Watch out for customs duties!

[Chadx]

Now, assemble the pipe and leave it sitting by the lounge chair so you can play didgeridoo sounds through it till your bike arrives...

It would probably work well for that!

 

[fredz43]

Ok, I just got a call from somebody at Priority Air Freight saying they wanted a fax number so I could pay $8 brokerage fee and any additional duty on two S10 adjustable windscreen brackets. from Motoradgarage. I told them that there was no duty on articles from Australia under $1000 and he told me that was not true. I told him that I just read about this from others who have bought from this vendor recently and there should be no duty if under $1000. He told me that if it was over $200, I would have to pay duty and this package was marked $300. I told him he was wrong and I didn't have a fax number anyway. He said he would go back to the shipper. I took that to mean he would go back to the shipper for clarification. After I hung up I thought I hope he doesn't mean he will send it back to the shipper. That could be one big mess and I could be out over $400 for the brackets and shipping! That number was 718 244 8595, which googled as Customs, International Trade office at JFK. We need to get this stuff straightened out.

 

[ptfjjj]

All, here is where I found the booty on the duty. Go to the following link and click on the U.S. Harmonized Tarriff Schedule. Then schroll down to page 494. Paragraph 8714 is the beginning of the tariff schedule for motorcycle, bicycle, and scooter parts. There are several items on the list that still require a duty, but since exhaust is not specificaly mentioned, I was able to talk them into putting it into the "other" category which requires no duty. I was speaking with Linda on option 5 of the phone menu, and she was very pleasent. Take a look at the schedule first and prepare to make an argument for having your part not fit into one of the categories that require a tariff and then give her a call. She is the one that will be handling the payment anyway, so you will have to deal with her eventually. Also, she can email you the clearance form if you don't have a way to receive a fax, but you will have to fax back the form to complete the process.


http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/australian-fta/final-text

 

[TEN YC]

I received my windshield bracket in nyc 4 days afters it was shipped from Western Australia with no such issues. I guess it all depends on who processes your package at customs.

 

[ptfjjj]

I received my windshield bracket in nyc 4 days afters it was shipped from Western Australia with no such issues. I guess it all depends on who processes your package at customs.

I think the trigger here is the declared value. If > or = $200, then Uncle Sam wants a cut.

 

[TEN YC]

So Mike put a different value on your package than mine?

 

[ptfjjj]

So Mike put a different value on your package than mine?

Sorry for the confussion, but my package was a Wasp exhaust. The declared value was $840. Hopefully your bracket had a significantly lower declared value?

 

[TEN YC]

Sorry for the confussion, but my package was a Wasp exhaust. The declared value was $840. Hopefully your bracket had a significantly lower declared value?

oh I was actually talking about Fred's package for the bracket. As for the customs value on my bracket, I'm not sure what it said since I've thrown all the packaging away. But the bracket is onnly $150. But Fred is being hassled while I wasn't

 

[ptfjjj]

Fred bought 2 brackets, so he is just over the limit while you were just below it.

 

[TEN YC]

ahh didn't realize he got 2.


Fred isn't 1 windshield on the bike enough? Is the other for a tailwind??? The wind won't kill you! )

 

[jajpko]

Fred bought 2 brackets, so he is just over the limit while you were just below it.

I have gone to the site and could not find anything specific for the windshield bracket. As you have been there and have worked on your problem, do you see anything I have missed.
This all started because I thought we could save some money on shipping, but it is getting totally out of hand. Maybe it would be best to just pay the dues and chalk it up to experience What do you think?

 

[fredz43]

ahh didn't realize he got 2.


Fred isn't 1 windshield on the bike enough? Is the other for a tailwind??? The wind won't kill you! )

I ordered two as a favor to another forum member who was having trouble figuring out how to order. I agreed to help and we thought we could save a little on shipping. So far, it looks like that may not have been a good idea. We shall see.

