As for the culture in the keyboard area, in most cases, foreign countries are the main source, and many keyboard-related parts in Japan (especially keycaps and keyboard bodies) are made in China and the United States.
Recently, thanks to the development of logistics and e-commerce stores, as well as advances in browser translation functions, it has become possible to easily buy foreign products while in Japan.
Perhaps few of you in the keyboard community have any resistance to overseas mail order.
However, you should be aware of “taxes related to personal importation” and “carrier fees” when making a purchase.
KawamuraTaxes and carrier fees cannot be visualized without proper calculation.
It is possible to inadvertently make a considerable amount of money.
This article will provide an overview of the taxes and carrier fees that apply when importing keyboard-related products.
Representative of GreenEchoes Studio
He launched his own media as a site operator and web writer, and now plans and manages multiple corporate media. He often types heavily in his work, and in his search for greater efficiency, he became addicted to the keyboard swamp and established “GreenKeys”.
There are two types of fees charged when keyboard-related products are imported by individuals
The following charges apply to personal imports of keyboard-related products.
What you’ll find on the spot
- cost of goods
- postage
What you don’t know on the spot
- Taxes on imports
- Import duty -1
- Import consumption tax -2
- Commission to the import agent – 3
Yes, imports may incur “customs duties” and “import consumption taxes” that are not known at the time of purchase.
In addition, depending on the carrier that delivers the product at the time of importation, an import processing fee may be charged.
1. tariffs (import duties)｜Nearly zero for keyboard-related products
Electrical and mechanical parts such as keyboard bodies, switches, keycaps, and plates are almost duty-free.
Import duty rates are determined according to the code (HS code) of the goods declared to customs.
The HS code for keyboard-related products corresponds to HS code 8471.60/8471.30.
- Key point: “Most Favored Nation (MFN)” rule, 0% even if you import from many countries.
- China, USA, Germany, Taiwan…the same regardless of country.
In rare cases, a small tax rate may apply when “decorative metal parts” are classified differently, but at the personal import level there is little to worry about.
2. import consumption tax｜10%, the same as the domestic consumption tax
For imported goods, a 10% consumption tax will be applied, just as when shopping in Japan.
The taxable amount is “taxable value + customs value”.
Since there is zero duty on keyboard-related goods, it is safe to assume that the tax is effectively only on the “taxable value” of the keyboard-related goods.
However, there is an exemption line for import consumption tax, and if the taxable amount is below a certain level, the tax is not imposed.
About the “Tax Free Line
It is true that “small imports are not subject to sales tax.”
However, it is not “only the price of the goods” that is looked at by customs.
➡️ Taxable value = FOB price + freight + insurance premiums, etc.
If this total is 10,000 yen or less, the entire amount is exempt from the 10% consumption tax.
However, many people must be saying, “It is very difficult to collect all the freight and insurance fees written on the invoice…”.
Customs has therefore established a “60% rule” to simplify the process of personal importation.
Approximate taxable price is “Retail price (JPY) × 0.6
- 60% would cover approximately half to 70% of the actual purchase price + freight + insurance costs.
- Margins of operators and costs within foreign countries can be roughly assumed.
Taxable value = FOB price + freight + insurance premium
FOB price (Free On Board)
- Costs incurred by the seller to load the goods onto the vessel at the designated port
- Includes product price + land transportation to the port + packaging costs, etc.
Freight
- Transportation costs from “after loading” to “arrival in Japan” by ship, air, courier, etc.
- Rates for ocean, air, and international courier services
Insurance
- Cost of cargo insurance against risk of loss or damage in transit
- (FOB price + freight) multiplied by the rate (e.g., 0.3-1%)
Check with specific numbers.
| Overseas retail price (yen) | Approximate taxable value (x 0.6) | result | taxes incurred |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,000 yen | 4,800 yen | duty-free line | Customs duty: 0 yen / Consumption tax: 0 yen |
| 16,000 yen | 9,600 yen | duty-free line | Customs duty: 0 yen / Consumption tax: 0 yen |
| 20,000 yen | 12,000 yen | taxable subject | Customs duty: 0 yen / Consumption tax: 1,200 yen |
- If the retail price is 16,666 yen or less, the price is “x 0.6 = 10,000 yen or less,” which is almost certainly tax-free.
- If the amount is 20,000 yen, then the consumption tax of 1,200 yen would be charged for “x 0.6 = 12,000 yen.
