AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCLUDING CUSTOMS TARIFFS IN E-COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS

摘要

The invention provides systems and methods for facilitating international electronic commerce through a distributed computer network such as the Internet. The method includes the steps of obtaining purchase transaction details (1510) concerning one or more items that are to be purchased, processing at least a portion of the purchase transaction details to select a harmonized code for shipping (1520) the item to a prescribed destination at a minimum applicable tariff rate (1550), determining the tariff due for shipping each such item to a particular destination by applying the selected harmonization code (1560), and reporting the tariff due through the distributed computer network (1568). Preferably, the selection of a harmonized code includes searching through a tariff schedule of the particular destination and identifying a harmonized code that best fits item descriptors included in the purchase transaction details.