Hi, folks -- hope you're enjoying the holidays. Can anyone tell me how the duty tax works on shipments coming to the island, and what is exempt? I recently bought a condo in Bonaire, and need to ship some of my personal items, (2 scooters, a bike, a tile mural, etc.), and household goods (kitchenware, over the range microwave, etc.), from the U.S. Will I be charged a duty tax on my own property, and if so, how much?? Thanks in advance.....

Hi Betty,

have a look at this website:
http://www.sunbelt.an/bon_tariffs.htm

Peter

Thanks, Peter...looks like I won't be bringing as much as I thought. *sigh*

Betty

If the items you want to bring down are used, you would pay the duty on the used value not the original purchase price. So buying new ones for your home in the states and sending down the old ones to Bonaire could be affordable. You pay a set fee for the paper work and an amount for shipping based on the volume of space you take up in the container.

Take a look at the prices locally to purchase the items that you wish to ship down, and do the math--that will be your real eye-opener. Think about all the time you'll spend here, and if you have to rent a scooter or go without... However, do shop around for inland crating & freight prices to Miami-they can vary wildly.

Sunbelt's website is very helpful, but Amcar's address will change as of January 5 (they're closed right now); their phone # remains the same. Call Mercy at Amcar, she will talk you through what you'll need to do from the USA end. Rocargo can help you with the rest on Bonaire, including doing all the paperwork here, for a very reasonable fee. You do pay only for the space you use, unless you ship an entire containers worth of stuff, and they sail every week, arriving the following week on Bonaire.

You only get this one "window of opportunity" to ship your household items, don't waste it.

We're shipping some windows and a water heater.
Has someone shipped similar goods lately? Trying to get a feel for duty exposure.

The one time resident shipment is duty free only for used stuff?

Thanks,

Brian

Yes, your own household items--not new stuff (and the customs officers can tell). Contact info@rocargo.com or call 011-599-717-8922 (the local handling agent of Amcar freight in Miami) and maybe they can give you an idea of landed costs on Bonaire. Be sure to have your purchase prices (you must ship w/invoices) & crated sizes/weights handy (as the items will arrive at Amcar), so they can give you a good estimate.

And be sure the water heater has the orifice for LP Gas.