jnbrown

Does anybody know the import duty on framesets made in the UK shipped to US?
The only thing I could find is this:

87149120 Pts. & access. for bicycles & o/cycles, frames, valued over $600 each NO B 3.9%

Thanks

Kilroy1988 

I've never been charged import or customs fees for anything coming from anywhere in the world here in the US, whether it has to do with cycling or other hobbies, and even if it costs a thousand dollars or more. I just had a $1,000 frame set shipped from England via Parcelforce and it arrived on my doorstep without any exchange of funds or information whatsoever. If they do charge it would be on the seller's end and they should be able to tell you what it'll be at time of purchase.

As far as I know the US is amazing for not charging fees. Many other countries do, and won't even release packages until large sums are paid in some cases.

-Gregory

jnbrown

I am wondering if bicycles where affected when our former president was throwing up tariffs like crazy and if those tariffs have since been repealed.

joesch

This is true and great for US buyers of international goods.
The US could make lots of import tax $$$ to help with the deficit.
Most other countries have a customs holdup for checkout and taxing and thus delays shipments and sometimes prevents purchases if buyers are not expecting to pay this extra fee. Its especially bad for imports into China which should be no surprise to most.

jnbrown

I have bought a lot of bike parts from the UK and only had a problem once where they charged me duty but I think I got it refunded after a lot of trouble and time.
Never bought a bicycle or frameset so I was wondering.

CliffordK

Are you talking about the occasional purchase as an individual? Or a business deal importing dozens of frames at a time?

It is rare that individuals get hit with significant tax for small items.

gearbasher

I've ordered a bunch of times from the UK. Orders ranged from $100-$350. I was never hit with any import duty or taxes.

jamesdak 

I think right now up to $800 is duty free. I do know I got hit for a small amount for a $900+ set of new tubulars I ordered from the UK. What torked me was FEDEX paid the duty without me authorizing them too and then charged me a large fee to do it. That's B.S., I did not pick FEDEX as the shipper nor authorized them to act as my agent. I fully expected to be hit with a duty fee but FEDEX's admin fee on top of it is should be illegal.

repechage

By post, no issues I have experienced.
but did not purchase during the last administration.
by DHL, FedEx… customs brokerage usury fees and with Fedex, no recoup of “duty” even after they acknowledge they goofed.

by post if you possibly can is my suggestion.
I have received a frame set from my he UK by Mail but been a while, specs may have changed.

clubman 

Same here.

tcs

This.



It was found upon investigation that the act of collecting import duties on relatively low cost items cost more than it brought in.

Fun fact: from 1919 to 1983, bicycles tires were subject to excise taxes under the same formula as car and truck tires. Application to bicycle tires was repealed when analysis revealed collecting this fiscally pitiful tax cost more than it brought in.

Quote:

I am wondering if bicycles where affected when ((the executive branch 2017-2021 enacted)) tariffs...and if those tariffs have since been repealed.

Yes, kind of, there were categories, and yes, although new OEM bicycles & equipment remain subject to some import duties, as they have been for decades.

iab

Like others here, the only time I got hit with import tax was through a private carrier (DHL in this case). I suspect they get a cut of the money and little to none gets to the gubmint.

Dave Mayer

Right: never have anything shipped via. the private carriers. They will slap on an extortionist 'import charge' that will be multiples of what the actual taxes and duties are, and hold your goods until you pay up in full through some sketchy web site.

A favorite trick is that the private carriers will charge everything in your goods bundle at the highest possible tax rate. So if you ordered a bicycle and a pair of socks, the whole package will get charged duties at the highest possible rate (the socks). Or blanket charge full federal and state taxes regardless of exemptions on certain goods.

I suspect that much of these 'import charges' do not end up in government coffers, but in Cayman Island accounts.

I've been hit a few times with this, to the point where I don't order from certain large vendors anymore.