Customs by the book for import shipments under US$200 ?

Be aware Customs is starting to behave by the book, being anal, regarding the tax exemption for import shipments under US$ 200. This is an ongoing situation promoted by commercial interests within the DR who feel they are losing sales to offshore vendors because of the exemption. It appears they have Customs ear and cooperation to push the envelope over the matter.

PJT ordered a bulk pact of rechargable batteries from Amazon, $25 worth. EPS had the shipment and Customs would not release the goods until they had a copy of the invoice. Amazon inserts a packing list with a description of the product in its packaging, in the past was enough documentation for Customs process. Customs knows the reasonable product cost at time of inspection and usually waves the product through if under $200. This time for PJT was an exception to the behavior. It may become a habit. PJT electronically sent the invoice to EPS to verify the value and the shipment was released.

Be prepared for now, if you order offshore you may want to retain a copy of the invoice to be able to present it for Customs review. This will quiet down after a while as Customs will find it is more costly for them to continue this practice.

If needed goods of good quality and value were available in the DR, PJT would buy here.



Regards,

PJT

The concern is Customs is unnecessarily delaying shipments that are obviously under $200 valuation. Their doing it interrupts the courier's standard of delivery schedules and frustrates the delivery to the end user when there are items that are urgently needed.


Regards,

PJT

wrecksum said:

Just picked up a bunch of under $200 stuff today from EPS with no delays and no customs fees so I guess it depends on the courier service?

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It depends on the day, which way the wind is blowing and whether the agents doing the inspections got up on the right side of the bed that day. No so much depends on the courier service as all the courier services having been receiving the same treatment from Customs. They are and we are a captive audience to Customs.

PJT did receive his shipment from EPS and Amazon had enclosed a packing slip with the order number and description of the product and its value in the package. The package had been opened by Customs for inspection. This tacitly reinforces that the behavior of Customs may be lending its support towards Dominican commercials interests who have grievance against the under $200 duty exemption. There was no real need for them to request an invoice.


Regards,

PJT