- How to Ship to Delaware to Avoid Sales Tax (and not feel guilty about it)
- Ship to Delaware to avoid sales tax; Magic or strategy?
- How does it all really work (without technical complications)
- What about international shipping?
- Who can benefit from sending to Delaware?
- What if I use another warehouse outside of Delaware?
- What no one tells you (but I do)
- Are you ready to give it a try?
How to Ship to Delaware to Avoid Sales Tax (and not feel guilty about it)
Have you ever had it happen to you that you see something on sale, you click excitedly, but just before you pay you get that blessed sales tax and it takes the smile off your face? I have. And not once, but several times. Until I discovered the trick that saved my wallet: Ship to Delaware to avoid sales tax . It sounds like a legal trap, but it’s actually totally legitimate. And here I come to tell you how it works, with all my screw-ups in the process.
Ship to Delaware to avoid sales tax; Magic or strategy?
Why Delaware and not another state?
I’ll be honest with you: when I first heard that Delaware was the tax-free haven, I thought it was just another invention of the internet. But it wasn’t. Delaware is one of only five states in the U.S. where there is no sales tax. Zero. None. Nil.
Imagine buying technology, clothes or books without that extra 7, 8 or even 10% that comes as a bucket of cold water. Well that’s what happens when you use a Delaware address for your online purchases.
My first order was a camera. In any other state it would have been $43 more expensive just for taxes. Thanks to Delaware, I indulged myself… and I had enough money left over for a nice case (and a pizza, I’m not going to lie).
How does it all really work (without technical complications)
What if I don’t live in the United States?
- It doesn’t matter if you live in Mexico, Spain or Thailand. The system is as easy as bread and butter:
- You create an account with the warehouse provider (I used one that also offers package consolidation, but there are several).
- They give you a real address in Delaware.
- You shop at any US online store and ship your products to that address.
- They receive the package, take care of it, pack it nicely and send it to your country.
It’s as simple as that. No endless paperwork and no paperwork from hell.
What about international shipping?
Buying duty free and shipping overseas
If you’ve ever tried to buy from Amazon USA and run into the dreaded “this product does not ship to your country,” you’ll understand the value of this service.
I’ve shipped everything: books, sneakers, electronics… even chocolates (yes, I know, I’m that kind of person). And the best part is, by avoiding sales tax and consolidating packages, I ended up paying up to 80% less on shipping.
Magic? No. It’s strategy. And a little bit of gluttony too.
Who can benefit from sending to Delaware?
More people than you think
- International buyers: like you and me, who want to save money without losing quality.
- Small businesses or resellers: who need every penny to maintain their margins.
- Compulsive bargain shoppers: who just by using a tax-free address, could save hundreds of dollars a year (true story).
If you ever thought this kind of thing was only for “import experts”… you were wrong, like me getting the address wrong the first time (it got me to Florida, and I did pay taxes there, sniff).
What if I use another warehouse outside of Delaware?
Let me put it bluntly: it’s not the same thing.
For example, if you use a store in Totowa, NJ, you pay 7% sales tax. Want to buy a $500 console? Add $35 sales tax. And if you do that five times a year? We’re talking about almost $200 that you could have used for another console… or to buy me a coffee.
What no one tells you (but I do)
I was not eager to do so either at first. I was thinking I would do it complicatedly that my packages will not arrive or something will go wrong. Just the reverse was the case however. And when anything was not just peachy (as in the case of that package with a storm delay), the policies of customer service corrected it with no fuss on their part. They even sent me on box with the stickers in it and this got me!
Are you ready to give it a try?
Shopping online is exciting enough, but Ship to Delaware to avoid sales tax adds that secret victory you don’t want to miss out on. And no, you’re not “skirting” the law or doing anything illegal. You are using the rules of the game… to your advantage.
Would you venture it? Have you ever done it? What was the most outrageous thing you shipped to your country out of the U.S? Ah, I would like to know all about it, tell me!
It is not the luxury not to pay sales tax; this is a strategy
Avoiding sales tax may seem like a luxury, but it’s not. It’s common sense, it’s strategy, and with a touch of legal savvy, it can save you a lot. So the next time you see something you love in a U.S. store, you know what to do: send it to Delaware… and smile as you watch the costs go down.
