Customs and duties are some of the most hotly contested topics on local blogs recently, and I can’t help but relate it to my (our?) hobby of amassing toys and CDs produced in Japan. I’ve been hit by the tax man pretty hard too, so of course I’d do everything legitimate in my power to save a buck or two.
If you’re wary of your parcels from online stores getting taxed, there are two ways to avoid them — however keep in mind that this isn’t guaranteed to work 100% of the time. One way is to keep your shipments small, at just under USD 50. These are considered low-value shipments and are less likely to be taxed. Another way is to have the parcel shipped via SAL — which is much slower and not trackable, but is also more likely to fly under the radar and reach your doorstep without getting taxed.
So how do you know if your parcel is being held for customs? If your parcel was sent via EMS and has not reached you three days after it was mailed out, then it was probably flagged for inspection. You can confirm this via three methods: 1) you can check the JAPAN POST or USPS website to check on your parcel via its tracking number; 2) you can wait for your claim voucher to arrive via snail mail; or 3) you can call the EMS call center at (+632) 854-3580 and give them your parcel tracking number for confirmation.
If your parcel is detained at the Bureau of Customs, you have to trek all the way to their office at the EMS Sorting Facility on MIA Road, Pasay City (MAP). Don’t forget to bring your claim voucher, or a printout of the page on the tracking website, and two valid IDs. Once there, you will be asked to open your parcel to determine the value, and then taxes and fees will be levied on the contents.
Generally, the calculations run like this:
[total USD value of parcel * 10% customs dues] + [total USD value of parcel * 12% VAT] + [PhP 750 customs miscellaneous fees] + [PhP 35 Philpost releasing fee]
So if your item is valued at USD 100, and assuming that the conversion rate is PhP 50 to USD 1, you have to pay: [USD 10] + [USD 12] + [PhP 750] + [PhP 35] = PhP1885. Good luck trying to fish that out of your wallet without weeping silently.
I know that it’s my duty as a citizen to pay taxes and dues, and it really wouldn’t be such a big deal if they weren’t so high. Also, I could live with myself better if I knew that the money was going to good use, like building schools or shoring up local businesses. Instead, they go to the pockets of corrupt government officials and greedy politicians.
It’s a lose-lose situation for regular folks like you and me 😦
Starting 31st December 2010, I may no longer be able to regularly reply to queries posted on this thread. However, most cases have already been tackled previously, so I suggest you read through the comments log to find your answers, instead of posting a new question. Thank you very much!
JPOP Manila 
Hi po, december pa yung PACKAGE ko from INDONESIA
nasend na daw nya pero nasira daw 11 hoodies kaya binalik nyo ulit meron po ba talaga? WILDA LESTARI po name nya
im NANETTE JUCO…. from xevera mabalacat pampanga
di nya pa kasi binibigay tracking number . please reply if my nareceive kayo package from WILDA LESTARI – indonesia…….
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hi can any one help me with my air parcel?… i recently ordered inks from china.. its should be here right now when i checked online its say’s that is held by the custom? i dont know what to do coz i dont have any valid id’s all off my id’s are (im affaid) that they are not valid anymore…is there anyway that my family or any of my friends can claimed them?… buy the way im from tarlac…
thanks guys
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@ernest
If it’s EMS you can wait for the dreaded postcard customs will send you to notify you it’s for inspection and pickup(dunno how long it will take for tarlac, usually in Manila it’ll take 3 days for them to deliver the postcard). You need to bring it to them or someone you authorize to bring to them. Since they’ll track it base don the postcard.
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hi! i want to try ordering this (it’s my first time)http://www.play-asia.com/Love_Songs_CDDVD/paOS-13-71-9y-49-en-70-4308.html but could you tell me what are the chances that this will get hostaged by customs??
and if it ever gets held at cutsoms how am i gonna retrieve my parcel? do i have to go all the way to manila? (i live in capiz at the visayas region) thanks!
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@ devastator thanks man,,,, so i can just assign someone to pick my package for as long as the have the notification?….
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@devastator
can i just authorized someone to pick up my inks or i have to do it my self coz like what ive mention i dont have a valid id no more….
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Hi, I would like to ask if shipping through air-economy (it’s just posted air-economy) is the same with EMS??
I’ve red all the posts above about EMS, so If air-economy is like EMS (going through with all the Customs crap and paying all those bills) then i would think twice in buying online..
thanks.
rixx.
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I do also have concerned i live here in davao if my parcel will be held by boc i do really should go to manila post office?thanks.
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hello I would like to ask if ung gagamitin ko is Air Parcel may possibility ba na macustoms siya? please help
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@ernest
Yup, all of the details you need for him to be authorized is written on the back of the notification post card.
