Haven't actually run in to that before, but I can tell you that if CBP does not have an EIN or your soc. sec. number on form 5106, it will be tied up until they do. You can look up the form 5106 and fill it out, to have ready to email it to them, if that's all that's missing when you contact them.

 

Is a 5106 typically required for items imported for personal consumption? Seems like it's geared more towards items imported for business or commercial purposes (like a dealer importing merchandise to resell).

 

I'd go so far as to say that the seller probably only filled out the bare minimum that was needed to export the watch, and that you'll have a few more forms to send to CBP (which you can email or fax), as the importer.

 

I've bought a few watches from CW, one last summer shipped by DHL. Never encountered this. Mine were both under the $800 duty threshold, though. I've heard, via forums, of people having shipments held until duty was paid, but never anything about needing SSN.

 

The social security number is used by CBP, and transmitted to the comptroller of the state in which it lands. Then it's used by the comptroller, to notify you (usually several months later), that you owe state tax on the item. At least that's the way it works in Maryland.

CBP will need your social security number (or EIN #, if you are a business), to go on file as Importer of Record. It's used for a variety of reasons, but in your case, so that your local taxing authority can tax you on the import. Once CBP has a "record" of your import information (i.e. Social security number), you can skip the nonsense for several years before it expires, and you have to update it.

 

The social security number is used by CBP, and transmitted to the comptroller of the state in which it lands. Then it's used by the comptroller, to notify you (usually several months later), that you owe state tax on the item. At least that's the way it works in Maryland.

Never heard of this. CW does not ask for SSN when you place an order. In NY and a few other states I'm aware of, use taxes on items purchased out of state are claimed on your annual income tax filing. It's your responsibility to self-report such purchases.

 

Following up for anyone who had interest in this thread and for future readers.
I got to speak to a CBP official, a nice woman who was very helpful and offered advice on avoiding common mistakes in filling out the 5106, although she still could not offer a specific reason my SSN was flagged to begin with. I submitted the form along with scans of required documentation, it kicked back the next day because I can't read directions I resubmitted and it was approved the next business day. DHL took a couple of days to catch up and finally clear the shipment, they sent me an invoice for duty which I promptly paid and the watch was on it's way. Thanks to all who replied.

 

Glad to hear it worked out. Also, great watch!!

 

How much was the duty?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

How much was the duty?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

$72 and change

 

That's very interesting to hear. I haven't heard of an SSN being a problem for import before but that's good to know. Glad it all worked out in the end.

 

This is all so weird... Requesting SS# for buying a watch from abroad... Wow, wonder if people have more stories like this???

Btw, glad it worked for the OP.

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Hi everyone.

I've run into the exact same problem.

I ordered a watch from First Class Watches in the UK, watch valued at $861 pre-tax, shipped by DHL. I have received a couple of emails from DHL that U.S. Customs requires additional information to release my watch.

Going to the DHL website, they need: Legal name, SSN, address, contact name, type of address (residential), phone, email.

Initially I only submitted the SSN, which was returned by Customs (through DHL) as "voided."

I re-submitted with all of the info above through DHL and received both a phone call and email from DHL that my SSN is voided and Customs requires additional information.

I will note that contacting First Class Watches customer service was NO help. Also, contacting the DHL rep that was cc'd on my email was NO help. I did receive a phone call voicemail from a DHL rep from the LA hub today though, although all it said was that I had to work with Customs....

Doing some Googling I found the two links below. I copied the relevant text. My next step will be to fill out the required 5106 and hope for the best. This is a bit ridiculous and totally unexpected; I've ordered two Chris Wards and at least two watches from Japan, although all were under the $800 threshold.

Certainly somebody else is going to have this issue; I hope this post helps. I'll update if/when this is resolved.

..........................

Newsflash: U.S. Customs ("CBP") Voiding Importer of Record Numbers

"Dear Valued Customer,

Please be advised, that U.S. Customs ("CBP") has begun voiding Importer of Record numbers that they deem to be inactive. CBP considers an Importer of Record number that has not been used in over one year and does not have any pending Customs transactions associated with it to be inactive and thus voided. A system update will occur to void these inactive records. Clients that do not import on a regular basis may be particularly susceptible to having their numbers voided and are advised to review their information.

