# Internation order...customs tax? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internation-order-customs-tax/72864 "2001-07-17T23:25:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Viscera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/258eb7/32.png) [@Viscera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viscera)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internation-order-customs-tax/72864/1 "2001-07-17T23:25:47Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internation-order-customs-tax/72864/2 "2001-07-18T01:55:37Z")
[http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/travel.htm](http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/travel.htm) > [@](#): > > Purchases sent by a merchant abroad > The merchant will attach an international customs declaration to your package, which he or she should fill out with a complete, accurate description of the parcel’s contents and value. The merchant will then mail or ship the package to the address you supply. > > Although the merchant may charge you for the cost of mailing or shipping your package, he should not charge you for U.S. Customs duties. Customs duties are not assessed until a package arrives in the United States, and they cannot be paid in advance. If a merchant tells you that you must prepay duty, do not believe him or her. The Postal Service in the United States will collect any duty owed from the recipient; in fact, by law, only the designated recipient (addressee) is liable for duty. The shipment’s originator-the merchant, for example-will not be charged duty for goods that he or she has sent to the United States. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internation-order-customs-tax/72864/3 "2001-07-18T05:53:49Z")
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](http://www.gemm.com). -fh ---
**Author:** ![johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnson)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internation-order-customs-tax/72864/4 "2001-07-18T12:31:00Z")
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?