How do i pay the customs?

When do you pay the customs?

We am receiving packages from Europe - every 2 weeks.
And 2 weeks ago received our 1st package from China.
All packages come to JFK(company is NYC based), and than got delivered to our office.

We never paid customs yet. I was told that either they won't deliver the shipment before you pay the customs, or will send the invoice later.

The packages from Europe are pretty small, but from China we received heavy shipment, 100kg. It for sure should attract attention. But still nothing.

We just don't want to get in troubles later.

Any experiences how it all works?

I'm not from US but when I order from china I have to pay the customs before I receive the package. Or they ship it if there is no customs to declare.

Seljo said:

I'm not from US but when I order from china I have to pay the customs before I receive the package. Or they ship it if there is no customs to declare.

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The package from China was delivered using Fedex. Our agent told me that we will have to declare and pay customs our selves when the shipping will arrive in US.

Seems it's common that companies don't get charged with customs, here is post from another forum:

I think UPS & Fed-ex are most likely to encounter customs fees on INTL shipments into US. The only time I have ever been charged customs fees was via FED-EX. Bag from UK was $750, customs & brokerage fee $78 or so. Received bill from fed-ex about 2 months after delivery.
I'd go w/ USPS Express or Priority INTL. If there is a fee, they won't let you have the bag until you pay it, so you will
know promptly.

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If the goods were imported with a very low or no declared value then they might have passed through without a fee. If they were pulled by customs they can assign a value and hit you with a bill. This however should all happen at JFK and before they are sent out to you. Ie you would get a phone call or email telling you to contact fed ex at the airport and pay the $125 customs fee before they send it on to you.

I suppose there are other ways of doing it but if you have received the goods and no phone call or bill then I think you are in the clear.

If you are importing the same produce from the same suppliers on a regular basis there is always a chance that when they pull one parcel they may look back at what you have been importing and hit you with a retro bill for non declaration.

So I would be putting aside a slush fund to cover that if it does happen.