Are import duties supposed to be paid within the airport customs area itself?

Upvote:-1

Yes, you have to pay on site or forfeit the goods. That's Customs' job after all, regulating the flow of goods, and tax them (or suppress them). There is usually a tax collection counter nearby, before you can exit the arrival secure area. Whether they accept cards will depend on the country, and sometimes the city.

I've had once to pay tax in Penang, Malaysia, and they didn't take credit cards. I had to pay in cash, but fortunately it was only about 60 ringgit.

Upvote:1

You pay there at customs. Some will not take your out of Country money. But all international airports do have a money exchange in them. They will take a credit card to exchange money. Customs will tell you were that is at. Let you go there & return to them. Or were the closest ATM machine is. To get there currency.

Upvote:2

You pay at the time of declaration. For example, in Canada, the Customs official will let you know if you have to pay tax, and if so, direct you to the cashier (if at an airport) or to the office (if at a land crossing) where you can pay your taxes/duties. Canada will accept cash, cheques, VISA, MasterCard and American Express. I suspect most western countries will take at least some credit cards, but some countries probably only accept cash.

If you are unsure about the country you are visiting (or the country you are from), check their website or call them in advance.

Normally you will only pay tax/duty re-entering your own country, depending on the dollar amount of your purchases but if you are bringing in significant amounts of goods, particularly for others, or more than a small amount of alcohol or tobacco, you may need to pay tax/duty in a country you are visiting.

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