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@rixx and Yla
Air Economy and Air Parcel is I think similar to SAL (Surface Air Lift), though not too sure on that. So no tracking and I estimate at least 3 weeks before it arrives at your local post office. So no need to go to the customs office at NAIA to get it.
Although it will go through the local customs official located there in your post office and you will get a notification post card, but it will be the one for your local post office.
SAL shipments have a decent chance of getting “lost”. Although on a good note (well note sure if it’s good) SAL shipments can be easily be “Pakiusapan” by the local post office employees (in my case I would have had to pay 1500 for my shipment, but the local customs guy ditched work 15 minutes early and the post office employee released it to me in return for 500, good deal for me)
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just a warning it seems the ems customs are taxing people even if your parcel is below 50usd.
my 12usd parcel got tax so i have to pay 800php of tax which is greater than value of my parcel
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my 12usd parcel got tax so i have to pay 800php of tax which is greater than value of my parcel
OH GHEEZUS CHRIST ON A FUCKING BIKE
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@leni
now that’s just plain wrong… even doing the basic math on the customs duties and taxes. It should not reach 800 esp if it’s EMS >:P
The news people should really do another expose on the abuses of these customs clown :p
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Went to their Pasay office to pick up a fairly large package from the US containing stuff I bought online and asked my hubby to send. Declared value was $100. I was getting paranoid coz of the 1TB storage device in there which amounted to $130 alone. Then there were other stuff too that would total a little over $200 when checked. But then I wasn’t taxed. Just had to pay Php40. I don’t know if it’s just a plain coincidence but I don’t get taxed whenever I wear my nurse uniform =p
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My packaged just arrived from china last saturday and I called the ems office yesterday and the customer service said that i have to pick them up and will have to pass through customs. Im scared!:(
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I recently bought a doll from Hong Kong, delivery via EMS. In tracking (delivery status) it says:
“Not delivered because no delivery service is avilable for this product or service at the specified delivery point. Addressee advised to pick up the item.”
Does this mean I’ll be taxed too?
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no, it means that the delivery service they are using does not send parcels to your address (country). you either have to pick up the item in HK, or select an alternative that delivers to your residence such as FED EX or DHL. having said that though, i have never heard of anyone not being able to receive a parcel from EMS HK — totally weird, this one
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hi! this post is really helpful kahit 2 years old na. haha.
i was wondering if the customs is as cruel with this kind of thing if the books are sent from a relative or friend? something more on the range of them being a gift…will that still be taxed?
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@gabi
They WILL try to tax you for them regardless if it’s a gift or from a friend. So far the new modus operandi that I’ve encountered is they’ll show you an outdated/incomplete version of the Florence Agreement. My suggestion go to the UNESCO website and print out THEIR complete version and be sure to include the countries that have joined since the creation of the treaty. (UNESCO version was last updated Aug 2010) and get ready to go toe to toe with the assessor if they try to tax the books.
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i have the voucher to claim my parcel at pasay sorting center. problem eh mahal na araw ngayon. So i have to claim it by monday. its a 22USD item shipping and the actual cost. with this site im prepared to face those voltures! the valueof the item is more or less 1500php. if they’ll be asking me to pay more than 1k php i will leave it to them they’ll probably cant use it anyway. its a device used to measure water conductivity. id rather spend 2k php to buy a new one from a friend rather give my 1500php to those voltures.
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hi guys, I will just share my experience buying online stuffs. I recently just bought some toy parts and lipo batteries for my rc toy at hongkong from an online store. value and declared value was around $75 and shipped via EMS, I’m from Ilocos Sur by the way.
Had the following trace logs,
08/04/2011 14:00 Delivered
08/04/2011 06:07 Unsuccessful Delivery TRACED & ADDRESSEE RQTS CALLFOR AT PO
07/04/2011 13:29 Departed from Destination Transit Centre
01/04/2011 13:49 Held by Customs at Destination
01/04/2011 09:34 Received at Destination Transit Centre
You will see my package was held 1 week at customs, and so I just hope and prayed that it will cleared and be sent on it’s way here at local PO. After waiting, I got a call from my local PO that I have a package and that customs imposed a “collect” as what they call it or a payment of incorrectly declared item values. They showed me a letter from customs signed by a Customs appraiser. According to them/letter the actual value was $91.50 and that I have to pay a fee + taxes + etc = PHP 1498. And so I did pay the fee without questions and got my package, an officer on the local PO told me to open it and check if it indeed it was complete and good condition, and so I did, from checking I notice that some bubble wraps of items inside have small cuts and officer said it looks like customs opened it up and really did inspect it, overall the items is complete and thankfully still in good condition. Anyway, thinking that I’m still lucky that customs sent the package on my local PO, than letting me claim it in person at EMS in Manila + additional fee. Which is expensive and very time consuming especially if your from the province. I will try and use air-parcel next time.
