No minimum value for Customs?

Maybe next time around go to KMart. Sorry, couldn't resist but I'm betting that $99 fancy toaster will have no more of a life than any other small appliance here which gets beaten to death with WAPA surges and outages ...

The usual customs fee is 6% for most items except those that are duty free.

So to my question: there is no minimum, or franchise, on imports? Paperwork is required on a $1 import where 6 cents would be due?!

At work we have gotten bills for customs fees of twelve cents. It cost so much more than that to fill out the paperwork and mail it to us. So I guessing the answer to your question is: No, there is not minimum. If you want to be sure you should contact CBP and ask.

i would have to say yes to your question. they can if they choose collect on a 1 cent purchase

the funds that are collected do not go to the US. They first are applied to the cost of having US customs handle the VI, and then the overage goes to the VI gov't

We have had to pay on Keurig coffee that is shipped FedEx. If one of the items comes from Canada, we have to pay. We've made trips for $0.30 before.

@meowruff: trip for $0.30?! That's beyond absurd. It doesn't even cover the expense of the US Customs paperwork. It also takes an otherwise productive adult out of active life for at least 1/2 hour.

Is that a US Customs rule (no minimum) or some sort of USVI regulation (since they keep the surplus)?

meow: If you meet a minimum, Keurig ships for free. Not only that, but lightning fast. I ordered on Friday, shipment arrived Monday...

We always get free shipping from Keurig. Unfortunately, some of the coffees that my hubby orders require a trip to pay customs fees. So, free shipping, but a couple of cents and a trip to the customs office.

I had a new remote control from Dish delivered to my house by UPS.

The driver charged me $.27 for customs.

I gave him $.30 and told him to keep the change, LOL!

CD

@ca.dreamers you were able to pay UPS rather than go to the Customs office? That would be a major argument for using UPS instead of FedEx.

The UPS guys actually collect the Customs Duty when they deliver. Fedex usually does too. I'm not sure why someone would need to go tot he office unless its an anomaly.

UPS, FedEx, Paradise Freight and VI Cargo (all on STX) have always charged me for customs duties at the time of pick-up or delivery. With them, I've never had to go out of my way to pay it. The only time I can remember having to make an effort was with Blackhawk Shipping for a pick up at Gallows Bay, but the customs office is right there, so it wasn't a big deal. We also had to make a trip with our moving rep to some office at the container dock before taking delivery of our container and vehicle when we moved here 9 years ago, but I don't recall exactly what the trip was for. Maybe it was to pay customs.

meow: May I ask which coffee?

A FedEx manager told me that unless there is a FedEx account in the field marked "taxes and duties", the recipient will need to drag themselves over to a) get stamped by the Excise office at the airport, b) walk over to Customs and pay c) go back to FedEx to claim the package.

The bottom line is the absurdity of the process. This is a tax. There is no way the Customs and USVI government make more money than they are spending doing the paperwork for a $6 fee yet alone $0.30.

The Customs officer told me that this was part of The Danish Law -- No. 64,1914 http://webpac.uvi.edu/imls/ces_uvi/extb2/tax.pdf
Yes, 1914. You learn that exceptions are made for the import of live turtles, manure, mules and asses.

Any Senator out there willing to write a bill that provides says the first $200 on all imported goods are tax free if for personal use? The actual amount should be such that it reflects a) either the actual cost of processing paperwork by Customs b) one hour minimum wage.

Don't give them any ideas.
They'll want to raise the rates or impose another tax since they must continue to borrow from Peter to pay Paul while they spend, spend spend as if there is no tomorrow.

I can't remember which coffee was the problem...I believe it was something that came from Canada. We didn't have to pay for the other items - just the coffee from Canada. But, nothing would be released until we paid our pennies.