----- Original Message ----- From: "David Oswald"
Subject: OT: Import tax
I recently sold a lens on eBay to a Taiwanese bidder. I live in the USA. The bidder, prior to bidding asked how much shipping would be. I gave him a quote, and specified, "That will include shipping insurance. For the purposes of shipping insurance as well as for customs purposes, I will declare the lens's value as being the winning bid value."
After the auction closed, the high bidder asked me to declare it as a gift when I shipped it. I thought about it for a moment and decided not to do so for the following reasons: First, I never had agreed to do that prior to auction close. Second, I felt my statement was pretty clear; I would declare the item's value based on auction value, *for customs purposes*. Third, I saw no reason to do something illegal.
So I shipped the lens as specified previously, declared at its winning bid value, declared as goods, not as a gift.
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.
You did the right thing.
William Robb
