Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mayorgc]

I've just been told that I'm going to get dinged for 20%. I bought some bling from the states and it was shipped via fedex.

I feel like I'm getting ripped off. Is 20% the going rate?

[Goku]

It depends on the associated duties or taxes related to that particular item. I'm unfamiliar with the exact breakdown of all the trade goods, but usually it's a rate and then you pay the VAT on top of that. So you get some compounding % of charge.

It depends though HOW you declare your goods. Anyways, sometimes they will allow goods to pass freely if it a good of personal value or personal possession it probably won't be charged for.

I think all personal affects, including those of particular value are not charged.

You will have to check their customs site though if you really want to know the details.

[Chaucer]

That's about right--I had some stuff shipped, $500 from REI and they charged me 100,000won tax as it was a kind of deluxe thing in Korea (totally normal thing in the shops in Seattle).
They ding'd your bling my nizzle...

[isthisreally]

I recommend if you can to you use a person back in your home country to open, cut price tags off and make whatever it is your getting look used. If you do that you can mark it used and often avoid customs fees.

[bluelake]

It happened to me, but MANY years ago. Back around '91, I bought an overhead projector (its cost was about $500, plus shipping); I had to pay quite a bit in duty (don't remember exactly how much, though).

[Kimsmith]

I've been charged on clothes that I ordered from overseas. It rarely happens, but I think I've had it happen twice in a 9 year period.

[mayorgc]

Will customs open up packages?

I understand paying duties if you shop overseas and it gets sent to you. But what about family members who send you packages. Customs won't make you pay taxes on family packages will they?

[nathanrutledge]

I had to pay duties on some underwear, three education books, a box of milk duds, and a dvd my parents sent for my birthday last year.

DO NOT SEND ANYTHING BY FED-EX/UPS. Everyone I've talked to that has used a private service, KCS has opened them up and they've been taxed. Also, they tax you on the total value, INCLUDING shipping. Send it by USPS (or Canada Post, or whatever your national postal service may be). I have NO friends who have been taxed on postal service shipments.

You can go to the Korean Customs website and they have the list of what is taxed and at what rate. When my package came, I called and said it was personal stuff, a gift, and they asked for my visa number. Then they said "sorry, you've been here too long, you're a resident." It was very convoluted and frustrating, and in the end I paid about 30k for 100k worth of stuff (and my mother even sent the wrong size underwear! Thanks mom! ).

This year though, my father sent me some stuff, declared the value below the threshold, sent it via USPS, and I got it all, no fuss, no muss.

[mayorgc]

What are approx. shipping times for Canada Post? If I use their priciest service, will it arrive within a week?


Do you think it's safe to ship pricey items through Canada post?

[nathanrutledge]

Eh, I got my USPS stuff in ten days. Some camera things, no trouble. One of the items I actually had bought from a Canadian, was sent to the US, then packaged up with some other stuff and sent here, no trouble. I wouldn't worry.

[mayorgc]

Yah, thanks for all the info. I'm gonna go through the backdoor. Get stuff shipped here through Canada Post.

[GoodMike]

Ya, go USPS if you can, so far ive had 6 or 7 packages sent in from USPS. They can be spendy, like 50 or 60 dollars shipping, but you can put as much stuff as you want in the box up to 20 pounds. I have not had any boxes cut open or searched through. They are sent right through to me no problems.