How to Import – Internet Purchases, Prohibited Merchandise

Purchasers should also be aware that some products might be considered contraband and cannot be brought into the United States under any circumstances. This includes the obvious, such as narcotics and child pornography, as well as less obvious items such as tainted food products, and other items, a list of which can be found in “Importing Into the United States.” Such merchandise can be seized by Customs, and attempts to import it may subject the importer to civil or even criminal sanctions. If you have any question at all about your purchase, you should contact your closest Customs port and get an opinion before you complete the transaction.

View the original article here

How to Import – Internet Purchases, Electronic Transmissions

Information and materials downloaded from the Internet are not subject to duty. This applies to any goods or merchandise that are electronically transmitted to the purchaser, such as CDs, books, or posters. However, the unauthorized downloading of copyrighted items could subject you to prosecution. Downloading child pornography is also a crime. U.S. Customs Service has the authority to investigate and prosecute persons involved in this and other illegal activities.

View the original article here

How to Import – Internet Purchases, Exporting

If you are sending goods to someone outside the United States, you should be aware that most countries have similar regulations governing the importation of goods into their territory. If you are selling goods on a “Payment on Delivery” basis, you might want to contact the Customs authority of the country where the goods are being shipped to make sure they can legally be imported into that country. In addition, some commodities sold for export are subject to enforcement requirements of the Customs Service and other U.S. government agencies. In particular, cars and goods with potential military applications, including some electronics and software, must be cleared through Customs before they are exported. And if you export goods worth more than $2,500, you will have to follow formal export procedures.

View the original article here

U.S. Customs and Border Protection New Import Technology Simplifies Duty Collection

(Monday, September 20, 2004)

Washington, D.C. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Robert C. Bonner today announced the success of a pilot that will allow CBP to collect duties and fees on a monthly basis. In the first three months, nearly $32 million were collected from importers and brokers using the monthly statement and payment capabilities in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), the new CBP technology system for imports. Customs and Border Protection is transforming the way the federal government collects duties for imported goods,” said Commissioner Bonner. “For the first time in 215 years, importers and brokers can make a single monthly duty payment on all imported goods instead of paying duties on them one entry at a time. ACE is successfully modernizing the import business process, while improving efficiency and security for both CBP and the importing community.”

The ACE is enhancing processing and communications with the trade community, and providing quicker, more comprehensive reporting and information gathering capabilities to all users. ACE users can now develop up to 60 different reports, query accounts, integrate ledgers, create on-line account action plans, receive shipment alerts or notifications, view import transactions on a national basis, review a monthly listing of their daily account statements, and make monthly electronic duty payments.

View the original article here

US Gem Importing – How to Import Gems to the US – Classifications

Import

Below are most of the initial HTS classification categories that precious stones and gems will fall into.

