Custom Tax at Airport

Gator says on Apr 29, 2008, 19:02:

Depends on the value-I assume you are declaring it as personal accompanied baggage. If it is $1.5000 USD or less no duty. Be sure and list the item and value on the customs form that you must fill out. This will be given to you on the plane. Since the inspector will decide the value have the sales receipt with you.

You should have NO problem.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

panthdave says on Apr 29, 2008, 19:27:

No problem....Gator said 1500.00 bring a receipt..I brought a new LCD TV worth a 1000.00 and they didn't even question me..was still in the box and walked right thru Customs.

panthdave Miami

calipro says on Apr 29, 2008, 23:37:

I'd be more concerned about the over-sized and excess baggage fees the airlines might charge then the taxes.

The prices of new LCD and plasma TV's have gone waaaaay down in Cali over the last six months. Might have something to do with the relative strength of the Colombian peso against the U.S. dollar....But it doesn't seem really worth while to bring a big screen into Colombia anymore.

JJ logistics might be a good option....with your paid airline ticket you can get a very low unaccompanied luggage rate.

Gator says on Apr 30, 2008, 20:45:

We seldom bring anything back-except what Mrs. Gator buys. Colombia, especially Bogotá, has just about anything we need and, a calipro says, the shipping costs, unless it will fit in a suitcase, negate any savings.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

dwmte7 says on May 2, 2008, 07:02:

don't know a thing about the 'letter of the law', but we've brought down 3 plasma tv's to the family through the airport--medallo-- and never had issue, one.

bringing things through customs through the ports--ocean freight--is another matter completely. they tax anything and everything. i don't think you'll have problems at the airport, except for the size of the tv...that might ring an alarm buzzer. give it a whirl. good luck. dw

dwmte

Gator says on May 3, 2008, 07:00:

DWMTE, not if it is sent as "baggage to follow" that did not accompany the passenger and is under the peso/dollar limits.. I am speaing of by air since surface with never beat the 30-day rule.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Frank Rizzo says on May 3, 2008, 11:26:

Hi Gator...we attach baggage to tickets all the time....and, so far, they have given us 60 days after the the date stamp (arrival) into colombia.(for equipajes to 1500lbs or the maneja to 2500lbs)... has that changed to 30 recently???

We typically get it in...under 30..but have had a couple get past that....

thanks..

dwmte7 says on May 4, 2008, 08:09:

gator...frank...ya'll need to fill me in on all this. for an old fart that's been there for 19 years, all i ever did was drag excess with us on the plane...'/or, ship by containers. what's all this by sending 1500-2500 lbs as an 'attachment' that arrives later?

please, guys, fill me in. dw

dwmte

Frank Rizzo says on May 4, 2008, 12:21:

Hi DW.... i'll PM you now...

Gator says on May 6, 2008, 09:51:

Accompanying baggage :

Accompanying baggage is that which the traveler brings with him on entering the country. It may contain his personal effects and/or permitted articles.

Non-accompanied baggage:

Non-accompanied baggage is that which enters the country before or after the arrival of the traveler, and should be consigned in the travelers name. If part of the baggage has already entered or will enter as cargo, it must be declared on the Declaration of Baggage and Currency, and the customs officer must be informed before leaving the customs area. Otherwise the baggage will be treated as goods to be nationalized. Baggage that enters thirty days before or ninety days after the date of arrival of the traveler must pay a duty of 15%.

Duty-free entry of merchandise

The traveler may bring duty-free merchandise into Colombia in ADDITION to his personal effects.
Conditions to be considered in determining if it is duty-free merchandise
Permanence abroad: any length of time.
Value of merchandise in US dollars: $1.500
Type of goods: for personal and family use.
Maximum quantity: non-commercial quantities (determined upon inspection).
Baggage should be accompanied.

You may, of course, bring with you and in addition to personal effects, merchandise on which duty is payable. Value of merchandise in US dollars: $2.500; Types of goods: articles for domestic use, whether electrical or otherwise, sports goods, and goods relevant to the traveler’s activity; maximum quantity: 3 of each article; duty payable: up to US$ 1.500 is duty free, a duty of 15% is payable on US$2.500 and you get this once a year. This baggage can be accompanied or non-accompanied baggage.

Frank, as long as you act as a private individual you don't have any real problem BUT it gets REALLY, REALLY COMPLICATED in a business situation.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Frank Rizzo says on May 6, 2008, 17:58:

Hi Gator...thanks for the info...your last sentence is sooooooooo RIGHT ON !!!

Of the times we got taxed...they "flipped" the equipaje to a regular import...(they can do that if they want)....it was stuck in customs for 6 weeks...and i got hit for the 15% tax..of prices off the net...(that they found)... we have a very good relationship now with them as you can imagine...we take pics of everything in miami now before shipping...and have them go through the pics...so there is no suprises when it gets there....

Now..that being said...(ON that problem shipment)...i sent down probably 100 light fixtures all imported from italy to the US first...for the cali home...(all matching...all the same name...you get the idea...)..they thought i was opening a store.....

And typically....i can tell you that we never declare the goods with the ticket entering the country....we ship usually around the 30 -60 day mark..following the entrance...and we've only got the tax 2 times....in probably over 2 dozen times...we usually ship in 1500 -2500 lbs each time....if it's goods for a home..(which it is)..and it looks like it (which it does)....they just pass it on...