TimeTechTalk.com Home

TimeTechTalk.com > Time Tech Talk > Time Talk > Anyone know what import duties/taxes would be in buying a watch from a seller in Singapore?

Welcome to 3T! Please take the time to register and join in on the friendly,knowledgeable watch talk.Please note that not all registrations will receive an immediate activation e-mail.Those who do not receive an immediate notification will be activated manually within 48hrs. by an admin. without an e-mail activation url sent to you,you may then sign in using your username and password,if you feel there is a problem please e-mail us at timetechtalk@hotmail.com and include your name and username and we activate your account.Thank You!

 Moderated by: 3T Page:    1  2  Next Page Last Page  
New Topic Reply Printer Friendly
Anyone know what import duties/taxes would be in buying a watch from a seller in Singapore?  Rating:  Rating
AuthorPost
 Posted: Wed Jun 24th, 2009 08:48 pm
  PM Quote Reply
1st Post
stew77
Admin


Joined: Thu Mar 26th, 2009
Location: Colorado USA
Posts: 10254
Status: 
Offline
 Anyone know what the import duties/taxes would be in buying a watch from a seller in Singapore?

I have never purchased a watch from a seller outside the USA (in fact, I've been extremely fortunate to have purchased my preowned watches from the wonderful members here at 3T...Teddy and Ken, you know who you are...these transactions were ultra-smooth to say the least).

I am somewhat concerned about purchasing a watch from someone in Singapore, but will do my best to check out references etc.  Another thing I can't seem to find on the US customs website is what I can expect to pay in import duties/taxes for a watch shipped from a seller in Singapore?  I see that if the item exceeds $200 (and this watch would) then I would generally have to pay import duties (although it seems like some peoples experience is hit or miss in terms of actually being charged).

Anyone of you experienced watch buyers know the answer to this question?

Thanks

Last edited on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 08:49 pm by stew77
Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: Wed Jun 24th, 2009 08:56 pm
  PM Quote Reply
2nd Post
oagaspar
Site Founder


Joined: Sun Sep 4th, 2005
Location: Akron, USA
Posts: 28505
Status: 
Offline
 there are no import duties to the U.S....only if they ship overnight FeDex and it is Fedex that charges you hand6.gif
Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: Wed Jun 24th, 2009 09:37 pm
  PM Quote Reply
3rd Post
stew77
Admin


Joined: Thu Mar 26th, 2009
Location: Colorado USA
Posts: 10254
Status: 
Offline
 Wow...thanks for the ultra fast response Oscar!!

I don't think I'm reading the US Customs site correctly then since the $200 must apply to tobacco and alcohol then (for items that you are not personally transporting back into the country).

I thought that this applied to all goods that exceeded $200 in value.
Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: Wed Jun 24th, 2009 09:40 pm
  PM Quote Reply
4th Post
oagaspar
Site Founder


Joined: Sun Sep 4th, 2005
Location: Akron, USA
Posts: 28505
Status: 
Offline
 I have bought a gang of watches from overseas sellers and vendors like Anders/Dievas/GnomonWatches in Singapore and have never had a dutie or tax regardless of price with the exception of Doxa who shipped overnight Fedex and then the bill comes direct from Fedex ....luckily Doxa pays that hand6.gif
Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: Wed Jun 24th, 2009 09:56 pm
  PM Quote Reply
5th Post
stew77
Admin


Joined: Thu Mar 26th, 2009
Location: Colorado USA
Posts: 10254
Status: 
Offline
 Thanks Oscar...very good to know (I had been thinking I might surprisingly get hit up by customs for a king's ransom in order to take delivery).

