customs question

[Little Prince]

Anyone have any idea what customs duty (percentage or whatever) I will get charged if I buy from Robert White (in UK)? I'm in the US?

I know this is a rather silly question for this forum, but I thought there must be a buch of people here who have done just that (buy from RW). So I can get a direct answer from 1st hand experience.

 

[jan normandale]

you should be able to log online to the US Revenue Agency and identify the duties for cameras. It is possible to access this for me in Canada for Canadian Revenue Agency so I am sure the US has a similar on line access.

Usually Canadian experience is that unless the item is made in the country where the goods are coming to there is little customs fee. EG... cameras coming into Canada are not subject to much customs duties because we have no need to 'protect' a domestic camera manufacturing business. However I will pay taxes just like I would if the goods were purchased in a store in Canada. Don't confuse the two. Customs duties may apply as 'taxes' may also apply.

Here I pay both Federal Tax and Provincial tax but not Customs Duties.

Check the US Government website for both duties and taxes.

 

[Robin Harrison]

There are no customs duties on cameras and such, coming from UK to US.
We can import duty free.

Grrr....not fair! I've just spent $475 on two lenses from the US (second hand, RFF of course) and customs charged me £75 (=$128 or 27% !!!!!!)

Still, this is the first time this has happened to me, and I've bought quite a bit from the states (maybe 8 or 9 items worth over the limit of £18).

 

[egpj]

I'd check with customs first. They probably will not mess with the package but you will want to know what the rules are by the book. No surprises.

 

[back alley]

how can that be?
i just got charged customs fees for a lens hood and 2 lenses that are on loan to me.
i have been charged customs fees in the past for japanese used gear coming in from the u.s. and australia.

robin, did the hood ever show up and did you get charged customs on it?

joe

 

[Little Prince]

Yeah, customs is not good to mess with. Can be a deal breaker. Well, at least I know US Revenue Agency is the place to check with. Gotta do some ground checks...

Robin, $128 is steep! Too bad.

 

[furcafe]

It's U.S. Customs & Border Protection, now part of the Dept. of Homeland Security, not the Treasury Dept. You can try to check CBP's website (http://www.cbp.gov), but greyhoundman is correct, it is highly unlikely that customs duties will be imposed on photographic equipment imported from the UK.

 

[jan normandale]

how can that be?
i just got charged customs fees for a lens hood and 2 lenses that are on loan to me.
i have been charged customs fees in the past for japanese used gear coming in from the u.s. and australia.

robin, did the hood ever show up and did you get charged customs on it?

joe

Joe was it customs or CCR charging the taxes and handling charges? OTH this stuff can be highly arbitrary if you have to go thru an 'enthusiastic' agent.

 

[back alley]

what's ccr?

joe

 

[StuartR]

This is uncanny, as I was trying to figure out the same question last night. I have two problems -- one I was thinking of ordering an expensive piece of kit from Robert White, and the other is that I was thinking of shipping some camera gear (already mine) to myself from Japan to the US. If I have to pay duties (or even tax), then it does not make sense to buy overseas. I can buy out of state from Adorama or B&H and not have to pay tax, but if I buy from Dorset, then I do? That doesn't make sense. I have bought stuff from overseas before and not had to pay a duty, but it is usually on small (either physically or cost wise) things. If I were to ship a lot of gear back or buy something large and bulky from Robert White, then will I get reamed by customs? The whole question is enough to make me think whether the potential dollars saved are worth it....