Import costs to receive to the USA

I'm thinking of buying something from abroad. WAY abroad. Other hemisphere abroad.

If the sender marks the box as gift without value, I'd imagine that I don't get hit with any sort of taxes, right?

If so, and the item gets smacked around by UPS or Fedex or whomever, I'd assume that I'm SOL because if the seller were to put insurance on it, that would declare its value. Correct?

Also, if customs were to open the box, would gift/value have any effect?

Call UPS or FedEx, or check their website. You're probably fine.

As for what you're saying, that sounds like what I used to do when shipping to the UK.

When dinos ruled the Earth.

I want to know the answer to this as well....

Ok, start here:
http://www.cbp.gov …tion/kbyg/payin​g_duty.xml

If they ship by ups or fedex, you will get hit w/ custom fees. ups/fedex charges you the fee & thier admin fee. If it goes postal mail you have a better chance of not paying for customs. you are right about the decalred value, insurance only covers up to declared value.

TaDa wrote in post #7320086
I'm thinking of buying something from abroad. WAY abroad. Other hemisphere abroad.

If the sender marks the box as gift without value, I'd imagine that I don't get hit with any sort of taxes, right?

If so, and the item gets smacked around by UPS or Fedex or whomever, I'd assume that I'm SOL because if the seller were to put insurance on it, that would declare its value. Correct?

Also, if customs were to open the box, would gift/value have any effect?