Thanks again for the info!!
Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: Wed Jun 24th, 2009 10:29 pm
  PM Quote Reply
6th Post
Paxman
3T WIS


Joined: Sun Apr 23rd, 2006
Location: NorthEastern, Wisconsin USA
Posts: 15957
Status: 
Offline
 Some of them even make the watch a gift and Fed Ex can bite it then.;) Be certain to state when negotiating your final sale price with the vnedor that you expect no adds or ups to include any duty. You should be just fine.
Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 08:42 am
  PM Quote Reply
7th Post
Graham
3T WIS


Joined: Sun Sep 21st, 2008
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Posts: 2724
Status: 
Offline
 You guys in the US are lucky.  We have to pay 20% duty on watches, plus 14% VAT (sales tax)!  Having said that, some packages still come in with no questions asked. A matter of lazy customs officers, I guess....subtlelaugh.gif
Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 09:26 am
  PM Quote Reply
8th Post
IanM
3T WIS


Joined: Sun Apr 15th, 2007
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 1268
Status: 
Offline
 Same here in Australia guys - and Graham is correct about ineffective Customs people, or different people interpreting the same rule in different ways. Happens all the time.

Limit for Aussie buyers is $400 AUD before tax applies (it varies, but is about 10% of the AUD converted price PLUS shipping).

However, like O, I have never (touch wood twice...) had to pay an import duty or a tax of any kind...

Luck of the draw sometimes...

Cheers all! IanM hand6.gif 

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 10:06 am
  PM Quote Reply
9th Post
KenC
Admin


Joined: Sun Sep 4th, 2005
Location: Florida &, Arizona USA
Posts: 11288
Status: 
Offline
 oagaspar wrote: I have bought a gang of watches from overseas sellers and vendors like Anders/Dievas/GnomonWatches in Singapore and have never had a dutie or tax regardless of price with the exception of Doxa who shipped overnight Fedex and then the bill comes direct from Fedex ....luckily Doxa pays that hand6.gif

Ditto...the only duty I hsave ever been charged was on a DOXA when it was shipped by FedEX.  On a $1500 watch, the duty was approximated $37, and DOXA paid for it (well, it was included in the price).

My STOWA also came FedEX, but I never saw a Custom's bill.
Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 10:20 am
  PM Quote Reply
10th Post
Nabco
3T WIS


Joined: Sat Dec 2nd, 2006
Location: Ohio, N. Carolina & Delta Seat 1C
Posts: 3836
Status: 
Offline
 Don't think you need to worry about it, just make sure they do not ship FedEx, I have had the same experience as others....even with non watch items....my company was HQ'd in Ireland, when they sent me a new laptop via FedEx I had to pay almost $200 in duty.
Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 10:45 am
  PM Quote Reply
11th Post
Skipdawg
3T WIS


Joined: Thu Mar 29th, 2007
Location: Washington USA
Posts: 14965
Status: 
Offline
 I think it is FedEx Overnight that gets ya. I've done many with Fedex International Express with no problems. Now with International Airmail I've have items get hung up in Customs and 2 items over the past 5 years went missing that way but no fees.
Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: Thu Jun 25th, 2009 08:55 pm
  PM Quote Reply
12th Post
stew77
Admin


Joined: Thu Mar 26th, 2009
Location: Colorado USA
Posts: 10254
Status: 
Offline
 Thanks for all the helpful replies guys....

It looks like (although I don't have final confirmation yet) the timepiece will likely ship via Speedpost Worldwide Express and according to everyone's experience here, I will not need to plan to pay additional Import Duties.

SORRY TO THE GUYS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA...bummer on the import duties and VAT!!:(

Thanks again to all for the info!!thankyou.gif
Back To Top PM Quote Reply

Current time is 02:08 am Page:    1  2  Next Page Last Page    
TimeTechTalk.com > Time Tech Talk > Time Talk > Anyone know what import duties/taxes would be in buying a watch from a seller in Singapore? Top

Lead Theme By: Di @ UltraBB
UltraBB 1.17 Copyright © 2007-2012 Data 1 Systems
Page processed in 0.1318 seconds (44% database + 56% PHP). 26 queries executed.