• Items under $200: As a general rule, if you purchase items on eBay valued at under $200, you shouldn't have any trouble importing them. While some items are generally prohibited from import (like narcotics, tainted food or child pornography) or restricted (like alcohol, tobacco, firearms), these items are usually banned on eBay anyway. There are a few exceptions, such as plants, food, automobiles, and certain cultural items, where an item might require licenses or special permits.

• Items over $200: If you import items that cost over $200 for personal use, you might have to pay a duty, or tax, on the item, even if the item is used. The amount of the duty, if any, depends on the type of the item and its value. Some items can be imported without paying any duty at all.

• Items for commercial use: If you import goods for a commercial purpose, you may have to deal with possible quotas, duty, and paperwork. Commercial goods (goods intended for resale) may have special entry requirements, and it’s up to you to educate yourself on the laws to ensure you’re in compliance.

U.S. government websites:

• The U.S. Customs Service maintains a website on importing and exporting to help educate Internet buyers about the mechanics of importing, including how to estimate the potential duty rate.

• Specific information about importing food and plants can be found on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Import and Export page.

• Read about laws and special issues involving the importation of cultural items.

Items must comply with export laws:
Make sure any items you’re selling can be lawfully shipped outside of the country where you live. The export of certain items may require special licenses, or may be banned altogether. For example, the export of certain computer equipment from the United States is highly regulated, and may be restricted or banned even if the computer is not considered "high performance" by U.S. standards. Review these sites for more information:

• Export control basics

• Computers

• Automobiles

Items must comply with import laws:
When selling an item, make sure you can lawfully import the item into the buyer's country before sending it. Each country has different laws that limit the types of goods that can be imported into their country. For example, the buyer's country might have restrictions on foods, plants, clothing, luggage, or even books that might result in the seizure and destruction of the imported item. We recommend that you discuss possible import problems with your potential buyers, and do research to avoid any problems.

Here are three good reasons to check applicable laws before you import goods:

• Goods may be intercepted by U.S. Customs officials. There may also be fines or other liabilities associated with goods impounded or seized by U.S. Customs officials.

• We may cancel listing(s), suspend or terminate its services and user account(s), and/or take action to exclude users from our site.

• You may be sued or prosecuted. Such liability may exist vis-à-vis the owners of trademarks, copyrights, or other rights (for example, if a European trademark owner were to attempt to assert rights in connection with the importation into Europe of legitimately manufactured goods that were intended for another market).

For additional information on goods that may be subject to import restrictions, visit the Importation of Goods into the United States Help page:

Visit the World Customs Organization for more information about customs regulations around the world. You might also want to contact a specific country's embassy in the U.S. for guidance.

High value and volume transactions: If you plan to do substantial business with customers in other countries, or if you’re dealing in higher dollar or highly regulated items, be sure to do careful research, and hire an expert if necessary to make sure that all transactions comply with all applicable laws. There is often paperwork that you must fill out when completing these transactions. The U.S. government has a number of resources to promote international trade and to help businesses of all sizes familiarize themselves with export regulations, and shipping companies offer special services to businesses that regularly ship goods overseas. Information about these resources can be found at:

• International Trade Administration

• Export.gov

• Small Business Administration - Office of International Trade

We encourage all sellers and buyers to comply with all governmental laws and regulations, both in the United States and abroad. Since the import and export of items are highly regulated by the United States government or may cause harm to eBay or our members, members should educate themselves on the laws governing the import and export of items prior to listing those items.

Important: This information is not intended to be legal advice. If you have any doubts about whether an item can be sold on eBay, we encourage you to consult an attorney.