Customs Taxes at Philippine Postal Service

[070809 0]

Hi, I posted this as one of the replies from another topic. And I do think this would be helpful for everyone who's trying to save money from all those "stooooopid" Custom Taxes.

See my fiancé loves sending gifts/packages. He sends it through USPS and would arrive here in the Philippines in around 3 weeks.

TIP: If he's sending you any gifts, don't declare the real amount at USPS as Customs at the Philippine Post may tax you even more. So tell him to declare it as a gift with less than $40 value.

You didn't hear this from a Customs Examiner's daughter

A perfect example is sweet angel, spent Php2,000 on taxes because of a phone that was sent to her. Whilst my fiance did the same thing BUT he declared the phone as $15. I also got taxed when I claimed it from PhilPost QC, but I was only charge Php35.

Hope this helps!

[A and T 82]

Agreed I always lie and claim $0.00 value, and write in big letters "NO VALUE" all over it. Reason is, even if the package is lost or stolen usps only covers up to $50, so its worth the risk to not have huge customs and tax fees

If the customs fees were fair, I wouldn't mind it. But when the customs fees are 100X the cost of the item, its insane. I hope the new president does something about it. It is holding the poor people down

[scotty's girl 1]

My fiance sent me a package thru USPS almost 3 years ago, but it took a month before I received it. After that, he would send thru FedEx. But last year, the customs had me pay almost Php5K just so I can get the jewelries and chocolates he sent He said there was an insurance or something so he had to declare the real value of the package

[sweet angel 5]

Hi, I posted this as one of the replies from another topic. And I do think this would be helpful for everyone who's trying to save money from all those "stooooopid" Custom Taxes.

See my fiancé loves sending gifts/packages. He sends it through USPS and would arrive here in the Philippines in around 3 weeks.

TIP: If he's sending you any gifts, don't declare the real amount at USPS as Customs at the Philippine Post may tax you even more. So tell him to declare it as a gift with less than $40 value.

You didn't hear this from a Customs Examiner's daughter

A perfect example is sweet angel, spent Php2,000 on taxes because of a phone that was sent to her. Whilst my fiance did the same thing BUT he declared the phone as $15. I also got taxed when I claimed it from PhilPost QC, but I was only charge Php35.

Hope this helps!

This is really a big help to others sis. Thank's for the tip!

[070809 0]

My fiance sent me a package thru USPS almost 3 years ago, but it took a month before I received it. After that, he would send thru FedEx. But last year, the customs had me pay almost Php5K just so I can get the jewelries and chocolates he sent He said there was an insurance or something so he had to declare the real value of the package

OUCH!! With that fee you could have just bought yourself another set of jewelry or TONS of chocolates!!

The very first thing he sent me was a pink iPod Nano that costs $160, declared the true value because of insurance. He paid DHL $60 bucks. And I paid PhP650 for taxes. Hayyyy! And it was supposed to be a surprise!! BUT I was indeed surprised that I needed to pay them! So from then on, everything was sent via USPS.

[teonshine 0]

i sent many things many different time but mirasol has never complained about being taxed. of course we are still waiting for her christmas package to arrive there i guess the post guy figured it was worth taking home instead.

[070809 0]

i sent many things many different time but mirasol has never complained about being taxed. of course we are still waiting for her christmas package to arrive there i guess the post guy figured it was worth taking home instead.

Sorry to hear that. If somebody did, trust me karma goes around.

[Fudpukker 18]

I remember paying 12k for customs and seeing them write 2k on the receipt. Talk about honest and diligent people, some are as bad as cab drivers.

[scotty's girl 1]

Fiance and I were both pissed off but couldn't do anything I told him the money might have gone straight to a customs officer's pocket

Edited July 11, 2010 by scotty's girl

[edp333 9]

i sent many things many different time but mirasol has never complained about being taxed. of course we are still waiting for her christmas package to arrive there i guess the post guy figured it was worth taking home instead.

This has been our problem. About 1 in 4 packages never arrive.

In another incident I sent documents by International 6 day PRIORITY MAIL. after 24 days with no arrival I contacted the customs office with the customs number. Guess what showed up three days later. The postal worker said it was sent by regular mail.

I guess the Phil postal workers have no idea what big red letters reading PRIOROTY MAIL is!!!

[lbounds 16]

I had problems with getting charged extra "custom fees" when I sent chocolates and things like that before. I went to an LBC office and they have a 2 lbs express package for only $12. I asked them what about the extra custom fees and taxes. They said there's never any extra custom fees but for special items like electronics etc.

Right now we are preparing a jumbo size box that will ship by sea for $80 that is filled with all kinds of toys and clothes from the second hand store and walmart etc going back to her family.

[teonshine 0]

I have tried calling there many times when packages are very late, but my tagalog sucks and thier understanding of my english is just as bad. I keep telling shine to call because she speaks the language, but i know she is to shy to complain so instead she just keeps asking the postman there are telling me nothing yet.

[Fudpukker 18]

Fiance and I were both pissed off but couldn't do anything I told him the money might have gone straight to a customs officer's pocket

Im pretty sure it went straight into the Customs officers pocket. Lets see.................. I was driving in Manila one time and got pulled over by the MMDA for having tinted windows, he told me 500 pesos would set me free, I went to the LTO to get a drivers license there and upon going into the directors office he told me straight to the point that if i gave him 500 he would give me a drivers license immediately, my English and PE college professors both told me if i bought them a case of beer for their birthday that they would pass me, Customs officer at the NAIA Airport asked for $5 and said she would let me go right thru, I was at the North harbor port logistics office trying to get some household goods that i shipped over there and some of the documents needed some signature from the customs officer, the documents were right on his desk and he completely ignored it till i dropped 300 pesos at his desk. I can go on with my experiences and it really pisses me off in shame when i think about it.

[070809 0]

Talk about honest and diligent people, some are as bad as cab drivers.

Hmm tell me about it!

[A and T 82]

If you use fedex they will think its important and charge you, the cost at customs is often more than the cost of the item.

I would rather send stuff over and write NO VALUE via usps (the cheapest shipping possible) and mine always get there

I have mailed expensive cell phones hidden in different things over there this way, so far no problems, and my asawa doesn't have to pay any money for tax/customs