The United States of America (USA) is the world’s largest economy, and it offers a wealth of opportunities for businesses of all sizes. From coast to coast, the USA is home to millions of consumers with a wide range of needs and preferences. This provides a unique opportunity for businesses to reach new customers.
If you are a business owner in New Zealand who is looking to expand your market to include the USA, there are a few important things you need to know about shipping internationally such as customs allowances and other costs. To ensure a fast delivery of your goods, this article will discuss customs duties and the overall clearance process in America.
Shipping costs to America
Free-Trade Agreements (FTA) were signed to make the transit of goods and services between countries easier and to promote economic growth between nations. FTAs can provide specific countries with concessions or even exceptions to duties, taxes, and tariffs that would ordinarily have to be paid, making the import and export of countries more manageable.
However, do note that there are no existing FTAs or economic agreements between New Zealand and the USA that would allow for any concessions or reductions in taxes or duties paid. As such, imports from New Zealand to America would need to undergo the full shipping costs of any customs fees pertaining to the shipments in question.
Customs duties
This rate does not work as a standard fee but rather as a percentage of the purchased value of your imported goods. After you have calculated the exact total sum of all the percentages pertaining to your shipment, you would have to pay the fee to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
That being said, under customs allowances in the USA, household and personal effects may be imported into the country for free if you only used them internationally for less than a year and if they are not for retail sale.
Taxes
In addition, a federal excise tax is charged on imports of alcoholic substances and tobacco and will have to be paid as such. Once you have paid all the charges pertaining to your shipment, you can then proceed with the customs clearance process in the USA.