Instructions for reinstating an importer number can be found below. The process will take a minimum of 5 days to resolve and could impact shipments subject to storage. Please allow at least 5 business days to process an application to reinstate a voided importer record.

How do I reactivate an importer record that has been voided by CBP?

1. Email a completed CBP 5106 along with a valid importer record proof and Power-of-Attorney that is no more than one year old (if 5106 is signed by an Attorney-in-Fact) to bondquestions@cbp.dhs.govwith subject line "Void IR#".
   1. CBP Form 5106 must be signed by an officer of the company or a broker with power-of-attorney (POA).
2. Relative to the type of importer record number, the following documents are acceptable proof:
   1. Social Security Number (SSN)"

https://tcbclearances.com/tcb-custo...s-blog/2019/2/11/what-happened-to-my-importer-number-and-what-can-i-do-about-it

"When an importer's customs broker files a customs entry on behalf of the importer, US Customs uses a unique "importer number" to track that importer's customs transactions. This number is an essential data element, required as part of every customs entry.
US Customs uses three distinct types of numbers as "importer numbers":

• Employer Identification Number (EIN, or IRS number) - as assigned by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to corporations, partnerships, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), government agencies, sole proprietorships, and assorted other types of entities.
• Social Security Number (SSN) - as assigned by the IRS to individuals. Also used by some individuals operating sole proprietorships, who do not have a separate EIN for their business.
• Customs Assigned Number - as assigned by US Customs to persons or other entities which do not have either an EIN or a SSN. This group typically includes individuals and companies that do not reside in the US, and/or do not have a significant business presence in the US, and thus do not need an EIN or SSN.

So long as any of these types of numbers remain valid, and are used at least once within every 12 months for automated customs transactions (such as customs entry filing), they will normally remain as active importer numbers in US Customs' importer records.
However, those Customs importer records contain a very large number of data files for importer numbers that have accumulated over the years, but are seldom or never used for current transactions. To clean out some of these un-needed electronic records, Customs has recently increased its efforts to identify and invalidate importer numbers that have not been used for automated customs transactions within the last 12 months. When Customs invalidates such an importer number it normally does not notify either the importer, or the importer's customs broker, of this action.
As a direct result, many infrequent importers - and their customs brokers - have recently been surprised to learn that their importer numbers need to be reactivated, before a current shipment can be cleared through Customs. This becomes especially urgent when a shipment has already arrived at destination, and little or no "free time" remains before storage charges begin.
Normally, the "turn-around time" for Customs to reactivate a voided importer number is at least two business days. The recent Customs emphasis on voiding importer numbers that have not been used during the past 12 months has increased the number of these reactivation requests, and further increased the average time required. The recent partial government shutdown has made this situation substantially more challenging, and recent average "turn-around time" has been about 6 to 7 business days, sometimes longer.
Because the importer's entry cannot be filed until the importer's voided importer number is reactivated, and the shipment cannot be released from the carrier's terminal until the entry has been filed and Customs has authorized the cargo release, some shipments may accumulate as much as a week (or more!) of storage charges, because of a voided importer number.
To avoid this type of potentially costly and inconvenient situation, Transmark Customs Brokers recommends that any infrequent importer, or anyone who has not had at least one customs entry filed for an import shipment within the last 12 months, take these preventive actions:

• Notify your customs broker as soon as you decide to order anything that will require an import customs clearance.
• Ask the broker to verify whether your importer number is still in active status, in Customs' importer records.
• If your importer number is still active, but it will be more than 12 months since your last entry by the time your new shipment arrives, work pro-actively with your broker to update your customs importer record to keep it active.
• Work with your foreign supplier to get copies of the commercial and shipping documents to your broker as early as possible, so the broker can file the entry for your shipment as early as possible.

By getting (and staying!) ahead of US Customs in this area, you can help make the whole importing process less stressful for yourself and reduce the chance of expensive delays and surprises. Transmark Customs Brokers is always available to help you keep yourself "ahead of the game", and we enjoy helping you do so."

 

Also, I'd like to thank MX793 for pointing me to this thread.

Thanks, brother.

 

Globalization gone amok.

