Do I have to pay fees for customs for purchasing item from Japan.

[iuvbe0]

Hello. I want to purchase a Virtual Reality Headset from Japan. The total value of the item before taxes is just over $1,390. I am trying to find out if this item counts as a personal exemption. Customs says that items totaling in value that are under $1,600 in value count as a personal exemption as I am not planning on using it for commercial use. On the other hand, I have seen many people saying that the limit is only $800 and that I will have to pay fees for customs.

I would just like some help in making this decision before I possibly get myself into a pickle with US customs after purchasing this item.

[mudshark61369 · Accepted solution]

@iuvbe0,

Have you tried searching online to see what fees may be charged by the US customs and border protection service?  There were changes made to the  fees last October. I believe the headset cost is under the Value fee, but you may be charged a Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) for informal entries "mailed items" between $2.22 to $9.99 per item. The link below may help you. Many USCBP links do provide contact info you can use to ask questions about fees.

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-810?language=en_US

I hope you realize there may be sales tax charged by your state for the purchase.

[iuvbe0]

That seems to make more sense now. It was just a lot of numbers and definitions for different countries and exemptions that made it confusing. Also, yes I am aware that the sales tax is going to be added on. I just thought that providing the original stated value of the headset would be helpful. Thank you so much for providing the article, this did end up helping me a lot. Thank you so much again!