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Importing To the USVIThe U.S. Customs Service operates with respect to persons, goods and conveyances arriving directly from foreign ports. It also operates with respect to all goods arriving indirectly from the continental United States and Puerto Rico. How It's Different Here The U.S. Customs service in the Virgin Islands is outside the Customs Territory of the United States. Customs requirements in the Virgin Islands are unique because it operates under the Danish Public Law 64, 1914, in conjunction with Legislative Acts 4740, 4877, and 5015 which evolved from Bill 14-0411. Drawback, anti-dumping duties, countervailing duty, quota, and temporary in-bond procedures as it is known throughout the rest of the U.S. Customs Service are not applicable to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Special Exemptions For many years there was a flat 6% ad valorem duty rate on all foreign importations, as specified in Public Law 64. In November 1982 there was a change. The Legislature passed Bill 14-0411 that was signed by the Governor and became Act 4740. This act exempted from duty twenty-two (22) items identified as tourist related and three (3) items related to the construction industry for all established businesses in the Virgin Islands. In addition, Act 4740 exempted Customs duty on any articles imported into the Virgin Islands which were shipped from within the United States Customs zone. In January 1984, the duty structure for all indirect foreign shipments from the continental United States and Puerto Rico was changed when the Government of the Virgin Islands passed Act 4877. Merchandise entering the Virgin Islands from the continental United States and Puerto Rico was subject to pay only the difference between the U.S. rate of duty and 6%, if less than 6% was paid in the United States and Puerto Rico. In October 1984, Act 5015 was passed by the Virgin Islands Government. This act extended a duty exemption for twenty-two (22) tourist-related items and three (3) construction-related articles for a period of three (3) years. Act 5287 which was signed October 30, 1987 further amended Act 4740 and Act 5015 by deleting the November 4, 1987 date. Why don't you contact us for more information? |
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