Customs from Turkey?? (as in tax)

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ed4copies

ed4copies

Local Chapter Manager
Joined
Mar 25, 2005
Messages
24,757
Location
Racine, WI, USA.
As we hope to be purchasing some wood from a
vendor in Turkey, I would like to know ALL the costs
"up-front".

Has anyone ever imported a couple hundred pen
blank size pieces of wood from Turkey???

What is the customs percentage? or
will Customs seize the wood, to keep out bugs?

ALL thoughts appreciated. INFORMED thoughts are
even better!!!!
 
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Whenever I brought wood in to the US from Canada, I had to have a certificate on the lumber that it is bug free by going through a kiln. It's not easy to find places to buy wood that will supply a cert, but Exotic Woods Inc in Ontario provides. Matter of fact...he has a website somewhere online and he is a serious importer of woods from around the world. Perhaps track them down and ask them..they are in Burlington Ontario. I never brought back enough wood to worry about customs and fees.
 
Any additional input??

I spent about an hour on the phone and internet today--not much luck.

I really hate doing projects where you don't know the cost until you have it in your hands, but it looks like this is gonna be that kind of project.
 
Ed, "no risk, no reward". It's all I can think of right now. On a more serious note, I used to import after-market auto parts from Turkey and import/export taxes were not an issue then. Don't know if the same applies today for wood.
 
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I made a large order last year from China. Never looked but seems I was just charged shipping as if it was any other online order. never thought about tax for coming in to US:eek:
 
Thanks Hess!!! Welcome to IAP!!!

If you look at the paperwork from China, it is not unusual for them to "value" a box at $5, to avoid USCustoms.
 
ed4copies said:
As we hope to be purchasing some wood from a
vendor in Turkey, I would like to know ALL the costs
"up-front".

Has anyone ever imported a couple hundred pen
blank size pieces of wood from Turkey???

What is the customs percentage? or
will Customs seize the wood, to keep out bugs?

ALL thoughts appreciated. INFORMED thoughts are
even better!!!!
Click to expand...

Ed,
It's been a few years since I was in the import business... but when you bring in plant products, woods, plants, straw, etc... you will need a clearance through the USDA...(department of agriculture) as well as U.S. Customs. Likely you can find out what you need to know by going to the U.S. Customs web site and the department of agriculture. If the Turks do their end right, you'll have phytosanitary certificates that says the wood is free of bugs and/or has been kiln dried to kill them. I don't know the duty percentages.. probably can find that in the TSUSA, (that's the tax rate code for customs) which will be on the web site...
 
So far, all the packages I've had come in from Ireland and the UK marked as "Wood" have made it through without any problems. The customs tariffs are also usually paid on the other end, so may already be included in the guys shipping quote.


I have two pallets coming in from Singapore of books, they hit NJ this week and all the customs were already paid, I just have to provide the company info so they can be released. If they are coming in the equivalent of the mail, they may not hit any hold up at all.
 
Thanks Mike!!

All the products (resins, acrylics, etc) that I get from Britain are subject to Customs in the USA. FedEx (or whatever carrier) calls me for the numeric codes (which are printed on the label of the box). Then, they charge about 10% on top of what I have already paid in shipping. UPS adds on their own $25 charge, because they can--I have found no other reason.

So, I am wary.
 
Ok so I just have to do it. You're making blanks from turkeys! Wow sorry Ed someone had to. And I know absolutely nothing about importing. Heck last year was the first time I sent anything out of the US.
 
Ed

My daughter who lives now in Utah who you will receive an E Mail in the next few days from re despatch to you has lived in Istanbul is fluent in Turkish, her father in law a retired Customs honest man may be helpful,he still visits the Airport with his friends. In a Country not known for its trouble free anything with a rampant inflation it is a country of contradiction. They my family visit at least annually ie the Son in Law cause our daughter has just had a fabulous month with us and said is it OK if I come next year as well to her home in Aus. They maintain a Turkish Apartment complex in Istanbul.

Hope this may give you a fresh approach, also the third Sect here at the Embassy for 30 odd years is family. He will have the main contacts in Ankara the commercial Capital and is due to travel there in the near future. Nothing quite like info from the right end of the Horse.

I agree with my practice never to use UPS famous for gross after addons and real complications to boot. USPS has been entirely up front with me over a number of years.
REgards Peter.
 
ed4copies said:
Thanks Mike!!

All the products (resins, acrylics, etc) that I get from Britain are subject to Customs in the USA. FedEx (or whatever carrier) calls me for the numeric codes (which are printed on the label of the box). Then, they charge about 10% on top of what I have already paid in shipping. UPS adds on their own $25 charge, because they can--I have found no other reason.

So, I am wary.
Click to expand...

Ed,
The link below should take you to chapter 44 of the tariff on wood products wood in rough form - I think a case could be made for pen blanks to be in rough form... but if you read down and if I remember how to read the tariff, the products are duty free. If you use one of the major carriers to bring the blanks in, they will have a customs charge... service fee for filing out the paper work, messenger fees, etc... if you can get the shipper to ship FOB your place.. the charges will be covered by the shipper... most won't do that as they are in same boat as we are... they really have no way of knowing the final charges... over certain values of merchandise, customs can and usually will require a customs bond .. even on duty free items.. our gov't at work??

As I said, it's been about 5 years since I worked in the industry and things may well have changed dramatically since I got out of the business... but these are the things I remember.

http://www.usitc.gov/publications/docs/tata/hts/bychapter/1001C44.pdf
 
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