Does anyone have any experience buying on eBay/Amazon and shipping here etc. In particular the customs and other fees involved?
I want something on eBay that is not particularly big nor heavy (less than 1kg - Gioteck PS 3 controller) and have never done it before.
eBay says something about customs fees and additional charges. Does anyone have a ballpark figure.
My item is coming from a UK seller if that makes a difference. Thanks!
Guys, does anyone have a link to any table regarding customs fees? I remember there was something like that around her but my SEARCH efforts have been futile. I have something incoming that’s over 120 USD and I want to estimate the Ouch -percentage of taxes.
JamesH, the problem is not the weight, but the declared value of the item. If over 100 usd, you pay customs, if under, well, no.
That Ebay thinghie is a new feature to me. I have written and explained the situation to Ebay customer service -as I was being charged like 12 USD customs fees on a 4 USD item - and they replied that that was between me and the vendor. WTH?! If it is under 100 usd, it shouldn’t pay taxes! I wrote to the vendor and he said they’ll have to see after I buy the thing. So I did not but the thing!
Quick question: when they tax you, it is for the goods value only, I mean, not goods plus shipping as total cost over 100 so they hit you with the taxes?
If you buy under the eBay global shipping option, than duties are automatically calculated.
If you buy from a seller not using global shipping I guarantee you will not be charged any duties on such an item. Do your homework, it is all explained on ebay.
[quote=“bigduke6”]If you buy under the eBay global shipping option, than duties are automatically calculated.
If you buy from a seller not using global shipping I guarantee you will not be charged any duties on such an item. Do your homework, it is all explained on ebay.[/quote]
That is what Ebay said, that it was an extra help/service by the seller. I do not think that is accurate. Nor are they sending the stuff buy expedite EMS DHL kind of parcel. Example: I am looking at a magazine in the other screen, and the seller is asking 5.99 usd for it. Shipping to Taiwan is 19.03 usd (with tracking) AND import charges 10.31 usd. :loco: If we presume that the taxes are applicable to items over 100 usd, there should be no charges at all. That the charges they are quoting are double the value of the item smells fishy to me. I told so to Ebay. I do notice this is the case with novice vendors, the ones I have been dealing for a while do not have this point. That is my beef with this issue.
[quote=“Icon”][quote=“bigduke6”]If you buy under the eBay global shipping option, than duties are automatically calculated.
If you buy from a seller not using global shipping I guarantee you will not be charged any duties on such an item. Do your homework, it is all explained on ebay.[/quote]
That is what Ebay said, that it was an extra help/service by the seller. I do not think that is accurate. Nor are they sending the stuff buy expedite EMS DHL kind of parcel. Example: I am looking at a magazine in the other screen, and the seller is asking 5.99 usd for it. Shipping to Taiwan is 19.03 usd (with tracking) AND import charges 10.31 usd. :loco: If we presume that the taxes are applicable to items over 100 usd, there should be no charges at all. That the charges they are quoting are double the value of the item smells fishy to me. I told so to Ebay. I do notice this is the case with novice vendors, the ones I have been dealing for a while do not have this point. That is my beef with this issue.[/quote]
Also remember Global Shipping is centralised, as far as I can tell. Seller ships to Ebay, who forward it on to the buyer. They do not do this for free.
I refuse to purchase under this option, and usually I will tell the seller and the reason. Usually they will then sell to me outside the Global Shipping option.
I must have purchased 500 things on Ebay, and only once have i paid duty, and that was on a large order of Scuba equipment.
Global; Shipping is just another way Ebay fleeces you. Before Global Shipping they could only charge the seller. now they can effectively charge the buyer as well. Great business model!!!11
Could this be what you’re looking for: Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, Tariff Database
Customs duties for any country are easy to figure out.
- Determine the H.S. classification number for the product.
- Determine country of origin for any preferential duty rates.
- Peruse the tariff system of the country in to which the goods are being imported for specific rates of duty.
- Be aware of standard WTO allowable deductions, and mandated additions to the value for duty. General Interpretive Rules, as well.
- Last but not least, do not except the determination of any exporter, and above all, any shipping company to do any of the 1 through 3 above. As the onus is on the importer of record, which means you.
If I gave out any more info, I would have to charge, as I am a licensed customs broker, and need to pay it back.
I should say that in a normal country, any split shipments for the purpose of lowering the value for duty, would be caught fairly quick.
But this is Taiwan, where many officials are not even aware of their own laws. Which means, that as an importer, one must step up one’s game.
Generally keep the invoice under 100 usd and you will not be flagged for import tax, that’s my impression.
Some people use EMS which may also avoid scrutiny a little more , but if commercial goods should still included invoice and mark as sample or place value at less than 100 usd to avoid tax.
[quote=“TheGingerMan”]Customs duties for any country are easy to figure out.
- Determine the H.S. classification number for the product.
- Determine country of origin for any preferential duty rates.
- Peruse the tariff system of the country in to which the goods are being imported for specific rates of duty.
- Be aware of standard WTO allowable deductions, and mandated additions to the value for duty. General Interpretive Rules, as well.
- Last but not least, do not except the determination of any exporter, and above all, any shipping company to do any of the 1 through 3 above. As the onus is on the importer of record, which means you.
If I gave out any more info, I would have to charge, as I am a licensed customs broker, and need to pay it back.
I should say that in a normal country, any split shipments for the purpose of lowering the value for duty, would be caught fairly quick.
