ian
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36 Indre
Posts: 42
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Post by ian on May 8, 2022 15:06:42 GMT 1
(If thisn't the right place, please move it.)
I have to send some family heirlooms to my daughter in Texas. They are both bulky (silver teapots etc) and heavy (silver cutlery) so I know it'll cost me. I estimate two boxes, each around 50cm x 30cm x 30cm, and each weighing around 8KG. Nothing is urgent. I'd appreciate any help or advice on the best/cheapest way to do this.
Thanks
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Post by Polarengineer on May 8, 2022 15:26:05 GMT 1
Does she want them? Easier to auction them off and send the money. You are probably into duties for antiques and silver which may be more than they are worth and DHL and the likes charge ridiculous amounts.
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Post by chrisell on May 8, 2022 19:17:10 GMT 1
Parcelmonkey.fr is the one I remember - but there are others. Basic comparison site
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ian
Member
36 Indre
Posts: 42
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Post by ian on May 9, 2022 6:23:41 GMT 1
@polarengineer Yes, she wants them. They're family heirlooms, and she wants to keep them in the family. The point about customs duties is worrying, though. Never thought of that.
chrisell, thanks for the pointer, I'll check them out
Maybe I'll have to take them out myself, suitcaseful by suitcaseful, when I visit.
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Post by landmannnn on May 9, 2022 8:08:00 GMT 1
The alternative, used a lot my the Chinese for example, is to buy excess baggage from the airline.
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Post by hal on May 9, 2022 9:44:24 GMT 1
Look up the US commodity tables and select the category she will import. In your case, Sterling silver tableware. The duty is listed as 3.3%
This duty is applied before shipping cost (unlike EU and UK who apply it to shipping also) but before the local state sales tax (their equivalent of TVA) All this will/should apply even if you carry it in yourself (but as dogs cannot yet, I think, sniff out silver, you might be ok. Just do not get caught during a spot check though...)
That is the easy part. The hard part is assessing the value. Silver tableware is barely worth more than scrap value these days, so you will need to fight your corner on this. Trouble though is you are between a rock and hard place - truly it is only worth scrap value, but your insurance valuation will be on replacement value! the nice customs man on entry to the US will look at the insurance and tell you that you cannot have it both ways! This is where you need a shipping agent...
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ian
Member
36 Indre
Posts: 42
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Post by ian on May 9, 2022 15:34:10 GMT 1
Hal, that's a lot of helpful info - thank you.
It seems I can send $100 of gifts per day to a person, without paying duty. I can even include gifts to several people in the same parcel. So, maybe, lots of small parcels, maybe by post, rather than one big one. Plus, carrying some bits every time I travel. Act dumb if caught - "it's only got sentimental value, Officer...."
That would be easier than trying to figure out what duty needs paid.
I need to do some thinking...
Thanks everybody.
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ibis
Banned Member
Posts: 1,376
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Post by ibis on May 9, 2022 15:54:09 GMT 1
Ignorance will get you no where with the customs officials. They will get duty plus a hefty fine on top.
Check the USA border patrol website and see what the allowances are before traveling.
travelers are permitted to bring up to $800 worth of merchandise back to the United States without having to pay duty. (Numerous exceptions apply.)
For U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) purposes, an antique must be over 100 years of age at the time of importation.
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