68042100.–Millstones, grindstones, grinding wheels and the like, nesoi, of agglomerated synthetic or natural diamond–01/01/199968042100.–Millstones, grindstones, grinding wheels and the like, nesoi, of agglomerated synthetic or natural diamond–01/01/199970181020.–Glass imitation precious or semiprecious stones (except beads)–01/01/199971021000.–Diamonds, unsorted, whether or not worked–01/01/198971021000.–Diamonds, unsorted, whether or not worked–01/01/198971022110.–Miners’ diamonds, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted–01/01/198971022110.–Miners’ diamonds, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted–01/01/198971022130.–Industrial diamonds (other than miners’ diamonds), simply sawn, cleaved or bruted–01/01/199971022130.–Industrial diamonds (other than miners’ diamonds), simply sawn, cleaved or bruted–01/01/199971022140.–Industrial diamonds (other than miners’ diamonds), unworked–01/01/198971022140.–Industrial diamonds (other than miners’ diamonds), unworked–01/01/198971022900.–Industrial diamonds, worked, but not mounted or set–01/01/198971022900.–Industrial diamonds, worked, but not mounted or set–01/01/198971023100.–Nonindustrial diamonds, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted–01/01/198971023100.–Nonindustrial diamonds, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted–01/01/198971023900.–Nonindustrial diamonds, worked, but not mounted or set–01/01/198971023900.–Nonindustrial diamonds, worked, but not mounted or set–01/01/198971031020.–Precious stones (o/than diamonds) & semiprecious stones, unworked–01/01/198971031020.–Precious stones (o/than diamonds) & semiprecious stones, unworked–01/01/198971031020.–Precious stones (o/than diamonds) & semiprecious stones, unworked–01/01/198971031040.–Precious stones (o/than diamonds) & semiprecious stones, simply sawn or roughly shaped–01/01/200471031040.–Precious stones (o/than diamonds) & semiprecious stones, simply sawn or roughly shaped–01/01/200471031040.–Precious stones (o/than diamonds) & semiprecious stones, simply sawn or roughly shaped–01/01/200471039100.–Rubies, sapphires and emeralds, worked, whether or not graded, but n/strung (ex. ungraded temporarily strung), mounted or set–01/01/198971039910.–Precious or semiprecious stones, nesoi, cut but not set and suitable for use in the manufacture of jewelry–01/01/199971039950.–Precious or semiprecious stones, nesoi, worked, whether or not graded, but n/strung (ex. ungraded temporarily strung), mtd. or set–01/01/200471042000.–Synthetic or reconstructed precious or semiprecious stones, unworked or simply sawn or roughly shaped–01/01/200471049010.–Synthetic or reconstructed precious or semiprecious stones, cut but not set & suitable for use in the manufacture of jewelry–01/01/199971049050.–Synth.or reconstruct. precious or semiprecious stones, wkd, whether or not graded, but n/strung (ex.ungraded temp. strung), mtd./set,nesoi–01/01/200471051000.–Diamond dust and powder–01/01/198971051000.–Diamond dust and powder–01/01/198971059000.–Natural or synthetic precious (except diamond) or semiprecious stone dust and powder–01/01/199971059000.–Natural or synthetic precious (except diamond) or semiprecious stone dust and powder–01/01/199971059000.–Natural or synthetic precious (except diamond) or semiprecious stone dust and powder–01/01/199971162005.–Jewelry articles of precious or semiprecious stones, valued not over $40 per piece–01/01/200471162015.–Jewelry articles of precious or semiprecious stones, valued over $40 per piece–01/01/200471162030.–Semiprecious stones (except rock crystal), graded and strung temporarily for convenience of transport–01/01/200471162035.–Semiprecious stone (except rock crystal) figurines–01/01/200471162040.–Semiprecious stone (except rock crystal) articles (other than jewelry and figurines)–01/01/200471162050.–Precious stone articles,nesoi–01/01/199998178201.–Certain mounted tool and drill bit blanks of polycrystalline diamond & mounted tool blanks of polycrystalline diamond (of certain headings)–01/01/199698178201.–Certain mounted tool and drill bit blanks of polycrystalline diamond & mounted tool blanks of polycrystalline diamond (of certain headings)–01/01/199699032710.–Ukraine goods: Diamonds, unsorted (provided for in subheading 7102.10.00)–01/23/200299032710.–Ukraine goods: Diamonds, unsorted (provided for in subheading 7102.10.00)–01/23/200299032711.–Ukraine goods: Diamonds, nonindustrial (provided for in subheading 7102.31.00 or 7102.39.00)–01/23/200299032711.–Ukraine goods: Diamonds, nonindustrial (provided for in subheading 7102.31.00 or 7102.39.00)–01/23/2002This entry was posted on Monday, November 12th, 2007 at 1:43 am and is filed under Import. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

How to Import Textiles into the US

Textiles products have the benefit of inexpensive overseas production sources as well as a large US market demand and can be a highly profitable and popular import commodity. Due to the over-saturation of overseas textile manufacturers and the US socio-political agenda, however, the United States has developed a complicated system designed to regulate the importation of textiles. If you are looking to import textiles into the United States, this guide is for you. Webster’s Dictionary defines Textile as: Pertaining to weaving or to woven fabrics; as, textile arts; woven, capable of being woven; formed by weaving; as, textile fabrics.”

For import purposes, this definition extends to a wide variety of clothing, bedding, and fabric related products. Articles of nightwear, hosiery, sportswear, and apparel are all considered textile products.

Textiles and textile products are listed in their own section in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States found (as of 10/18/04) here:

The HTS is the source used by the United States Government and US Customs to determine duty rates.

The end use of the textile product.

Once the initial category for your textile has been determined, it is the importer’s responsibilty to consult the USHTS to determine the specific classification and duty rate of their product.

First time importers are encouraged to contact a freight forwarder or licensed US Customs broker for assistance with filing import entries and arranging transportation. When dealing with a freight forwarder or broker, it is important to research your product and its import regulations. As the importer, you will ultimately be responsible for all facets of your import shipment.

