Any item shipped out of the United States via the US Post Office to a foreign country requires a customs form from the post office. If the item weighs less than four pounds, use the green form, if the item weighs more than four pounds, use the large white form.
Part of completing these forms is declaring a value of the item being shipped. Usually, the seller enters the sales price of the item, not including the shipping fee. Some international customers will incur a tax on the item as it enters their country.
To avoid paying this tax, international customers may ask you to delcare the item as a gift. I usually respond like this:
"Thank you for your purchase. We are required by the United States Post Office to accurately and truthfully describe the contents of all packages leaving the United States. Failure to do so may result in a fine or other penalty. This item was purchased on eBay for $XX, and we must enter that amount on the customs declaration form."
These international customers know what they are doing and are trying to avoid paying the import tax on their purchases. Personally, I do not mark an item as a gift. Has this ever happened to you, and how did you handle the request?
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Yes! I have been asked by an international customer and I had no idea why. But I did it (and a few times) for her too. Now I feel stupid! If she buys from me again I'll have to explain. I don't want to get in trouble. I ship from a very small post office with only one employee so I'm sure she's noticed!!! Thank you for explaining this.
Posted by: Hudson | May 15, 2011 6:52 AM | Permalink to Comment
I did it once or twice, marked things as a gift, years ago. I then found out that you definitely could not do this, and so I stopped immediately. I inform customers politely that the final price I sold to them for, less S&H, is the price I have to put on the form, period... never have had a complaint...
Posted by: John S. | September 29, 2011 11:45 PM | Permalink to Comment