Hi everyone
I’ve been reading a lot of documents on the Japanese Custom Website but I just keep getting confused
If I want to import products from Europe (no food or alcohol, basic stuff like photo frames or other objects) with the purpose of reselling them, what are the precautions I need to take?
In some of the documents I’ve read, it’s written that if the parcel is managed by a private courrier you don’t need to declare anything as they will organize all the documents for the custom and tax
In other documents they say that everyone who wishes to import products into Japan must file some documents for custom clearance and so on.
I’m really confused, let’s assume I just wanna buy photo frames for a total value of 5man yen, can I just have them sent to my domicile without worrying about custom procedure?
Anyone got experience?
Really appreciate your help
3 comments
Whoever sends you the photo frames will attach a commercial invoice to the shipment. And if you owe an import duty, the shipper or customs will bill you for that.
I have imported music synthesizers (which are high value) and customs called me to ask if I was importing to use them myself or to resell. That piece of information was necessary for them to decide the import duty.
Less than 20man yen should not be a problem, I think. Just order and it will arrive to your doorstep, but courier might ask you pay import duties (a lot of categories actually have 0%) and consumption tax. If it is less than 1man yen then you might get exempted from those, but I feel like if it is for resell purposes, then technically it will be tax evasion. I did not find comprehensive answer if it is possible to be exempted paying consumption tax 2 times(during import and during resell), but I do not think it is a huge concern in case of Mercari/Yahoo Auction. Amazon or Rakuten Ichiba on the other hand might require a little more research.
I just had to pay consumption tax on $100 USD.
You might also have duties on the items as well. I have had to pay an extra 5% for that as well.
You don’t have to collect consumption tax unless you sell over ¥10,000,000 a year. This also means you can’t be refunded for the tax you paid.