ebay international shipping charged me import fees for HTS code 9503.00 items. Refund possible?
I bought some HO model locomotives from a seller in the UK. Didn't think too much about it when the total cost included 15% of the sale price as 'import fees' (see attached snippet - import fees are 29.25 GBP on a sale of 195 GBP), since I had read that the UK tariff rate was 15%
However, since then I have become aware of HTS code 9503.00.00 - which states that "Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dollsʼ carriages; dolls, other toys; reduced-scale (“scaleˮ) models and similar recreational models, working or not; puzzles of all kinds; parts and accessories thereof"
are charged at 0% tariff (see screenshot)
Is there any chance that I can redeem that 15% charge or am I mis-reading the HTS code?
p.s. - I first posted this query in the 'Toys and Hobbies' category of this forum but got no replies. Hence re-posting here.
lacemaker3
·7 months ago@polaris8030,
From what I can determine, the correct HTS code for HO scale trains would be 9503.00.00.90, because the other suffixes are reserved for products intended for children. It does show that the general duty for those items is zero. https://hts.usitc.gov/search?query=9503
However, that is the duty rate, not the tariff rate. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs imposed last year are applied in addition to, or on top of, the preexisting duty rate. The items in that category are subject to duty for some countries of origin, as shown by the information in the two right hand columns. So they are still subject to the IEEPA tariffs.
The current USA tariff rate for the UK is 10%, on top of the general duty rate for that classification. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8gxp7dvepo I believe duty and tariffs are calculated on the total price including the cost of shipping. On that basis, the import fees were 12.5%. There are also service fees that are charged for the service of collecting and remitting the duty and tariffs, which probably explains the additional 2.5%.
When USA duty and tariffs are charged, they are remitted (sent) to US Customs (USCBP) by the shipping carrier. Neither eBay nor the shipping carrier have that money any more, and they can't get it back, so it is nonrefundable by them.
If you feel that the duty and tariff you were charged was incorrect, you can apply to USCBP and ask for a refund (they call it a drawback). I believe that only the importer of record (the buyer, or recipient of the goods) can ask for a drawback. This would only include the amount that was remitted to USCBP, any service charges are nonrefundable. Here is the information about requesting this:
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/programs-administration/entry-summary/drawback-overview
https://pages.ebay.com/tariffs/#ac-0
polaris8030
OP7 months ago@lacemaker3 .. thanks for the detailed answer. I honestly thought that the HTS 9503 code was an 'exception' to the tariffs and I was getting excited to get some money back 🙂 .. I will look into the paperwork involved to file a refund with US customs as future reference but it won't be worth the hassle for a few bucks (~2.5%). at least now I know how the itemization for shipping and import charges work. Thanks !
lacemaker3
·7 months ago@polaris8030, unfortunately not.
If you are eligible for a refund from USCBP, it should be for the 10% tariff, which would be about £ 23.00, or US$ 31.43. But I don't think this purchase would be eligible.
There is a very limited classification of goods which are officially "duty free" and are not subject to the IEEPA tariffs, but it is limited to books and information media, and even then some types of media don't qualify. Virtually all other goods are subject to the tariffs.