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Thanks magnetic_rose!
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Hi i have a package from china and was able to track it but it says handed over to customs last april 25, 2011. what should i do? thank you!!!
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hi, any idea if electronic parts like motors for rc cars will be charged for tax?
recently, i ordered an rc toy straight from japan, my friends told me that it will be delivered in the local PO with no addt’l charges. Since i’m eager to get my package, i went to the EMS PO at pasay to get it my self. After waiting for an hour in the queue, i was only asked to pay for the P40 fee for the post office fee. I was very thankful because other people were charged for a whopping 1k – 2k for their packages..
I’m planning to order again but i’m afraid that they will tax me if i order electronic stuff for my RC car.
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registered mail doesn’t work either. It’s been 3 weeks and it hasn’t arrived yet 😦
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registered mail usually takes two months — three weeks into the waiting game is still early, IMO.
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my god….i found ur website. i want to ask about the tax cuz my husband send gift for my daughter’s birthday and they said i need to pay the taxes in ems customs. the package name to me and to my daughter and it address to us our house too. they really not supposed to tax a gift that is sent to a personal adress–only if my husband send it to business adress.right?
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Hi! I am planning to have an online shop and the items will be pre-ordered from china and korea. So, I just finished ordering an item like an hour ago and after I am looking for a blog or a site for the Customs Iloilo regarding the purchasing online via China registered mail. Are there somebody here from Iloilo City kasi I’m just wondering kung may bayad ba talaga pag kukunin mo na sa custom yung inorder mo. Plssss somebody answer me.
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Good Day ! this site is really very helpful . Ask ko lang po how much kaya ang icharge sa akin ng custom if ever magcharge nga sila sa binili kong fetal doppler sa china amounting to 77USD including na po dyan yung shipping cost sa ems . Magiiba kaya computation nila since fetal doppler sya use for home lang naman
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Hi, i ordered some stuff a week back..
it was delivered right at my doorstep, but no body was home.
the mailman told our neighbor that they’ll be back today, but nobody went for my package..
any idea where can i pick up my package?? will it be on our Local PO?
thanks..
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try your local PO first if they have your parcel — bring two IDs and a print out of the tracking info if you have it. if your local PO tells you that the EMS people have it, that’s the time you have to go to pasay to pick up your parcel. good luck!
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hi! is “make your purchases small” still applicable? I bought items at an online seller amounting to $35 (shipment fee included). Will I be taxed? And, can you tell me how much will it be more or less? Tnx!
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@Trix,
From what I have experienced, any package with 50 USD or less will not be taxed. Especially if it is small enough to be delivered to your mailbox. If not, you may need to pay the fee of 35-40 PHP. Of course, it still depends on the mood of the PO clerk.
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do you know any reliable cargo company to send my package,i import fashion jewelries every 2 wks and im sick and tired of paying taxes that are so high.i used to have a contact in dpex but the problem is when i paid late for the said “tax” he suddenly changed his number and i got surprised when an agent called me to pay 5k worth of tax..im just so pissed ..haaay
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hi guys this is my first time to order gundam kit online from banzaihobby and i choosed EMS because it will only take 2days and will be deliver to my house and they gave me a tracking number. june 6 my order is already dispatached to there store, june 8 14:53 its already here in manila and the status is “Arrival at inward office of exchange” then june 8 18:46 the status is “In Customs” now its already june 10 but no update on the tracking and i haven’t received my parcel. what does it mean? do i need to go to the post office? (that i don’t know where it is) or do i need to call? (that i don’t even know there number) or i need to wait a little more? i live here in QC. i need help what to do guys thnx.
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Hi,
Im planning on ordering PG Strike Freedom from HLJ in which the kit costs ~15000yen. anyone here has an experience with ordering PG kits from HLJ? how much do you think they’ll tax+lagay for it?
thanks!
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@Mickey,
EMS are usually picked up at their office in Pasay (near domestic airport), at least that’s the case with my package. It took them 3 days, since the tracking page reported my package to be ‘at customs’ for the PO Notice to arrive at my place. I believe you should wait for your notice. If not, try to call EMS Pasay and give them your tracking number if it’s already there and ready for pickup.
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@sdboka
Lets assume: 8k PHP for the kit and 2k PHP for FedEx shipping. I would estimate your tax to be 3800 PHP. I ordered something that cost around 6750 PHP and FedEx taxed me 2600 PHP. I’m no expert, I just base it on experience. FedEx usually have higher taxes than local post office.
