SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
Hello, I just purchased an SL1/CW1 kit and I was wondering if anyone in the US has also ordered this and if so, how much did you pay for the import tax and how and whom did you pay? This will be my first purchase over $800 from Prusa so I don't have any experience with import taxes.
I am coming from an Anycubic Photon S and Elegoo Mars Pro. Both of these machines are okay - some parts better than others. And I also have the Anycubic wash and cure station which is very good overall, especially for the price. I got the CW1 because as good as the Anycubic station is, it does not dry parts so I figured what the heck I'll get the nicer Prusa one. What killed the experience with the Anycubic and Elegoo printers was the software. It is awful compared to Prusa Slicer. I even started using Prusa Slicer to generate STLs with supports to import into the other software just to reduce my time spent in the inferior software.
Anyway, thanks for any advice you can offer a soon-to-be new owner.
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
While I have not received it yet I have been trying to figure out what the pain will be when I get my $900 order from them "soon." I messed up and should have broken my order up, but that's another lesson learned.
From what I can tell if you go over $800 then customs is allowed to apply a duty tax, but they don't always do it. I used this site ( https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator/ ) and it seems they can apply a 13.5% duty tax on the entire cost of the item when you go over $800. So for me I am looking at around $120.
What is meant to happen is the carrier (DHL or FedEx) will contact you to pay the duty, and maybe additional fees, before they deliver it. DHL in particular have been know to mess this up sometimes, so you should keep a good paper trail on how you paid with invoices etc.
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
In my case, FedEx did not charge me any import tax. Delivered about 10 days after purchase.
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
In my case, FedEx did not charge me any import tax. Delivered about 10 days after purchase.
Just FYI it's not FedEx. When they submit the customs documents to the government they decide if they want to impose duties or not. Then they just tell FedEx to handle it. 🙂
My theory is that because of COVID they are probably short staffed like everyone else, and do not have the man power to process as many duties, inspections, etc. At least one good thing might have come of this horrible virus.
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
I was not charged any import duty on the bundle.
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
Following up to my original post, I purchased the SL1/CW1 kit (SL1 was not assembled) and chose FedEx for delivery to the US. No import charge on delivery. However I received a bill in the mail for USD 67 from FedEx for import tax. It was less than I was expecting originally but I was of course hopeful that the lack of charges on delivery meant no charge at all.
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
Following up to my original post, I purchased the SL1/CW1 kit (SL1 was not assembled) and chose FedEx for delivery to the US. No import charge on delivery. However I received a bill in the mail for USD 67 from FedEx for import tax. It was less than I was expecting originally but I was of course hopeful that the lack of charges on delivery meant no charge at all.
Hmmm. I had no idea they could bill you for taxes after delivery. That's odd. I think it might be something to do with COVID again, because I went outside to meet the DHL driver, because I purposefully did not give them a signature release online to make sure I got the machine. But he did not want a signature. So maybe they are just dropping stuff off and looking for payment later if needed?
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
Delivery to Australia was a little different:
Prusa SL1/CW1 kit with 1kg resin, FEP film and delivery came to USD1989.21 which converted to AUD3165.12
GST and duty came to another AUD396.97 which had to be paid to DHL before they would ship
so a lot more expensive than originally expected...
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
Following up to my original post, I purchased the SL1/CW1 kit (SL1 was not assembled) and chose FedEx for delivery to the US. No import charge on delivery. However I received a bill in the mail for USD 67 from FedEx for import tax. It was less than I was expecting originally but I was of course hopeful that the lack of charges on delivery meant no charge at all.
Hmmm. I had no idea they could bill you for taxes after delivery. That's odd. I think it might be something to do with COVID again, because I went outside to meet the DHL driver, because I purposefully did not give them a signature release online to make sure I got the machine. But he did not want a signature. So maybe they are just dropping stuff off and looking for payment later if needed?
No. DHL is generally lazy in that regard. They just left my MK3 on my porch and there was no pandemic at that time (late 2018). My wife also regularly gets stuff through DHL that is supposed to require a signature, but they never bother.
RE: SL1/CW1 kit US import tax question anyone can answer?
My SL1/CW1 kit showed up through FedEx last week. Yesterday I got a bill from them for import taxes of $0.