OT - are there taxes for lenses, from Canada, entering the USA?

[Vickko]

OT - are there taxes for lenses, from Canada, entering the USA?

Thanks in advance.

Vick

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I remember I had to pay customs for my canon IIb with lens as its value was over 50$...They said anything entering with a value over 50$ even it is gift you have to pay tax...correct me if I am wrong...

 

[Vickko]

Thanks, but I'm asking "If I'm in the USA, and a lens came to me, from Canada, do I have to pay tax?"

 

[kuzano]

Let me start the "flame war" on this......

Let me start the "flame war" on this......

You can check with your local postal inspectors, but I operate under the illusion and advice that all "optical instruments" entering the USA from other countries are exempt from customs duties (ie taxes), and that cameras/lenses are included in that exemption.

I have purchased numerous camera's from foreign sources in many countries (mostly via eBay) and never been charged, nor for that matter, inspected for such, as far as I can recall. A number of camera/lens items from Canada as well.

I seem, however, to have misplaced my law degree, and cannot recall actually having had one. Old age is a Beeeaaaatch!

 

[Vics]

Doesn't the US have a free trade agreement with Canada? NAFTA?
Vic

 

[kxl]

There are customs broker fees when sending to/from US/Canada when sending via UPS or Fedex. This is NOT a tax. Both carriers use private customs broker services to deal with Customs; they pass on part/all of the fee to the consumer.

There is NO such fee with USPS, since they deal with Customs themselves.

 

[splitimageview]

NAFTA is for stuff produced in North America.

There are no duties for importing photo gear that I know of, I've looked it up on the US harmonized code. I've imported from many countries and never paid any duties.

 

[dfoo]

There is no duty, but you do have to pay HST/GST. As someone said above use USPS, not FedEx or UPS (unless you like paying obscene brokerage fees).

 

[splitimageview]

Those may apply to Canadians but there is no HST or GST in the USA. 🙂

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

There are customs broker fees when sending to/from US/Canada when sending via UPS or Fedex. This is NOT a tax. Both carriers use private customs broker services to deal with Customs; they pass on part/all of the fee to the consumer.

There is NO such fee with USPS, since they deal with Customs themselves.

If you ship with UPS/Fedex expedited or priority those fees are included, not in UPS/Fedex ground shipping option though.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have never paid a customs tax on anything bought from Canada that was shipped by the Canadian Postal Service.

The only time that I paid customs was on a shipment, used photographic equipment, sent from Hong Kong via FEDEX. They billed me for about 5% of the value.

Do not ship out of the country using FEDEX and UPS. Additionally, some of the higher-priced Global Express will sub to such services in some countries. I had problems sending an item to France due to this, but never shipping International First Class.