Check the duty-free line｜“4 checkpoints” before purchase
Simply put If the purchase price including shipping costs is less than 16,666 Japanese yen, import consumption tax will not be charged. That is, if the purchase price including shipping costs is 16,666 Japanese yen or less, there is no import consumption tax.
- Confirm retail price
Convert displayed prices (USD/EUR/KRW, etc.) on overseas websites to Japanese yen. - Calculate the duty-free line
Multiply the converted Japanese yen by 0.6 and check if the result is less than 10,000 yen. - Consideration of shipping and insurance costs
Freight costs vary depending on the shipping method, such as EMS or sea mail. It is safe to keep the total cost within 16,700 yen including shipping. - Avoiding the pitfalls of buying in bulk
When multiple items are sent in the same shipment, the taxable price is calculated on the total amount. When buying in bulk, double check the total.
Shipping Business Fees
In addition to these taxes, a “fee to be paid to the carrier” is required.
In most cases, this fee is calculated using the following formula
Cargo price × ○% + fixed amount
This “freight price” is the “value of the goods to be carried = cost of goods”.
The commission calculations for well-known international carriers are as follows
Example: Commission for a purchase of a 10,000 yen item
| carrier | Calculation Formula | In the case of a freight price of 10,000 yen |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx | Freight price × 12% + ¥800 | 10,000 x 0.12 + 800 = ¥2,000 |
| DHL | Cargo price × 10% + ¥1,000 | 10,000 x 0.10 + 1,000 = ¥2,000 |
| OCS | Cargo price × 15% + ¥600 | 10,000 x 0.15 + 600 = ¥2,100 |
| SF Express | Freight price × 8% + ¥500 | 10,000 x 0.08 + 500 = ¥1,300 |
KawamuraIt is somewhat skin-deep, but I could not use more than 100,000 yen for a single purchase.
Why pay fees to carriers?
You may be asking yourself, “Why am I paying a freight charge to haul it, and they’re charging me an additional fee?” You may be wondering.
There are these reasons for this.
The main reasons for paying fees to carriers are
- Customs clearance agency fees
- Declaring imported goods to customs, calculating duties and consumption taxes, and preparing documentation are specialized tasks that are a bit difficult for individuals.
- DHL, FedEx, and other companies will take care of this customs clearance on your behalf and will charge a fee for their services.
- Documentation and management costs
- Man-hours are required to prepare and check numerous documents such as invoices (commercial invoices), packing lists, and import license applications.
- Costs are also incurred for verification and management by professional staff to reduce the risk of transport delays due to incomplete documentation.
- Risk and Warranty Services
- Both air and ocean shipments may be lost or damaged in transit.
- Carriers charge a fee for risk management, including procedures for package tracking systems and insurance coverage (optional/required).
- Fast and reliable delivery network
- The cost of maintaining and operating a network of locations around the world (warehouse maintenance, labor, IT systems, etc.) is included in the fee.
- It can be said to be the cost of infrastructure development and operation to ensure stable delivery quality.
- Provide additional services
- Additional fees are charged for value-added services that are separate from the base rate, such as door-to-door delivery, scheduled delivery arrangements, tracking notifications, and timed delivery.
Import consumption tax and carrier fees for personal imports are paid at a later date.
You will receive a payment slip from the shipping company for these import costs at a later date.
KawamuraThe physical delivery time is about 2 to 4 weeks after the package arrives.
Payments are often due within 7 days of receipt of the payment slip, so pay immediately.
I think that the import consumption tax is paid by the transportation company used for the importation, but this area is a bit vague.
Tax calculations for keyboard imports are available at KeebTax.
Thus, we found that purchasing keyboard-related products incurs various “additional costs” such as taxes and importer fees.
In addition to tax calculations, import agent fees are also calculated, making it difficult to casually shop overseas.
This is where “KeebTax” comes in.
KeebTax is a calculation web application released by Greenkeys that specializes in keyboard-related imports. It is a system that shows these total amounts in three steps: selecting the country of purchase, entering the amount of goods, and selecting the carrier.
We hope you will take advantage of it!
precautions
- These are only estimates and do not reflect actual costs.
- In some cases, the simulated amount may be higher than the simulated amount, especially for cases where shipping costs are high because of the large variation in shipping costs.
- Since the import consumption tax is calculated simply in accordance with the 60% rule, it may not be possible to calculate the exact amount in cases where shipping costs are high, as described above.
