Discusses the prevalence and reliability of express delivery firms within the country, time from large U.S. cities, and relevant customs procedures, including de minimis amounts.
Generally it is easy to mail letters and packages from Ecuador, but receiving mail can be difficult. Post offices and couriers are located in all major Ecuadorian cities. The national postal service, Correos del Ecuador, offers several options. In general, mail sent via Correos del Ecuador takes several days to reach its destination, including about 10 business days to reach the United States.
 
Several international couriers have offices in Ecuador, including DHL (http://www.dhl.com.ec/en/country_profile.html), Federal Express (http://www.fedex.com/ec/), and UPS (https://www.ups.com/content/ec/en/index.jsx).

Packages received from overseas and weighing over two kilograms will need to be picked up at customs (aduana). Import taxes are calculated according to the declared value of the package and these fees can be relatively high. In addition, packages are subject to a 12 percent value-added tax (IVA) and a 0.5 percent children’s tax.  (As part of a tax package passed after the April 2016 earthquake, Ecuador temporarily raised the VAT to 14 percent for one year.  The increased VAT is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2017.)

According to Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Trade, a tax of $42 dollars will be assessed on items purchased online and delivered by expedited courier. This means that any package that falls into the “4×4” category (four kilos or under $400 dollars in declared value) will be subject to the tax if it is an item that has been purchased online or will be used for commercial purposes.

For a package to be duty free, it must comply with the following:
  • Maximum weight: four kilograms (exactly 8.8 lbs)
  • Maximum FOB declared value = $400 (according to the receipt(s) which must accompany the box)
  • Must not be in the prohibited list: No pressurized containers, tobacco, weapons, medicines/drugs, live animals, seeds, plants, any perishables, cleaning solutions, lighters or matches.
Only five packages per year, with an accumulated value of $1200, will be permitted to any individual.

For the most up-to-date information about importation duties on packages that exceed the 4×4 limits, please see the customs website (http://www.aduana.gob.ec/pro/courier.action).

In general, it is difficult to send commercial samples due to the applicable duties and rigorous technical requirements.

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