Hi!
... the story snipped ...
I am sure that the TW bidder was trying to avoid an import tax. I'm pretty sure I would be participating in something illegal if I obliged. But what are others' opinions here? I know this is off topic, but if anyone has experience it would be someone here in PDML.
It is common practice in Israel to declare goods as a gift. There is something that people do not notice. The import tax people do know very well how much things are worth. Since they can actually look inside the box, they can still charge the taxes. And they actually do :)
There is another side of this coin. At least in Israel. I've learned that by experience.
If the item is sent to me via UPS or EMS or similar service (I tried these two, but pretty sure about others), it almost always goes to the taxes, no matter how insignificant in value the item is.
If the item is sent to me via USPS (regular non-express mail, could be registered, no matter), it is a gamble. Sometimes I would get my package without taxes involved.
So, I suppose, David, if I were to ask you *not* to use EMS or UPS but use regular USPS instead, you would probably agree, as this is totally legit thing to ask.
My say is simple. It would be unacceptable to assist in hiding from the taxes the way you described. Nonetheless, to post the thing in such a way and on purpose so that the poor fellow would have to pay taxes is, how to put it, inconsiderate.
In fact. There is third side of this coin. In Israel at least, if I were to sell some items and for big buck, I would have to go the authorities to declare that I have an extra-income that should be taxed.
Would you be willing to do this? If I am paying taxes for buying/import, why wouldn't you pay taxes for selling/export?
Just my cents.
Boris
