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Post by vermithrax on Apr 1, 2017 23:11:51 GMT
Hello again,
I have some questions about buying from overseas sellers and am hoping some here will have some experiences to share.
If I were to buy a sword from say Aoi Art in Japan, there is a process they document on their site about how it happens. To my understanding a Nihonto blade 100 years or older is customs exempt and imported tax free. Now if a Gendaito blade is purchased, what then? Is this sill processed as antique? Has someone bought something like this?
If anyone has bought from Aoi Art please add feedback here (or maybe this should be in Vendors section, I was not sure. Admin feel free to move it) or message me.
I just don't want to commit capital then get a customs/tax jackpot at the end that I had no idea about. Another complications is that I am in the great state of mASSachusetts so that adds a layer of complexity to shipping to me. I can have the sword shipped to New Hampshire though, so maybe not a huge deal.
Thanks in advance.
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slav
Member
Senior Forumite
Katsujin No Ken
Posts: 4,457
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Post by slav on Apr 2, 2017 3:52:58 GMT
Normally as long as the customs form says the word "antique" it should be fine. I imagine most shippers should know to do this. Obviously, a meager customs agent doesn't know the first thing about Nihonto and will have to default to what is declared. When I used to work in the antiques business, simply writing the words "over 100 years old!" on a receipt was enough to make it tax-exempt. Perhaps this would have the same effect on a customs form if there is enough room and the shipper is willing to do so.
If you know for a fact that the item is under 100 years old and have an ethical problem with declaring otherwise, you should probably proceed assuming you may pay the additional fees.
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Post by vermithrax on Apr 5, 2017 1:43:15 GMT
Well I missed out on the sword I wanted to buy. Was too slow getting everything figured out. Next time!
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Post by vermithrax on Apr 12, 2017 1:54:19 GMT
Guess I will find out soon enough.
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