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Importing a Zeiss Lens from Germany To US

mikej

mikej

Member
Hi, all - I'm considering purchasing a new 100 cfi lens fron SH photo in Germany for shipment to the US. I haven't been able to decipher what the import duties will be. Value of the lens is about $2500 US. Can anyone assist?
Thanks.
Mike
 
As far as I know there is duty at 10 % and possibly sales tax to pay over the purchase price including shipping.
2500 USD for a new 100 CFi lens is a bargain.


Paul
 
The other way round - for shippings from the US to Germany - I always expect to pay about 20 % on top of the purchase price for tax and import duties.

Ulrik
 
I have bought many things from Europe with no fees. It seems to be a hit or miss proposition. All things that arrived with no duty though were shipped with the postal service. Using UPS or FedEx always incurs extra fees. Don't know why.

Terry
 
ulrik said:
The other way round - for shippings from the US to Germany - I always expect to pay about 20 % on top of the purchase price for tax and import duties.

Ulrik
Click to expand...

EU starts with 6% duty. In Germany ad 19% sales tax.
It would be saver to calculate a 25% increase of the total price for items imported from non EU countries.

Paul
 
terrydent said:
I have bought many things from Europe with no fees. It seems to be a hit or miss proposition. All things that arrived with no duty though were shipped with the postal service. Using UPS or FedEx always incurs extra fees. Don't know why.

Terry
Click to expand...

This is interesting - the same thing has happened to me here in OZ. It seems if international courier services are used you cop the duty/tax, and if they are not you don't. I wonder why? Maybe too big a job to check every parcel?
 
Larger courier services like FedEx and UPS have authorisation to clear parcels themselves.
They charge 10-20 USD for that privilige and will not pass any parcel without charging duty and possibly salestax.

With postal service it all depends on the way the parcel looks etc.
In Germany almost all parcels handled by Deutsche Post end up with customs or they are charged with duty and salestax at delivery.
 
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