62032210.–Men’s or boys’ judo, karate and other oriental martial arts uniforms, not knitted or crocheted, of cotton–01/01/2004
62032230.–Men’s or boys’ ensembles, not knitted or crocheted, of cotton, other than judo, karate and other oriental martial arts uniforms–01/01/2004
62042210.–Women’s or girls’ judo, karate and other oriental martial arts uniforms, not knitted or crocheted, of cotton–01/01/2004
62042230.–Women’s or girls’ ensembles, not knitted or crocheted, of cotton, other than judo, karate and other oriental martial arts uniforms–01/01/2004

61152010.–Women’s full-length or knee-length hosiery, measuring per single yarn less than 67 decitex containing 70% or more by wt of silk, knit/croc–01/01/2004
61152090.–Women’s full-length or knee-length hosiery, measuring per single yarn less than 67 decitex containing under 70% by wt of silk, knitted/croc–01/01/2004
61159100.–Hosiery nesoi, knitted or crocheted, of wool or fine animal hair–01/01/2004
61159914.–Hosiery nesoi, of artificial fibers, containing lace or net–01/01/2004
61159918.–Hosiery nesoi, knitted or crocheted, of artificial fibers, other than those containing lace or net–01/01/2004

61072920.–Men’s or boys’ nightshirts and pajamas, knitted or crocheted, of wool or fine animal hair–01/01/2004
61072950.–Men’s or boys’ nightshirts and pajamas, of textile materials (ex cotton, mmf or wool), containing 70% or more by wt of silk, knitted or croc–01/01/2004
61072990.–Men’s or boys’ nightshirts and pajamas, of textile materials (ex cotton, mmf or wool), containing under 70% by wt of silk, knitted or croc–01/01/2004
61083100.–Women’s or girls’ nightdresses and pajamas, knitted or crocheted, of cotton–01/01/2004
61083200.–Women’s or girls’ nightdresses and pajamas, knitted or crocheted, of man-made fibers–01/01/2004

39262090.–Articles of apparel & clothing accessories, of plastic, nesoi–01/01/2004
40159000.–Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, excluding gloves, of vulcanized rubber other than hard rubber–01/01/2004
42031020.–Articles of apparel, of reptile leather–01/01/2004
42031040.–Articles of apparel, of leather or of composition leather, nesi–01/01/2004
43031000.–Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, of furskins–01/01/2004

View the original article here

How to Import – Internet Purchases, For Commercial Purposes

Goods imported for commercial purposes must comply with a variety of special requirements, such as marking of country of origin, which vary depending upon the particular commodity. Please see our publication, “Importing Into the United States,” for more detailed information. Be particularly aware that an invoice should always accompany commercial shipments.

View the original article here

How to Import – Internet Purchases, Personal vs. Commercial Use

Many import regulations only apply to goods imported for commercial – business or resale – purposes. For instance, most goods imported for personal use are not subject to quota. The one exception to this is made-to-measure suits from Hong Kong, which are subject to quota restrictions regardless of the use they are imported for. On the other hand, import restrictions that are based on health, safety and protecting endangered species apply across the board. Note: Customs is authorized to make judgment calls about what qualifies as personal use. Several suits that are identical or a number of very similar handbags will have a hard time passing the credibility test as items for personal use.

View the original article here

How to Import – Internet Purchases, Quota

Many kinds of goods imported for commercial use may be subject to a quota limit. It is the classification number of the article as identified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and the country of origin that determine whether or not an item is subject to quota requirements. In some cases, the quota is absolute, meaning that once the quota is filled – because the quota has reached its limit for that particular period of time – no additional quantities of that item may be imported until the next open period. Such merchandise must be warehoused or exported. Other quotas are tariff-related, which means that a certain quantity of goods may enter at a low rate of duty, but once that threshold is reached – during a specified period of time – a higher duty rate will be assessed for any additional quantities of that particular imported good. Unlimited quantities of some merchandise subject to tariff-rate quota may, however, enter at over the quota rates.

If you are importing goods for commercial use or resale, it’s a good idea to contact your local port of entry for more specific information.

The Quota program is generally applied only to commercial importations. While the importation of many goods imported under “personal use” quantities are not affected by quota restrictions, there is one exception; made-to-measure suits made in Hong Kong, which are restricted for both personal and commercial use.

View the original article here

What are Import Taxes?

Import tax or import tariffs (also known as import duties) in the United States generally refer to the taxes and fees charged by US Customs when importers bring goods into the country. They are assessed by government employees with US Customs at the port of entry, and are paid by the importer of record.

