Claudia Strasser, owner of The Paris Apartment and author of a book by the same name, is ParisienSalon.com’s new featured columnist. Claudia is our very own Queen of the Fleas, and she’s ready to answer your questions. Our first question comes from Kevin of Tempe, Arizona.
The answer is no, official tax is not charged on top of the price negotiated for the item. The dealer is responsible for his taxes and builds that into his cost.
On the other hand, if you’re shipping something back to the States that’s not over 100 years old, you’re subject to the duties and taxes that the U.S. ascribes. How they calculate it remains a mystery on so many levels. So if you’re buying antiques, ask the dealer for a ‘Circa’ date and have him or her write it on the receipt.
When your items come in by sea or air, a customs broker will call to ask you to fill out a form stating the age of your items. If they’re under 100 years old, the customs broker will give you your tax and duties total based on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. You can try to decipher it yourself but just like a good lawyer, a good customs broker will help you to determine your tax bracket.
To learn a little more about it, you can visit this link: http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm
Do you have a question related to the Paris flea markets, or any other home design in Paris questions? Send an email to Claudia@parisiensalon.com.
All photography provided by Claudia Strasser, The Paris Apartment. Photo by One and Only Paris Photography.
Claudia Strasser is the author of The Paris Apartment: Romantic Decor on a Flea Market Budget. She moved her famed New York City Boutique, also called The Paris Apartment, online and just recently released her iPhone app, Keys to the Fleas, on iTunes. And on top of managing a thriving business, writing another book (or two) and planning her frequent trips to Paris, Claudia still finds time to keep her blog—also called The Paris Apartment—constantly updated. Claudia’s followers—and there are many—have learned how to bring Paris style to their homes in the U.S.
Interesting post. Claudia knows how to share her pasion for Paris . She is the best ambassador of the parisian antiques markets