Importing a knife into the US from Europe

Maprik

Maprik

Joined
May 17, 2012
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I need some advice!! I am considering buying a Strider from someone in Europe. Will I have to pay an import tax or something? Is there going to be a customs problem? This is not a cheap purchase so I'd be most comfortable if the seller declared it for exactly what it is and insured it for its full value. But will that cause me to have to pay extra duties?
 
I have purchased items from the UK and never paid any duty. The items were not very expensive, less than $200. The packages were not opened for inspection.
I am not sure what amount triggers a duty. $400 maybe?

Edit. I tried to find information on import duty for individuals and as usual, it is very complicated. Chances are that you won't have to pay anything unless it's
something that catches their attention.

Just out of curiosity, what country are you importing from and is it over $400?
 
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from the U.S. customs website: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/126/kw/duty rate/related/1

Packages that do not pass free of duty will have a yellow Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mail Entry form (CBP 3419A), attached to the outer wrapper. A CBP Officer will have already filled out this form with the item's tariff classification number, rate of duty, processing fee, and the total amount that must be paid in order to take possession of the shipment.

You should keep this yellow form until you are certain that you intend to keep the merchandise.

CBP then sends the parcel back to the Postal Service, which sends it to a local post office for delivery.

Note: Most personal shipments worth up to $200, and gift packages worth up to $100, will pass duty-free as long as the recipient does not receive multiple packages in a single day whose cumulative value is more than these amounts.
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i also found this: united states international trade commission http://hts.usitc.gov click on chapter 82, then look at heading/subheading 8211.93.00 :

.
 
Does the fact that it's made in the USA (Strider) make it exempt from tariffs?
 
Maprik said:
Does the fact that it's made in the USA (Strider) make it exempt from tariffs?
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It is possible. Also, if it's marked as used merchandise it may make a difference. Anyway, even if you have to pay duty, it won't be very much.

From what I read, the first $200 is free and anything over that is about 3% (depending on the country it's coming from) In any event, I doubt that
it would cost you very much.
 
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Is it a percentage of the value or a flat rate for a price range? I'm just thinking that after shipping, insurance, and duty it might actually cost me more than if I just waited for one to pop up domestically...
 
Maprik said:
Is it a percentage of the value or a flat rate for a price range? I'm just thinking that after shipping, insurance, and duty it might actually cost me more than if I just waited for one to pop up domestically...
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you could always call customs and find out how much duty you will pay on a $300 used knife being shipped from poland. i doubt the duty will be very much, if anything at all.
 
I drove to Canada back in 2003, when the exchange rate was $1 us = $1.68 Canadian. Bought a Polaris Sportsman 500 HO atv, loaded up. Got to the border & they told me i had to pay an import tax. I asked why. They countered with blah- blah blah blah. I countered with no, i shouldn't have to pay an import tax, because i am not importing it. He said WTF do you mean. I said, I was simply returning it to it's country of origin. He said SHOW ME. I walked him outside & showed him where it said right on the side, molded into the metal "MADE IN THE U.S.A." He looked at it, then looked at me & started laughing. He then stamped my paperwork & told me to go. I paid no import tax that day !!! Saved me much money. Now, the dollar is worth the same or thereabouts.
 
Maprik said:
Is it a percentage of the value or a flat rate for a price range? I'm just thinking that after shipping, insurance, and duty it might actually cost me more than if I just waited for one to pop up domestically...
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You're guess is as good as mine. Most of the stuff that I have read on the subject is aimed at companies importing goods.

The best I can figure is that any duty would be on $100 ($200 is duty free) and I doubt that customs would even bother with it.
 
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