Are computers liable for import duty?

December 19, 2009 12:59 AM

I'm waiting to receive a used computer I bought from China (where it was made) and it is now "Inbound into Customs." This worries me as I was under the impression laptop fell under code 8471, and were import tax exempt. Is this right? If not what are the customs officials going to ask for? Also if duty is charged, will the value be based on the declared value or...?
posted by SamSugar to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

In the countries I have lived even tax-free imports would go through customs. They will still need to check whether the import is tax-free, right? I wouldn't worry. Apart from that, tracking information in my experience seems to be incorrect a lot of times.
posted by oxit at 1:32 AM on December 19, 2009

Are you importing it into the USA? Everything goes through customs.
posted by twblalock at 2:11 AM on December 19, 2009

Everything goes through customs, and it can be held/delayed for a number of reasons, not just duty.
posted by fire&wings at 3:09 AM on December 19, 2009

Yep, everything that comes into the U.S. from outside the U.S. goes through customs. Same with stuff going from inside TO outside (I have to fill out a customs form every time I mail something to my friend in Ireland, even though 99.99999% of the time it's just a book). I think they just have to make a routine check that you're not smuggling bomb parts or the original Magna Carta into our out of the country.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:26 AM on December 19, 2009

What everyone else has said. As for your other questions, a typical laptop would likely be classifiable in chapter 8471 and be duty free, but it's hard to say for sure without knowing the specific details of your computer. If there is duty it would be based on the declared value, as long as customs agrees that the declared value is the actual value. Customs may also want to inspect the contents of the hard drive. Other government agencies could also be involved in the process, such as FCC if the computer can transmit a signal or FDA if the coputer has a CD/DVD drive with a laser in it. If more is required to clear the shipment than what was has already been provided, the carrier (UPS, DHL, FedEx, or whatever was used) should be able to assist you, but you will pay dearly. If it comes to that, before you agree to use their brokerage service, first contact the customs office at the port where the computer is being held (here's a list). You may get lucky and be able to speak with a helpful customs officer who can talk you through it. If it turns out you do need a broker, customs provides a list of local brokers on each of the port contact pages linked above. By calling around you could probably get a better price than what the carrier would offer.

But at this point I'd just sit tight and wait. If you need something to do while you're waiting, it wouldn't hurt to collect all the documentation you can for the shipment, such as the commercial invoice and the shipping documents, so you can provide them to customs, or your broker, if they are required.
posted by Balonious Assault at 9:57 AM on December 19, 2009