USA gift delivery: You need to know that
For U.S. gift shipments, there are separate regulations regarding customs and fees. We have put together the most important things for you to consider when sending gifts from the USA.
USA: Goods shipment as a gift shipment
There are certain guidelines as to when a goods shipment is a gift shipment:
- A gift is sent without consideration from the recipient (money, exchange shipments).
- Gift items must be addressed to a private individual.
- In general, the following applies: A shipment is a certain quantity of goods that was sent from one private person to another on the same day and was handled by the same customs office. It does not matter how many packages the shipment consists of.
Taxes on United States gift items
Whether or not you as the recipient have to clear your gift shipment depends on the value of the shipment and the content.
- Gift items up to a value of 45 euros are not subject to duty. You may not exceed the maximum amount only for consumer goods such as coffee, tobacco or alcohol.
- Gift consignments with a value of goods of 45 euros up to a value of 700 euros are calculated according to a simplified delivery schedule. The flat-rate tax rate is 17.5 percent of the value of the goods. It is 15 percent for goods that are subject to tariff reductions. Exceptions also apply to alcohol and tobacco.
- Gift items with a value of more than 700 euros are calculated according to the normal customs tariff and are therefore considered normal goods items. You then pay customs duties (the amount varies depending on the product) and import sales tax (usually 19 percent). For an e-book reader, for example, 3.7 percent duty and 19 percent tax are due. Clothing has a customs duty of 12 percent.