Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
online shoppers All across America are facing this unexpected cost holiday season Above Distribution Some of their packages are import-related fees Over $100.
For example, small business owner Jennifer Scully pointed out wmtv About his shock when a delivery driver She came with a $54 bill which had to be paid before she could receive packageEven though she had already paid for the order and shipping.
“It was only $200 worth of stuff, so percentage wise, it adds up to a lot CostScully told the outlet, she paid the bill because she needed the packages for her business.
Unpaid duty is an import fee that is required to move international goods through customs.
While many large global companies are covering the charges and raising product prices to compensate, smaller shippers are passing the cost directly onto customers, sometimes without explicitly disclosing it.
.png)
Until recently, Americans could buy up to $800 worth of goods from abroad Thanks to the minimum discount, without paying duties. That changed in July, when President Donald Trump issued an executive order Eliminating exemptions.
Now, shipping companies have to collect Tariff from customers and send them money U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionUltimately the money is going to him U.S. Treasury,
The responsibility for duties is determined when the foreign seller creates the shipping label. If the seller does not choose to pay the fee himself, the cost is automatically transferred to the buyer.
“It’s a tax on all of us,” political scientist John Pevehouse told WMTV. “The Postal Service has reported a 70 percent drop in packages arriving in the United States over the past few months.”
In addition to the standard customs tariff, some goods from specific countries have additional duties, which can make the total cost even higher for buyers.
These changes should also be thought about when traveling and picking up souvenirs for loved ones, or going shopping abroad. Travelers returning to the US with gifts will not be affected by the new import duty changes, as personal duty exemptions still apply.
Travel agent Othelia Cassidy said that depending on the country you’re coming from, travelers can bring back $200, $800, or $1,600 worth of luggage without paying duty, as long as the item is not declared free.
“My recommendation is, if you can fit it in your checked bag, that’s the best option,” Cassidy told WMTV.
However, sending gifts home is a different story. Mailed packages no longer qualify for these exemptions, meaning the tariffs apply regardless of the value of the item.
As far as avoiding surprise delivery charges goes, consumers can’t legally circumvent them if they want a package.
The only option is to reject the shipment so that the carrier returns it to the sender, which avoids charging the buyer.
Consumers who choose to pay import duties should be wary of scams. Tiffany Schultz of the Better Business Bureau warns that scammers often pose as legitimate carriers like UPS, FedEx and DHL, taking advantage of the confusion over new tariff charges.
She advises buyers who notice any unexpected fee notices to verify whether the website link is genuine and when in doubt, call the shipping company directly to confirm the charge.
“It’s OK to pick up the phone,” Schultz told the outlet.