China-based ready-to-assemble furniture importer Homestar North America has agreed to pay nearly $800,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by failing to pay customs duties owed for furniture imports from China.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) alleged that Homestar and its parent company Homestar Corp. conspired to underreport the value of imported goods delivered to Homestar NA following the two increases on Section 301 tariffs in 2018 and 2019. Specifically, the government alleged that from September 2018 through December 2022, falsified invoices were created and submitted to CBP containing false, lower values for the goods Homestar NA received from its parent company to avoid payment of the increased duties owed.
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