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Import duty on guitars coming INTO USA?
Looking into buying a $6Kish Lowden from the Netherlands. In the past I have not had to pay any import tax for guitars coming INTO the USA from Europe. Things have changed.
Anyone know if we have to pay import tax now? Many thanks. Mark W
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The journey is ending. It has been a lovely ride. Enriched my life immensely. No words. Last edited by Kerbie; 07-26-2021 at 04:57 AM. |
#2
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In the Carbon Fiber subform there have been multiple mentions of "custom fees" imposed in a hit or muss fashion on Emerald guitars from Ireland. I've ordered four Emeralds and was hit with having to pay a "ransom" prior to delivery on one of my ordered Emeralds...
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Martin D18 Martin 000-15sm |
#3
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You might want to read up on import criteria. Looks like it could be a real pain in the whatnot...
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-impo...rnet-purchases
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Be curious, not judgmental. |
#4
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I did on my Taran from Scotland and I know of another member who did as well on a guitar from England.
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PS. I love guitars! |
#5
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Import duty on guitars coming INTO USA?
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Once upon a time, the collection of tariffs was the only source of income for the federal government. The rates of duties have been driven steadily down since World War II, thanks to big business so they could move manufacturing to foreign countries for cheaper labor. Among the first industries to suffer were footwear and textiles. (In the vernacular, that would be shoes and clothes.) Don .
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*The Heard: 85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo 99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo 06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo 14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra 05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert 09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo 16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC 16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO 21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo 22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo Last edited by donlyn; 07-26-2021 at 08:09 AM. |
#6
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These may be waived if there is a free trade agreement between source nation and importing nation but few of these affect Musical instruments (hardly an essential product) Importing instruments ffom USA to the UK usualy costs me app 3% excise tax, plus 20% VAT (purchase tax) on Value of item, plus shipping costs, plus excise costs, plus handling charge. Everything is value added. With the "change of relationship" between UK and the EU, the sale value of all my instruments have, effectively, reduced by 20% unless sold within Great Britain.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Martin D18 Martin 000-15sm |
#8
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Import duty on guitars coming INTO USA?
OK, I've been out of the import/export field for a while, but the tariff classification for a guitar over $100 in value appears to be 9202.90.40, 'free' for some countries, but otherwise dutiable at 8.7% of the value. On the list of countries with free duty is "IL" which is the country code for Israel. The country code for Ireland is "IE", which is not on that list of duty free countries for that classification. I may have it wrong, but certainly some current expert advice should be sought if it really matters. Like from U.S. Customs, or a licensed Customhouse Broker. Just because duty has not always been assessed does not mean that no duty is due. Don .
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*The Heard: 85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo 99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo 06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo 14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra 05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert 09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo 16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC 16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO 21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo 22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo |
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I'm getting a custom from the guys at Brook in Devon sometime towards the end of the year. I reached out directly to US Customs regarding import duty and was told that the duty amount would be 8.7% of the value of the instrument (example: $3500 USD x .087 = $304.50). They'll be shipping using my Fedex account and Fedex will act as import broker on the transaction and bill me for the fees. There's also a possibility that you could get hit with state sales tax but I've heard of some getting hit with it and some not so that falls in the 'iffy' category. I know states are trying to get out of state sellers to collect sales tax for them but not sure how it would work with an overseas transaction. I guess I'll deal with that when it happens. There might be a way around the import brokerage fees but I seem to recall that with a shipment over a certain dollar amount, it is required.
Would like to hear from anyone who has rec'd an instrument from England recently with any further info.
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2022 Brook Lyn Custom, 2013 Brook Torridge, 2014 Martin 000-18, several homebrew Teles, Evans RE200 amp, Quilter 101R and various speaker cabinets, Very understanding wife of 48 years |
#10
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It’s worth remembering that one of the purposes and effects of import tariffs is to protect the interests of businesses in the home country (i.e. the country imposing the tariff). It’s an encouragement to ‘buy local’ from home-country manufacturers. Unless I’m misunderstanding, the problem here seems to arise not from import tariffs per se, but from the apparently lackadaisical manner in which the US authorities deal with imports in terms of the application of duty due under those import tariffs. It seems to be something of a crap-shoot whether the tariff is applied or not, and I can understand the frustration at the unfairness of not knowing in advance how much duty will be due, or whether it will even be applied at all.
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John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM) |
#11
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Free (A,AU,BH,CA,CL,E,IL,J,JO,MA,MX,OM,P,PE,SG) I have no idea how to look up the codes though. AU = Australia (Free Trade Agreement) CA = Canada (NAFTA/whatever replaced it) MX = Mexico (NAFTA/replacement) IL = Israel
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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#12
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Martin D18 Martin 000-15sm Last edited by RP; 07-27-2021 at 08:13 AM. |
#13
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Import duty on guitars coming INTO USA?
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A 'net search on "tariff country code" yields: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/fi...42021_508C.pdf Don .
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*The Heard: 85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo 99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo 06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo 14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra 05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert 09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo 16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC 16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO 21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo 22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo |
#14
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Import duty on guitars coming INTO USA?
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Don .
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*The Heard: 85 Gibson J-200 sitka/rosewood Jumbo 99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo 06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo 14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra 05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert 09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo 16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC 16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO 21 Epiphone IBG J-200 sitka/maple Jmbo 22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo Last edited by donlyn; 07-27-2021 at 06:47 AM. |
#15
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However, I believe that it is good customer service for the out-of-country seller to draw the purchaser’s attention to the possibility of import taxes and duties being charged by customs/IR when the goods arrive in the purchaser’s country. That is exactly what my experience has been as a non-US customer when purchasing guitars from MFG and accessories from, e.g., Stew-Mac, Elderly, etc. in the US. (although, having worked for fifty years as an accountant in U.K. companies involved in international trade, I’m well aware of import taxes and duties here!). The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.
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John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM) |