Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

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FloridaPhil
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Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by FloridaPhil »

It looks as though USA customers (and probably other non-EU customers) will have a higher likelihood of being charged import duty on CW orders. A customer posted elsewhere that he had been assessed $80 duty on his new Trident Chrono shipped to the USA via DHL so I fired off a quick email to Scott Callaway at CW Customer Services. This is what he said:

"From 2019 Royal Mail require a CN22/CN23 declaration on all international tracking shipments so there is no way to duck under the radar of the customs officials anymore with Royal Mail. As there is no longer an “advantage” of choosing Royal Mail over DHL, we have chosen DHL as our chosen international courier as they offer better tracking than we receive with Royal Mail. I know this doesn’t help the tax issues, but I hope it explains why we are using DHL now".

I've never been charged duty before on any CW purchases to date but it looks as though that may change. I've heard, but not verified, that duty is only due on purchases over US $800.

Oh well. It was good while it lasted.
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by albionphoto »

I was charged duty on my C7 Apex when it was delivered to the US last November. It was a $3500-ish watch so being asked for duty by DHL wasn't a surprise. What was a surprise was the amount of duty owed. On this watch I paid a total of $85 dollars and IIRC $40-ish of that was DHL handling fees. No one wants to pay import duty but the amounts are relatively low. (And it's the law). As many have said if your watch is under $800 then it's not liable for import duty at all.
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by FloridaPhil »

Good info Mark, thank you. We'll just need to factor the duty into any future purchases if applicable.
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by Ddavidsonmd »

The tax man is getting better at getting their cut


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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by Korkki »

For me duty for $3500 watch will be $840. That's 24% VAT on top of the watch price. However the will be no handling fees because I can do a customs clearance online for free (DHL will try to sell this as a service).

There's no VAT/import duty if a watch is under $24. Woohoo! :?
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by Lawrence »

I too have been hit by DHL in Canada to the tune of C$172 despite Canada and Switzerland signing a free trade agreement. DHL and the other couriers do not care and are motivated to charge duty and taxes as they can then charge a brokerage fee. I wrote to Scott however I expect the same response. I will be thinking a little more carefully in future about my CWL purchases unfortunately.
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by Thegreyman »

Korkki wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:02 pm
There's no VAT/import duty if a watch is under $24. Woohoo! :?
If you ever buy one of the (former forum favourite) square Casios from SC, you'll be good to go :thumbup:
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by nordwulf »

After Brexit on March 29, everybody in the EU has to deal with this as well? Not so much paying taxes as that won't change but dealing with courier companies and handling charges/fees.
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by Thegreyman »

nordwulf wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:17 pm After Brexit on March 29, everybody in the EU has to deal with this as well? Not so much paying taxes as that won't change but dealing with courier companies and handling charges/fees.
I started a thread a week or two back on that topic Frank :)

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=51178&p=755894&hilit=brexit#p755894
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by nordwulf »

Thegreyman wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:19 pm
nordwulf wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:17 pm After Brexit on March 29, everybody in the EU has to deal with this as well? Not so much paying taxes as that won't change but dealing with courier companies and handling charges/fees.
I started a thread a week or two back on that topic Frank :)

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=51178&p=755894&hilit=brexit#p755894
Thanks, good thread. Hadn't seen that one yet. :thumbup:
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by Korkki »

Thegreyman wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:17 pm
Korkki wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:02 pm
There's no VAT/import duty if a watch is under $24. Woohoo! :?
If you ever buy one of the (former forum favourite) square Casios from SC, you'll be good to go :thumbup:
There's a loop hole. If I pay $24 for a watch and $3476 for shipping there's no VAT/import duty for a $3500 watch because shipping costs are excluded 8)

But I better to have a good explanation ready for customs... :---)
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by H0rati0 »

Korkki wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:30 pm
Thegreyman wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:17 pm
Korkki wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:02 pm
There's no VAT/import duty if a watch is under $24. Woohoo! :?
If you ever buy one of the (former forum favourite) square Casios from SC, you'll be good to go :thumbup:
There's a loop hole. If I pay $24 for a watch and $3476 for shipping there's no VAT/import duty for a $3500 watch because shipping costs are excluded 8)

But I better to have a good explanation ready for customs... :---)
Nope. VAT and import duty are charged on the declared price PLUS shipping.

Nice try.....

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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by Korkki »

Don't know how it's elsewhere but here's no customs duty for a watch. Just the VAT. Shipping costs are included indeed but because VAT is not collected for an item under $24 there are no duties or VAT

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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by parsa »

Korkki wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 9:49 pm Don't know how it's elsewhere but here's no customs duty for a watch. Just the VAT. Shipping costs are included indeed but because VAT is not collected for an item under $24 there are no duties

Image
That loophole hasn't existed before. I doubt they have created it now, and it's probably a glitch on the calculator. BTW, last time (10/2017) I had to pay import fees, there was customs duty for the watch, VAT for the customs duty (!! this was new) and also VAT for watch and shipping. I asked from Finnish customs and they replied that from 2017 they collect customs duty from all items, no matter value.
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Re: Non-EU customers potentially now (more) liable for import duty

Post by nordwulf »

albionphoto wrote: Wed Jan 09, 2019 6:55 pm What was a surprise was the amount of duty owed. On this watch I paid a total of $85 dollars and IIRC $40-ish of that was DHL handling fees. No one wants to pay import duty but the amounts are relatively low. (And it's the law). As many have said if your watch is under $800 then it's not liable for import duty at all.
As Castanza would say.. Duty-free shops are the biggest sucker deal in retail. Do you know how much duty is? Duty is nothing..!

https://youtu.be/ZOh_rvXP_VY?t=60

The amount of duty for incoming wrist watches, clocks and other time devices into the USA is actually pretty complicated and nearly impossible to figure out if you're not an expert.

https://www.usitc.gov/publications/docs ... 201c91.pdf

36 pages of this.. how would you even figure out the value of the case, strap and battery separately? :?

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