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What are the requirements for importing furniture in to the United States from another country?
Hi there, and thank you for your request about the requirement for importing furniture into the US from another country. Below you will find information from the US Customs and Border Protection.
The short version is that in order to import furniture to the US for commercial uses, the US company needs to register as an importer, and submit several forms requested by the US Customers and Border Protection.
The imports will be subject to import tax, as well as the Merchandise Processing Fee.
Please note that for this particular request, I will focus exclusively on the requirements for importing furniture to the United States. For the second portion of your request, I suggest you submit a follow-up with us, and we will take care of it.
Please keep in mind that I am not a lawyer, and this information cannot replace professional advice under any circumstance.
REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTING FURNITURE TO THE US: DOCUMENTS & INFORMATION
In order to import furniture from other countries into the US for commercial purposes, a company needs to be registered as an importer with the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency and obtain an IRS import number, also called import license number, following regulation 19 CFR 24.5.
In order to obtain said number, the company will need to file CBP form 5106 in the CBP branch where customs entries will be submitted.
The shipper or supplier will need this number for the Entry Summary CBP Form 7501, a requirement to send the shipment. Other numbers that may be needed are the Social Security number or tax identification number.
Once the shipment arrives to the port of entry, the port director will file entry documents, including the Entry Manifest CBP Form 7533 or Application and Special Permit for Immediate Delivery CBP Form 3461 - as well as other form such as an invoice, packing list or any other document necessary for admission. This must be done within 15 days of arrival.
Entry also should be accompanied with evidence that a bond for potential duties, taxes and charges has been made.
Shipment may be then examined for any potential violations, and then released with entry documentation, including Form 7501 and other invoices.
In certain instances, some shipments will qualify for immediate delivery, once they have been authorized by CBP.
TAXES & FEES
The US and Indonesia have a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, signed in 1996 - thought not a free trade agreements, which means that goods imported from Indonesia are subjected to tax and duty.
Taxes and duty for imports in the US are ad valorem, and depend on the price and quantity of the goods imported. Duties can be as high as 37.5%, though the average rate is 5.63%. State taxes may be imposed as well, depending on the specific law of each state.
Additional fees could be imposed, depending on the shipping method and total value of the goods. One such fee is the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF), for shippings over US$2,500, set at 0.3464% of value, up to a maximum US$485.
Should the container be sent via sea and enter the US through a port, an additional fee will be imposed - the Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF), which is set at 0.125% of value.
NOTES & SPECIAL PROVISIONS
The CBP does not require a Customs Broker, though some companies do choose to hire one out of convenience. The importer is always the ultimate responsible, but a Customs Broker may make the process easier and help the importer make costly mistakes.
In the event of the shipping being held up by customs for any reason (such as documents missing), please note that the agency will not notify you - but the shipper. If the shipping is not claimed in two weeks, it will be kept in a warehouse by the CBP.
Please note that the US forbids the import of paint or surface coating materials that contain over 0.06% lead by weight - this also applies to furniture that comes in painted or coated.
To wrap up, the US company needs to register as an importer, and be prepared to fill several forms with the CBP, as well as have their shipments subjected to the required taxes and fees.
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