AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize Duty on Dive and Medical stuff

I haven't imported dive or medical equipment but I do import virtually all of our paper/ink/computer and other supplies from the US and have a shipment every couple of months. I have used the same broker for nine years (I use George Bradly but I know others on this board have others they can recommend), my stuff is always cleared through customs in a couple of days, I always pay the same rates and George then takes it to the barge to be sent over to the Caye. I have never had anything stolen from a shipment. So my recommendation is use a reliable broker who knows the system.

I also agree with Elbert on using the post office for small items. I do this with either Priority Mail which takes about 7 days, or Express Mail which is about 4 days. Yes you do pay duty/GST on the items but the PO only charge 75Bz cents to clear any parcel whereas a broker/courier company have varying fees.

OK! Thanks you guys, I'm feeling so much better about things now. I don't intend to insure the parcel, since it's actual "paid" value is only around $70. Regardless, I will have to put some value on the customs sticker, so my next question is, shall I put the entire value of the contents of the package, or no value for the dictionary (as it is a book and should be duty free), whereas the gift portion would be subject to a duty charge (I'm assuming 12.5% of the paid value?).

Oh, and I did hear you about the negative consequences of gifting, regardless, good intents, but in this case . . well, let's just say I'm feeling pretty confident.

I have never imported these items as such, but I take prescription medicines and on one trip into Belize from Cancun I was bringing several months' supply. Customs objected and said I must be bringing the drugs in for resale, even though every package was labelled by the pharmacist with my name and address and I had a copy of my prescription. They charged me duty and asked me what the drugs had cost. I said "nothing" as that was true - these drugs are free for me in England. They assessed duty on what they estimated the drugs would cost if they were purchased in Belize, but did so at a wholesale rate rather than retail (still maintaining that I was in business selling these things). Cost me about US$80.

My point is that it probably doesn't matter what they cost you - they may just look at what they would cost to buy here.

Sigh.

For several month's supply...$80.00 for Viagra sounds like a pretty good deal.