 

Trying to understand what was gained by voiding importer numbers that have been dormant for 12+ months. Was having old numbers in the system causing problems? Were they running out of server space or something? Because now it sounds like they are overwhelmed with requests to have said voided numbers revalidated. Whole thing sounds like a make-work project in the Customs office. Would make much more sense to void ones that had been dormant for like 3 or 5 years.

 

For the very first time I created an "import shipment" with FedEx to import a $5300 watch from Dubai. Now it's held up at FedEx Memphis customs. They want form 5106 and the "watch worksheet." I already filled out the breakdown of movement, case, and strap with harmonized tariff codes. So frustrating.

I have another of the exact same watch coming next week.

I wonder if I have to now pay extra to use FedEx customs people to help resolve this, as I was doing this on my own until there was a "delay" at customs?

As I submitted everything Saturday morning. Apparently I have to wait until Monday before these people get back to work to help me. And I paid for FedEx Priority Intl overnight from Dubai. It did get here in the USA from Dubai in 2 days. Now it's got to clear customs. I'm worried for my second watch shipment from Dubai next week as well. It ships Tuesday.

Plus, I really would hate to get a "use tax" or whatever it's called bill from the State of Michigan 5 years down the road for the roughly $10,700 for the two watches
(plus shipping/customs/etc.)

I'm hoping FedEx accepts my 5601 form and clears my package at customs. on Monday. If I would have known.....hindsight is 20./20 as they say.

 

I've had to complete a form for DHL twice (two different watches) which specifically asked for my SS #. A little uncomfortable but I submitted the form and both times the watches were released to me. Strange . . .

 

Sound promising. I'm hoping I'm as lucky as you were and it's that simple.

Being it's the weekend, they told me to "carbon copy" 6 other people.
So now 6 strangers have my name and social security number.

 

Well you were right. As soon as I submitted form 5601 to FedEx, they immediately issued a Customs release. Everything worked out splendid.
It was just my anxiety that was working overtime on a $5300 watch that I was importing for the first time from half way around the world from Dubai.

Surprising US Customs only charged me $82 in customs fees because of the smart way I filled out the forms with the 3 Harmonized Tariff codes.

Everything went smooth on my second import of the exact same watch the following week.
Normally FedEx would refund me their $300 Intl Priority shipping costs, because FedEx took 4 business days instead of 3, but they claim because of COVID-19 throughout the world they are suspending their money back guarantee. It them took longer the second time without any paperwork delays from US Customs than it did the first time with a Customs delay.
Anyways, I'm happy I received both watches with no problems.

910221901000 - swiss movement - $4500
910221902000 - swiss case - $385
910221903000 - swiss strap - $385

Total costs: $5270 watch + $300 FedEx + $82 US Customs + $60 Western Union wire transfer exchange rate = $5712
Plus, I'm not sure if I'm going to get hit with the Michigan 6% sales tax at the end of the year which could add an additional $316? (Grand total $6,028)

Plus, the value of all my time (weeks) sending a zillion emails back-and-forth with Dubai boutiques, and creating the appropriate FedEx Import Shipment labels for the first time in my life, and arranging Courier pick up in Dubai.

This helped me a lot: How to import luxury watches into the U.S.: Customs Duties

.

 

I was going to sell one of these watches, but apparently I have to be a member for 3 months with 100 postings.

 

Thank you so much for sharing the process and everything you went through! It's good to know the tariff numbers and a diff way of acquiring pieces, in this case from Dubai. One piece of advice though, especially because you have proven interest in selling in this forum and because of my own personal experience. Please DO NOT RUSH into getting 100 posts and absolutely DO NOT post anything for sale right after hitting 100 (whenever that may be) You will be flagged and all your posts taken from you. Take your time and be patient! Good luck!

 

Yes

 

This thread has offered perspective. I am lucky, and I will leave it at that

 

For those who had to fill out the 5106.. I just bought a Zentih watch from Japan for about $3500 and I'm being asked by FedEx to fill out the form 5106. It all looks pretty straightforward but section 3 baffles me.. I'm not a business, just a private dude buying a watch overseas! How did you guys deal with the areas on the 5106 that seem like they're meant for import businesses?

 

In a nutshell, you leave em blank. I did.
My watch was released within 45m of submitting my 5106 form.