Returned iPad imposed customs duties

(ECNS) -- A resident of Guangzhou, Guangdong province has complained about the "unreasonable duty" charged by Chinese customs for her iPad, which she had lost abroad, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Tuesday.

Liu left her iPad on a plane in November while she and her boyfriend traveled in Europe. The iPad, which Liu bought in China, contains many private files and photos.

Liu received an email from a Norwegian man in December, who said he had picked up the iPad on a plane and found Liu's email address on it.

He eventually sent back the iPad, paying the postage himself.

Later in December, Liu received a notification from the post office, asking her to pick up her international parcel and pay an imported duty on it.

Based on the duty-paid price and the current tax rate, which is 10 percent of the value, Liu should pay an extra 200 yuan (32.9 US dollars) for her own iPad.

Liu argued that the iPad was used, and that the information on it proved that it belonged to her, so it shouldn't be taxed as an imported product.

The post office deferred her grievance to customs.

A customs official responded that unless Liu could provide a purchase invoice for the iPad, or prove that it belonged to her before she left China, customs is entitled to collect taxes on the iPad, which is not a duty-free article.