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@tabs
so it’s in Pasay, I thought the parcel is in North Harbor or South Harbor. Well anyway, may I know if I need to call the customs before going there eventhough I have seen the Detailed International Mail Search Results that it’s already in the customs? Do I need to wait for the notice since my sister and I are planning to go to the EMS Pasay early morning tomorrow? Because I have read in the other website that if the parcel will stay longer in that area the customs will charge the buyer mmore and I really would not like this to happen to me. This is my first time to order online so I am so oblivious to this kind of procedure. I should have declared the parcel as a gift so that the customs will just charged me a lower price and I learned this upon reading. May I know all the contact number of EMS Pasay. btw thnx for answering my question i really appriciate it.
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@Mickey
USPS Express Mail International goes to Express Mail Service (?) in pasay. I do believe it takes around a week for the PO notice to arrive at your place, especially if you are far from Pasay. I am from Paranaque so I assume that’s the reason why it took them 3 days only. I’m sorry but I do not know the numbers of EMS pasay.
Just a tip, they will charge you a high amount (depends on your package cost), please do negotiate and explain nicely that you do not have enough cash with you. I was able to save 1000 PHP from the tax they are initially charging me with. Good luck. =)
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@tabs
thnx for the tips. we will go there tomorrow early in the morning at Pasay to claim my package i live at qc delmonte and i will not wait for my notice to arrive because im uber excited thats why i ordered online for fast delivery. btw my MG 00Raiser+shipping cost is 3400 PHP how much they going to tax me for my package price?
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@Mickey
Just bring a proof of your order/tracking number, have it printed out or something. I’m no expert, but based on my receipt from EMS pasay just this month, I’ll estimate your tax to be at around 1433 pesos + 40 pesos fee. Good luck, and keep up posted. =)
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@tabs
are you really sure the EMS should be claim at pasay? not in paranaque? check this pic http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll108/mickeyzkun/tracking1.jpg and this http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll108/mickeyzkun/tracking2.jpg
sorry for covering the tracking number. even the tracking is expired and it stated its in customs does it means it already in customs even the tracking info expired?
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update on my EMS parcel. i already claimed my MG 00Raiser and i pay the tax. im so disapointed in our CUSTOMS because they’re careless when they inspect your parcel they don’t care if its fragile or not and look what did they do to the box and how they tape it back. its called “barabarabay”
and here how much i payed for the damn tax
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@Mickey
Where did you get your package? Sorry, I’m used to EMS by USPS only, and not packages from Japan. That is why I completed the description at post #377. Anyway, did you manage to negotiate with your package still? Despite all the corruption and headaches PO gives us, end of the day, what counts is that you are happy with your package. =)
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@tabs
at EMS Pasay Customs. yah i manage abit the real tax is 1350+ PHP the lady said this DC is for today only,next time i won’t give DC. that what she said. im not really happy because i bought my package that japan so it will be more cheaper than here but it became worst because of tax. MG 00Raiser here is only 3750PHP but MG 00Raiser in Japan +shipping is only 3450PHP but with tax of 1107PHP it became 4557 PHP. now i learnt my lesson.
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@Mickey
Oh I see, so I guess all EMS goes to pasay. It is usually cheaper to buy here if you add the tax to your estimate. I ordered my BJJ Gi in the US since with shipping, it is still cheaper by 500 Pesos. Then got taxed 2600 so yeah, lesson learned but I still order, I love it when I receive packages.
By the way, that’s one really good kit. I only bought the whole Endless Waltz series and had to stop. Too expensive and too time consuming already. Lol.
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hi tabs and mickey! 😀 i haven’t purchased anything online in a while (i just fly in and buy the stuff retail LOL), so i have no idea if the way things are run in the customs office have changed
i really appreciate the exchange of comments you’ve done here — would you mind so much if i paraphrased it into a new customs-related post? 🙂 cheers!
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@magnetic_rose
No problem. =) I could honestly say that compared to earlier online orders I’ve done (early 2000), it is much worse nowadays. Too bad that the sites I am ordering from are not using UPS. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with UPS.
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^ ditto on USPS. the two times i used USPS for some fairly large shipments (upwards of USD 200), i was never taxed. maybe japan post parcels are more attractive to the taxman?
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@magnetic_rose
sure. im happay to share my experience so that the other who will come and read in this site will have ideas.
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Hi everyone!
I read this late and ordered a lot. Although I was able to put down the price by cancelling some pre-orders and it went down to 4476 yen which is approx 56 US dollars.
Does anyone have an experience of their parcel of around this amount getting taxed?
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Hi, has anyone here in the Philippines tried ordering from YESSTYLE.com? They say that when you order $150 worth, there will be free express international shipping. I would like to know if i would be taxed when i order above $150 or will it be delivered straight to my house without tax? Would really appreciate anyone’s reply regarding this matter. Thanks much.
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