Duty-Free Import Threshold: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn how to avoid customs duties and taxes on small international shipments into South Korea.
This scheme allows you to bring certain goods into South Korea without paying extra taxes or customs fees, provided the value of your items stays within a specific limit.
Who it's for
This is for individuals importing small shipments from overseas. The specific threshold for your exemption depends on the country of origin for your goods; shipments coming from certain locations, such as the United States, have a higher limit than goods coming from other parts of the world.
What you get
You receive an exemption from customs duties and Value Added Tax (VAT). This means that for shipments falling within the allowed value range, you will not be charged the additional government fees typically applied to imported goods.
What it actually costs you
There is no fee to qualify for this exemption. However, it requires you to provide an accurate declaration of the items in your shipment and their true value to ensure you meet the requirements.
The catch to know
The most common mistake is failing to account for multiple shipments. If you have several different packages arriving on the same day, the authorities may aggregate them. This means the values of all packages arriving at once are added together, which may cause you to exceed the limit and lose your exemption.
How to apply
- Confirm the origin of your goods to determine your specific value limit.
- Ensure the total value of your shipment stays within the allowed threshold for that origin.
- Provide an accurate declaration of your items and their value during the shipping process.
- Check your tracking to ensure multiple orders do not arrive on the same day.