As I understand it, a company set up for it can sell to an overseas customer VAT free (it probably makes a big difference that you ordered and paid from the US). In theory, you then pay the relevant tax when you arrive back in the US, though, eh..... sometimes the matter Does Not Arise when someone is just Wearing their Own Jacket through customs. I think (as a lawyer) that's the best way I can put it.
Actually after a change in the scheme effective 2016, it would fall under the threshold for tax upon entry to the US!
The UK has probably the worst system for this, charging the recipient VAT on both the item and the postage cost, which is quite idiotic. (Found this out the hard way when I bought a fairly affordable bit of martial arts kit from Japan at a discount, which was substantial enough that it was still reasonable with high postage–less so with the effective 80% VAT rate I paid… the brilliant minds at the Royal Mail decided to add up the cost which was written in both yen and dollars rather than knowing what = means.)