 

[ptfjjj]

There are not many items that are specifically assigned tariffs, so if you don't see you item on the list, then just argue that it should be in the "other" category which has no duty required. I had expected them to debate the issue more than they did, but when I asked them to refer me to where exhaust parts are on the list, they had to agree that it is not listed. As far as the windshield bracket goes, they may try to say that it is part of the frame, but you can point out that it does not attach to the frame at all, and is just an accessory mount. I don't think that Linda will give you a hard time about it, but you are right, unless your item is really expensive, the duty won't be much, anyway.

 

[fredz43]

All, here is where I found the booty on the duty. Go to the following link and click on the U.S. Harmonized Tarriff Schedule. Then schroll down to page 494. Paragraph 8714 is the beginning of the tariff schedule for motorcycle, bicycle, and scooter parts. There are several items on the list that still require a duty, but since exhaust is not specificaly mentioned, I was able to talk them into putting it into the "other" category which requires no duty. I was speaking with Linda on option 5 of the phone menu, and she was very pleasent. Take a look at the schedule first and prepare to make an argument for having your part not fit into one of the categories that require a tariff and then give her a call. She is the one that will be handling the payment anyway, so you will have to deal with her eventually. Also, she can email you the clearance form if you don't have a way to receive a fax, but you will have to fax back the form to complete the process.


http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/australian-fta/final-text

Paul, what number did you call? The number that is on my caller ID is 718 244 8595

 

[ptfjjj]

Paul, what number did you call? The number that is on my caller ID is 718 244 8595

Call that number and then choose option 5.

 

[fredz43]

Call that number and then choose option 5.

Ok, thanks. I selected option 5 and got a gentleman and then I asked for Linda and he asked which Linda. Turns out it is Linda Marletta. I got her and explained my situation and she said that she had already cleared the shipment for import duty, but I still owed $8 for the clearance fee and she would email me the form. At this point I am relieved that it is only an additional $8.

Thanks a lot, Paul for doing all the leg work for us. It looks like those of you that are saving up your orders to save shipping may end up with more hassles than it is worth and could end up paying more in duty fees than you save in shipping. I just now talked with the parts person at our local dealer who ships a lot of parts overseas. She said that she has customers in Australia that split their orders up into smaller orders less than $200 to avoid import duties. If we have a reciprocal agreement with Australia, it may indeed be a $200 limit as the broker told me on the phone, unless the item is one that falls into the "other" category. BTW, the broker on the phone wasn't nearly as friendly as Linda, matter of fact, I would put him in the smartass category.

Bottom line, if the $8 duty clearance fee does work out, it is going to cost us USD $210 each to get the brackets.

 

[fredz43]

This all started because I thought we could save some money on shipping, but it is getting totally out of hand. Maybe it would be best to just pay the dues and chalk it up to experience What do you think?

Jim, it looks like we are going to come out of this ok, with just the additional $8 clearance fee, but I'll be more relaxed when I see the package on my doorstep. ;D

 

[jajpko]

Jim, it looks like we are going to come out of this ok, with just the additional $8 clearance fee, but I'll be more relaxed when I see the package on my doorstep. ;D

Fred, that sounds great!! I will PM you.
Thanks

 

[ptfjjj]

I'll be more relaxed when I see the package on my doorstep. ;D

Good point. I got this all cleared up on my muffler on Monday, but I still don't have it. I inquired with Toll Online and was told that it shipped fedex out of New York on Tuesday on a standard overnight. That would mean that I should have gotten it yesterday, Wednesday, but it is nearly 5 pm here on Thusday and it has not yet arrived. :

 

[AL-58]

I just now talked with the parts person at our local dealer who ships a lot of parts overseas. She said that she has customers in Australia that split their orders up into smaller orders less than $200 to avoid import duties. If we have a reciprocal agreement with Australia, it may indeed be a $200 limit as the broker told me on the phone, unless the item is one that falls into the "other" category.

The limit of goods coming into Australia is definitely $1000 before paying duty, but thats $1000AUD not US and may include the freight cost as well as the item cost. I got caught once buying a musical instrument from Tennesee when the limit was $500, He'd rounded up the value on the custome declartion for insurance purposes and put it just over the limit. When I showed customs all my actual receipts and proved it was under $500 they released it.

Some of our retailers are complaining about the $1000 duty free bracket as they think it is impacting hugely on their business.

Al