packages stand out.  

 

• Personal vs. Commercial Use: Many import regulations only apply to goods imported for commercial - business or resale - purposes. For instance, most goods imported for personal use are not subject to quota. The one exception to this is made-to-measure suits from Hong Kong, which are subject to quota restrictions regardless of the use they are imported for. On the other hand, import restrictions that are based on health, safety and protecting endangered species apply across the board.

Note: U.S. Customs and Border Protection is authorized to make judgment calls about what qualifies as personal use. Several suits that are identical or a number of very similar handbags will have a hard time passing the credibility test as items for personal use.

For Commercial Purposes: Goods imported for commercial purposes must comply with a variety of special requirements, such as marking of country of origin, which vary depending upon the particular commodity. Please see our publication, "Importing Into the United States," for more detailed information. Be particularly aware that an invoice should always accompany commercial shipments.

 

Can't blame Fed-Ex for the fact that you were charged Customs Duty.  The only reason you received it at all is that Fed-Ex paid the import duty for you so that US Customs would release the item:  

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/internet-purchases

Customs can hold your package 45 days, in fact, before you're allowed to submit a Customs trace, it must be held in customs that long.  

Believe me, ISC Customs shipping EMS postal through LAX, SFO, ORD, or JFK is worse than courier through Memphis or Cincinnati.  

[Big Lou]

I see this is an old thread, but I thought I'd add my recent experience...

 

I had bought reels from Asian Portal one or two at a time several times and never been hit with an import duty. All of those purchases were under about $500, and most were delivered by FedEx (in two days).

 

AP had a 5% sale over a month ago, and I bought three (different) reels, which came to over $800. This time, I received a bill from FedEx for the 6% duty, plus the $10 FedEx charges to pay the duty upfront for you.

 

Not sure if it was a customs officer making a "three-reels" judgment call, or if I crossed a value threshold. Probably the latter. I should have looked it up but was too lazy. I had a $1,000 threshold in my head when I made the purchase. The "judgment call" is new to me, though. Hadn't read it before.

 

Lou

[ATA]

I have a lot from asian portal fishing , rod and reels, more than 10 of them over $700 and $800, They always shipped free with fedex and never paid extra payment.

also I have Japan tackle and one other website few reels also more than $700 and they have send with DHL and FedEx and it was just last month(my two Antares DC 21), and again they didn't ask for any payment.