Is there Import Taxes into the USA?  

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

According to this page https://help.prusa3d.com/l/en/article/P3iMlZWniv-payment-options-vat-customs anything, including shipping, under $800 has no taxes/duties and anything over that is taxes at 3%

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

I can live with that.
Thanks.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

I've got prebuilt MK2S in US for $900 without any taxes.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

I am not sure that taxes are enforced.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

Import duties are not always collected, but they are always due, on shipments of landed value over $800. Landed value is purchase price plus packing and shipping - all costs to purchase it and get it onto US soil. Prusa has been cutting us a deal on the MK3 kit by absorbing some of the shipping to get it under $800 landed value.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

On just the MK3 kit, we were charged a "foreign transaction fee" of $12.06.
I do not know if any further charges may show up in the ensuing weeks/months.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

On just the MK3 kit, we were charged a "foreign transaction fee" of $12.06.
I do not know if any further charges may show up in the ensuing weeks/months.

That is usually a money conversion fee. I think.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

Thanks again. I wasn't sure with all the Tariff BS in the news lately.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

Thanks again. I wasn't sure with all the Tariff BS in the news lately.

Canada and most European countries have a tax that raises the price of everything not made in their country, called VAT. Then they cry foul when the US puts a tax on things they make when it enters the US.

Hypocrisy at its finest.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

@danielm81:
Well, in the US, there are state and local sales taxes. To the end consumer, a sales tax is no different from a VAT. The cost of each tax is passed along as a percentage of the actual value of the item either way. For businesses in almost all countries, export is exempted from VAT. However, that doesn’t mean any real advantages for businesses within EU, not as exporter or importer of goods and services. The EU (and world wide) VAT system does not give foreign companies any benefits on the US market, read for example this article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/francescoppola/2017/03/02/somebody-please-explain-to-president-trump-that-vat-is-not-a-border-tax/#4d016bae3b67 Judge yourself, where hypocrisy is to be found.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

Thanks again. I wasn't sure with all the Tariff BS in the news lately.

Canada and most European countries have a tax that raises the price of everything not made in their country, called VAT. Then they cry foul when the US puts a tax on things they make when it enters the US.

Hypocrisy at its finest.

Taxes are taxes. In the end, they reduce consumption and hurt businesses.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

Places that have VAT only apply that tax to imports. They also have Federal sales tax, Province sales tax, and Local sales tax.

VAT is a barrier to trade, raising the price of all things made outside that country. The only differences between VAT and a Tariff is the end user directly pays VAT whereas a Tariff is passed along in the price of an object and a Tariff is specific to a type of item whereas VAT applies to ALL items (there may be some exemptions, but the rule is all items). The purpose of both is to make a foreign made item more expensive to protect the local made items.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

This discussion has gone beyond the question asked 3D printer forums are no place to discuss international politics or tax policy.

This type of discussion is like political discussions. There is no right or wrong, but someone is always gets ticked off.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

Charles, you are absolutely correct, There are plenty of forums for politics. What the world DOES NOT NEED OR WANT. is another political forum.
I am so sick of politics in the U.S. i want to scream.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

I am so sick of politics in the U.S. i want to scream.

Amen to that.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

Charles, you are absolutely correct, There are plenty of forums for politics. What the world DOES NOT NEED OR WANT. is another political forum.
I am so sick of politics in the U.S. i want to scream.

That is from both sides of the isle. What we need is a little less pointing fingers and little cooperation. In the Army, we call that a little less hooah and a little more Dooah. In other words, more do and less talk. Sorry, I said I would stay off politics.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

In other words, more do and less talk.

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

To get back to the original question (as of March 6, 2019)
I just received an assembled MK3 today via DHL. It left Prague Mar 3 at 2:37 am and arrived in Minnesota March 6 at 7:30 pm. Got here in two days…I'm amazed.
The total invoice was $1040 including shipping.

Short answer: there was no extra fee/tax/tariff. In fact, no signature even. The delivery guy just scanned the label, smiled and left the box at my feet.

Long answer:
The import classification for a 3D printer is 8477.80.0000, "Other machinery" with a 3.1% duty. https://www.flexport.com/data/hs-code/847780-mach-nesoi-for-working-rubber-or-plastics
"if product value is less than US$800 then import is duty free"
"The tax is applied on the total sum of item cost, insurance cost and shipment cost."
https://customsdutyfree.com/customs-or-import-duty-for-3d-printers-plastic-sintering-to-united-states/
I don't recall now where I read it, but it seems if the total goes over $800 then the tax/duty is charged on the entire amount, like in my case I could have been charged $1040 x 0.031 = $32.24
Happily, and for no reason I can deduce, there was no additional charge at all.

Weirdly, while in transit the online tracking feature at DHL said "Payment required".

Re: Is there Import Taxes into the USA?

To get back to the original question (as of March 6, 2019)
I just received an assembled MK3 today via DHL. It left Prague Mar 3 at 2:37 am and arrived in Minnesota March 6 at 7:30 pm. Got here in two days…I'm amazed.
The total invoice was $1040 including shipping.

Short answer: there was no extra fee/tax/tariff. In fact, no signature even. The delivery guy just scanned the label, smiled and left the box at my feet.

Long answer:
The import classification for a 3D printer is 8477.80.0000, "Other machinery" with a 3.1% duty. https://www.flexport.com/data/hs-code/847780-mach-nesoi-for-working-rubber-or-plastics
"if product value is less than US$800 then import is duty free"
"The tax is applied on the total sum of item cost, insurance cost and shipment cost."
https://customsdutyfree.com/customs-or-import-duty-for-3d-printers-plastic-sintering-to-united-states/
I don't recall now where I read it, but it seems if the total goes over $800 then the tax/duty is charged on the entire amount, like in my case I could have been charged $1040 x 0.031 = $32.24
Happily, and for no reason I can deduce, there was no additional charge at all.

Weirdly, while in transit the online tracking feature at DHL said "Payment required".
DHL payment required lg 2019-03-06.png

In Canada, DHL (and most carriers) will ding-dong-ditch the parcel, and then send you a bill in the mail. It's worse, because the import limit is something like $20; I once got a bill in the mail six days later for a ~$60 item, charging me $0.63 in tax, and a lovely $20 "brokerage" fee. They'll pull other crap too like charge you on warranty replacement items to see if you are not watching out.

It's basically legal extortion. Because you already have the parcel, most likely have opened it (and so it cannot be refused) and therefore you have to pay their fees. (But if you self clear it, which you are legally allowed to do, all you have to do is show them proof you've paid the taxes owed and they have to release the parcel to you, no additional fees).

I haven't received anything like that recently so I haven't had a chance to see what their response is to me calling it extortion. Because as a recipient, you never signed or agreed to any terms or contract with the carrier that you would pay fees owed, unless the selling website was careful enough to put it in their fine print.