Q RE: Customs Duty On A TV At SDQ

[angus murray]

I want to take a small (26") TV for friends through SDQ soon. Anyone do this recently? What was your experience w/ Customs? Thanks. I've looked through all the forums and couldn't find any posts addressing the issue of an individual TV.

[Robert]

Buy it here. By the time customs has added their taxes, it would have been cheaper to buy it here.

[windeguy]

I too have such a question. From what I can tell, it will cost you anywhere between a quick $10 US slipped to the customs agent or up to about 50% of the value that THEY SAY the TV is worth. If you do it, let us know how you make out.

Personally, I would like to know what they should legally charge and based upon what criteria.

[playacaribe2]

Originally Posted by angus murray

I want to take a small (26") TV for friends through SDQ soon. Anyone do this recently? What was your experience w/ Customs? Thanks. I've looked through all the forums and couldn't find any posts addressing the issue of an individual TV.

you might not even get stopped/questioned...thus no duty. However, if you are shipping it separately and in its original packaging expect to pay around $250 in duty/taxes for a 26."

For further reference I was quoted $1,000 to ship/guide through customs and deliver a 42" LCD TV. TV duty/taxes are based on screen size and they just look up the price for that size TV pre-loaded in the computer. They could care less whether it is a Pisonic (real brand sold in the D.R.) or Panasonic.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

[angus murray]

I asked a Customs human 3 days ago about duty on televisions while carrying a 16 " through SDQ. He told me that duty is charged on TV's sized 32 inches and up; those under 32 inches PAY NO DUTY. I paid nothing.

[playacaribe2]

Originally Posted by angus murray

I asked a Customs human 3 days ago about duty on televisions while carrying a 16 " through SDQ. He told me that duty is charged on TV's sized 32 inches and up; those under 32 inches PAY NO DUTY. I paid nothing.

for the update on TV duty and congratulations. Did you indicate or show the "customs human" the TV you were carrying?

And, if there is no duty on TV's under 32," I wonder why they (under 32" TV'S) are all still priced 2/3 times higher than comparable ones being sold in the states.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

[angus murray]

because outfits such as Plaza Lama are unlikely to share cost savings on under 32" units with anyone and would most likely not want the specifics of import duty on such smaller units to become common knowledge. It comes as a bit of a surprise to me that (apparently) no prior contributor to the Forum has asked a Customs human about this specific issue.

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by angus murray

because outfits such as Plaza Lama are unlikely to share cost savings on under 32" units with anyone and would most likely not want the specifics of import duty on such smaller units to become common knowledge. It comes as a bit of a surprise to me that (apparently) no prior contributor to the Forum has asked a Customs human about this specific issue.

if anyone can find and post the legal document that states there is no duty on Flat Screen TV's under 32", I think you would make many DR1'ers VERY happy (myself included!).

[playacaribe2]

Originally Posted by angus murray

because outfits such as Plaza Lama are unlikely to share cost savings on under 32" units with anyone and would most likely not want the specifics of import duty on such smaller units to become common knowledge. It comes as a bit of a surprise to me that (apparently) no prior contributor to the Forum has asked a Customs human about this specific issue.

because Customs/Aduana has always told us how much the duty is/was.

If true, a huge business opportunity is at hand. However, I will remain a skeptic about the info provided to you.

Did the "Customs human" in fact know of and/or see the TV you had in your suitcase?


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

[angus murray]

but a glance by him at the size of my suitcase was enough to tell him that anything within had to measure less than 32".