All goods entering the United States are subject to the same import procedure and the same tariff (tax) assessment, although every product has its own duty rate and some have a duty rate of zero!

Import taxes are the second largest source of revenue for the United States behind the Internal Revenue Service.

In addition to being revenue source, import taxes are used to control domestic market conditions and as a political tool. US Customs and the US International Trade Commission will raise and lower import taxes on particular goods to give domestic producers an edge over foreign imports. To exert political pressure, certain countries may be assigned a higher duty rate on their exports or may be embargoed (locked out) to prevent trade.

The primary criteria for import tariffs and taxes are:

Country of originCommodity typeIntended use

and are determined using the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule, a yearly publication listing duty rates for a wide variety of import commodities. The USHTS also includes procedures and guidelines for determining import tax rates.

View the original article here

Import Duty on Returned Items

Question

Do I have to pay import duty on items that have been exported from the United States that are being returned?

Answer

If you have an item that was previously resident in the United States, but for some reason was exported and is now being returned, be sure to inform US Customs about its status. Items previously exported are often considered duty free! This means that although you might have to pay a small entry fee, your goods will not be assessed taxes as a percentage of their value.

The logic behind this duty free status is simple – US Customs wants importers to pay an import tax at least once on items not made in the United States. That means that in general you can claim a duty free status under chapter 98 of the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule on items that were either made in the USA, or had already been imported previously.

When might this apply?

This scenario might come into play if:

one of your products was exported, used in a foreign country, and is now being returned;you’re exporting something for repair;your item was exported as an exhibit for a trade show or similar;your item is a “tool of trade” used abroad temporarily.

Gotcha’s to avoid:

Just because your entry is duty free does not mean you can avoid filing import paperwork. You might also be subject to processing fees.If your item was “advanced in value” while overseas, you will probably owe duty on the value of the improvement. Example: you exported a car made in the US and had a French radio installed. When the car returns, you will owe duty on the value of the radio but not the car.Depending on the product, there may be a three year window between the exportation and duty free re importation of your item.

View the original article here

How Much Does it Cost to Import?

Importers are expected to pay an import tax on virtually every item they import, but few know how much they owe until their shipments arrive in the US.

Many importers are overcharged by US Customs at the border because they did not purchase a copy of the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule and properly classify their imports.

Import taxes are based on the type of item you are importing and where it’s coming from.

Import taxes for every item imaginable can be determined using the United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS, USHTS, or HTS for short).

This exceptionally large book breaks down into categories virtually every product and commodity imported into the United States. Each line item contains a ten digit classification number, a product description, and a duty rate. Find your item and apply its rate to calculate what you will owe.

Every item that comes into the US must be classified with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. If you don’t classify your item, US Customs will charge you a fee to do it for you.

Before you let Customs classify your product, remember that import tariffs are the second largest source of revenue next to the IRS.

Import tax (also known as an import duty or import tariff) is collected by US Customs on every import that comes into the US.

Import taxes are a source of income for the US Government and are a way to restrict or facilitate the import of certain commodities.

1. The US Harmonized Tariff Schedule is used to assess import duties and taxes on imports. The US Customs Service is the second largest source of revenue for the US Government, second only to the Internal Revenue Service.

2. The HTS is used to track import and export statistics for the US Department of Census. Each month hundreds of billions of dollars in goods and services are imported and exported from the United States. The Tariff Schedule is designed so that the Federal Government can effectively track the import and export of individual product groups into and out of the United States.

3. Lastly, the USHTS is a tool to enforce the United States political agenda. By raising and lowering duty rates and import restrictions from specific countries or around the world, the United States can exercise a certain amount of economic influence.

You can use the Tariff Schedule to calculate duties and taxes on imports. All imported products must be classified with the HTS before they will be allowed into the United States.

View the original article here

Import Export Forum

Informed Trade International has made their import/export trade forum available to the public!

If you have a question related to importing, exporting, or international trade, please feel free to post it in our online import forum or search through the database of import questions.

Informed Trade International is an import/export compliance community devoted to US Customs import and export practices. Our goal is to facilitate international trade with the United States by assisting individuals in their efforts to manage the trade process.

Informed Trade International is one of the largest import export communities on the internet. We have a rapidly expanding member base, and provide our services at no charge in order to promote its growth and work toward the goal of informed trade.

Our membership includes licensed US Customs brokers, experienced freight forwarders, and professional importers. Please post your questions and comments to our community and let one of our members assist you today.

View the original article here