But this is Taiwan, where many officials are not even aware of their own laws. Which means, that as an importer, one must step up one’s game.[/quote]
Thanks for the info. But all I wanted to know is if I have to pay taxes on my DVDs! 
I just discovered that they add the shipping charges into the total value of the item.
My mother sent me a package and claimed the value at $75.00. The shipping was $60.00, so we had to pay duty on it. As long as the combined value plus shipping is not over $100, you should be okay.
[quote=“Gilgamesh”]I just discovered that they add the shipping charges into the total value of the item.
My mother sent me a package and claimed the value at $75.00. The shipping was $60.00, so we had to pay duty on it. As long as the combined value plus shipping is not over $100, you should be okay.[/quote]
Oh, oh, now that’s a problem.
Can anyone else confirm this? Seems rather nasty on the ROC customs to pull such a fast one. Not nice.
No, it’s normal in any country, import duty is calculated on cost plus shipping ( FOB, freight on board ) … Duty % depends on the item shipped, VAT is 5% on the total, cost+shipping+duty.
You should not pay duty on the shipping leg in country of origin, VAT or taxes paid in the country of origin. So see to it that it’s mentioned separate on the invoice. In Europe they normally don’t add VAT anyways on export items but the company needs an EORI number to be VAT exempt on exports. If they don’t have it they can apply, or you can pay VAT on your purchase but you don’t need to pay duty and VAT on it (the cost plus VAT) in Taiwan.
Hope everything is clearly understood.
Responses to dumb posts were sent from my Nexus 7, I hate Apple BTW, with Tapatalk 8
[quote=“Icon”]
Thanks for the info. But all I wanted to know is if I have to pay taxes on my DVDs! 
[/quote]
Those are dutiable, last I checked. Which was a few years ago, I must admit.
[quote=“TheGingerMan”][quote=“Icon”]
Thanks for the info. But all I wanted to know is if I have to pay taxes on my DVDs! [/quote]
Those are dutiable, last I checked. Which was a few years ago, I must admit.[/quote]
What do you mean by dutiable? That no matter if it is 9 usd, I will have to pay 30% off taxes?! Or just if the whole bunch of DVDs goes over 100 usd?
[quote=“Belgian Pie”]No, it’s normal in any country, import duty is calculated on cost plus shipping ( FOB, freight on board ) … Duty % depends on the item shipped, VAT is 5% on the total, cost+shipping+duty.
You should not pay duty on the shipping leg in country of origin, VAT or taxes paid in the country of origin. So see to it that it’s mentioned separate on the invoice. In Europe they normally don’t add VAT anyways on export items but the company needs an EORI number to be VAT exempt on exports. If they don’t have it they can apply, or you can pay VAT on your purchase but you don’t need to pay duty and VAT on it (the cost plus VAT) in Taiwan.
Hope everything is clearly understood.
Responses to dumb posts were sent from my Nexus 7, I hate Apple BTW, with Tapatalk 8[/quote]
Clear as Belgian chocolate.
There is a duty free limit on items when brought in when arriving from abroad and entering the country … many people don’t realize that Taiwan customs is not enforcing it at the airport.
dutycalculator.com/country-g … to-Taiwan/
Seemingly Taiwan levies on CIF if applicable (cost, insurance, freight) not just FOB …
[quote] Import duty & taxes when importing into Taiwan (ROC)
Overview
Import duty and taxes are due when importing goods into Taiwan whether by a private individual or a commercial entity. The valuation method is CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight), which means that the import duty and taxes payable are calculated on the complete shipping value, which includes the cost of the imported goods, the cost of freight, and the cost of insurance. In addition to duty, imports are also subject to sales tax, trade promotion tax, commodity tax, and in some cases to excise in the form of liquor tax and tobacco tax in addition to health welfare tax.
Duty Rates
Duty rates in Taiwan vary from 0% to 30%, with the average duty rate at 6.52%. Some products can be imported free of duty (e.g. books, laptops and other electronic products).
Sales Tax
VAT is levied on imports at a standard rate of 5%, calculated on the sum of the CIF value, duty, commodity tax, and excise if applicable.
Minimum thresholds
Imports with a CIF value up to TWD 3,000 are exempt of duty. However, sales tax and other taxes are applicable.[/quote]
Responses to dumb posts were sent from my Nexus 7, I hate Apple BTW, with Tapatalk 8
[quote=“Icon”][quote=“TheGingerMan”][quote=“Icon”]
Thanks for the info. But all I wanted to know is if I have to pay taxes on my DVDs! [/quote]
Those are dutiable, last I checked. Which was a few years ago, I must admit.[/quote]
What do you mean by dutiable? That no matter if it is 9 usd, I will have to pay 30% off taxes?! Or just if the whole bunch of DVDs goes over 100 usd?[/quote]
Ok, did a search. Turns out they are not dutiable (subject to duty), but there is a 5% sales tax levied. A trade promotion of .04% may be applied if one brings in a sizeable number.
Use this link to inquire for duty rates. It helps to have the correct H.S. classification number, but the description query often works quite well.
eweb.customs.gov.tw/RateWebEn/Search1.aspx
A search for DVDs:
eweb.customs.gov.tw/RateWebEn/Se … e=20131226
Other useful links for importers:
eweb.customs.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem … tNode=6488
dutycalculator.com/country-g … to-Taiwan/
OK, I’ll try bringing in just two sets, keep it barely under 100 -like 99, or 90 something, bit close- and see what happens.
OK, set 1 was a bit over 100 usd, no problem, no taxes, no delays. Set 2 is on its way. So far, so good.