I have been looking extensively for some music online in the past few days, and it is very hard to find (still one that I cannot find). In any event, there is a company in Belgium that sells it, but in their disclaimer, it says “Outside the EU, you are responsible for paying any taxes, duties, or customs fees charged by your local government.”
My question is, how am I charged, if at all?
Vis
I have purchased CDs and vinyl (sometimes over $100 worth at a pop) over the internet from mail order stores in England, Germany and Australia, to name a few countries, and have never been charged any kind of customs fee or duty. Maybe there’s a price point or certain type of goods where the duty would kick in, but I’ve never hit buying music.
I was charged a duty while I was in Canada, though. I’m usually in Texas.
Oh yeah, if price (and origin) is no object, search for your holy grail of music at GEMM.
-fh
In every state with a sales tax (46, I believe), you are legally obligated to pay the use tax on any item to which the sales tax would apply if purchased in your state, with a credit for any sales tax paid. I believe VAT taxes are not a sales tax, but you shouldn’t have to pay the VAT anyway. I don’t know about any customs duties or fees; my guess is that, unless you are purchasing a boatload of music, you won’t have to worry about it.
It is extraordinarily unlikely that you would be charged the use tax (essentially only if the company does business in your state, and also, I suppose, because if they did charge it it would be a sales tax and not a use tax), but you’d hate for the tax collector to knock on your door at 2:00 am, wouldn’t you?