Comments on: The Great Book Blockade of 2009: Timeline and Readings (Victory edition!)

By: Kathlyn

Kathlyn — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:21:20 +0000

Does the exemption also apply to second-hand bookstores like Booksale?

By: Kathlyn

Kathlyn — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:18:45 +0000

Thanks for answering mlq! I’m relieved to know that bookstores won’t be affected but it’s still unfair for the common folk, darnnit. By the way, do you have any links to the official documents that say bookstores are exempt? I want to read that.

By: mlq3

mlq3 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:34:14 +0000

theyre taxing books sent to ordinary people, the bookstores lobbied and have returned to enjoying exemptions. you have to go to department of finance to secure an exemption on a per-delivery basis, with no guarantee they will ok your application after you go through the red tape and spend as much on transpo and documents as on the tax they illegally want to collect.

By: Kathlyn

Kathlyn — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:05:28 +0000

Hi mlq! I heard from a friend that they’re taxing books again at the post office! Will bookstores be affected as well? Will there be no new stock unless they pay the damn tax> Will the price of books go up yet again?

By: customslittlehelper

customslittlehelper — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:26:19 +0000

@cheryl

why was he/she denied? kung kay dondi nga inde nmn texbooks. binigyan. bka mali yung apply nyang certificate. “duty and tax exemption certificate for import shipments” ang kuhain. inde exception ha.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:03:55 +0000

I’m taking the CFA exam in June and my books are being held hostage at UPS. Got this email: Please be advise (sic) regarding your shipment from HK containing educational book, already arrived. However, due to assessed est. duties/taxes amounting to php1,612.00, has been held to Bureau of Customs for payment confirmation. Please advise when agree to pay charges so we can advance the payment to customs and process releasing, payment will be collected upon delivery of the goods.

Here’s the breakdown of charges:
Customs duty: P93
VAT: P1269
Import processing fee: P250

I was asked to apply for an exception from the DOF but my friend (who’s also taking the exam next year) did that last month and was denied. What can I do?

By: mlq3

mlq3 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:59:06 +0000

That was illegal, Ryc.

By: Ryc

Ryc — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:38:44 +0000

I was charged P1,400 for books I ordered from Amazon.
The customs official said that they brought back the tax on imported books. BTW, this was at the QC post office.

By: mlq3

mlq3 — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:49:19 +0000

Brandon, show them a copy of the President’s 9th State of the Nation Address.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:27:13 +0000

I am being charged P2628 for an imported book with a value of P9000. 30% customs duties fees seems outrageous. What do I need to do to get the fees reversed?