guitar parts and high vat/customs

voxpop

I've just purchased about $150 worth of guitar electronic parts from the states and customs are looking for €41 off me, this seems like alot. By my calc it should come up to €27 (2.7% duty +21%vat). Can anyone explain the difference between irish customs calculation and my own.
Can I argue this figure at the post depot when I go to collect the package or is it something I have to take up with customs instead ?

Beecher

You also get taxed on the shipping costs

Kenny_D

well 21% alone is €27 so your calcs must be off somewhere. Also the gear might have been worth 150 dollars but you are also taxed on shipping costs. Plus I think its 3.7% import duty. So its probably about right

voxpop

the $150 is including shipping costs

duty is 2.7% on guitar parts, 3.7% on the guitar itself

$150 = €130
2.7% = € 3.51
so i get €133.51
21% on that is €28

Customs calc = €41 ??

Kenny_D

Just ask them to explain the cost when you pick it up or get it delivered

Johnny Storm

Dont let them away with anything, question everything, they certainly wouldnt let you away with diddley squat.

Doctor J

Delivery by DHL? They have a tendency to make sure they're definitely covered. Just make sure you keep the delivery docket and you should be able to claim some of it back off The Man.

Johnny Storm

Now that you mention DHL Dr J, it occurs to me that the €41 may include a "customs processing" (LOL) charge from DHL. They have to keep food on the table somehow you know :rolleyes:

So
Duty 3.51
VAT 28.00
DHL scratch-themselves charge 10.00
Total 41.00

Am I right? Do I win a prize?

Doctor J

What are you talking about? The prize is mine, baby :v:

Savman

yeah that's probably it, hence why so many people are wary of ordering stuff from the states :rolleyes:

when will they join the EU anyways:D

Duff_Man

i like orderin stuff from america but get it sent to my aunt in the uk cause usa and uk have free trade :P .....and the uk and ireland have free trade too....so i dont have to pay much :P .....well i use to do it i dunno ifs there is still free trade :P .

Eoin Madsen

There's always some kind of bull**** "tax handling charge", for pretty much every courier service. It's a ****ing disgrace imo, and it should be illegal.

Savman

Eoin Madsen wrote:

There's always some kind of bull**** "tax handling charge", for pretty much every courier service. It's a ****ing disgrace imo, and it should be illegal.

Why should it be illegal? Isn't courier/delivery a valid business enterprise?

Johnny Storm

I dunno about "illegal" but IMHO it's a PIA when they charge you seperately for a totally routine transaction that they are doing every minute of the day, every day.
The way I look at it is: if their van had to stop for petrol on the way to deliver your new guitar to your house would it be OK for them to charge you €10 petrol processing charge ?

They should all be taken out and shot along with taxi drivers and politicians and half the people in this poxy country. Except people who post on this forum of course. Happy Chistmas to one and all!

Savman

Johnny Storm wrote:

They should all be taken out and shot along with taxi drivers and politicians and half the people in this poxy country.

:rolleyes:

Eoin Madsen

Savman wrote:

Why should it be illegal? Isn't courier/delivery a valid business enterprise?

Their business is transport and delivery, for which they're paid. But imo, a third party should under no circumstances profit from the extraction of a government tarrif.

(And don't even attempt to claim that it might actually cost them €10 to "process" a simple tax transaction. )

Perfect_Dub

i mean u pay enough taxes over here and to go spend ur money elsewhere they still screw you,always some scheme to rip you off

i priced a guitar in usa for €2200 and over here its €4100 thats disgracefull but opted to buy to fenders from germans so i dont pay duty and excise

voxpop

it was An Post not DHL, but they did charge me a €5 processing charge. From the vat charges on the label I think customs decided €1 = $1 just for me and so charged me duty and vat on the $150 not €130.

Savman

One thing I do know, customs are given fierce powers by the govt. and I used to work in the airport for 5 years and seen them in action, they're a law unto themselves and have no doubt heard your argument a million times over.

Just be forewarned, the shipping company may jave a sexy receptionist to explain it all out for you nicely but the Customs people are a helluva lot more hard nosed.;)

Eoin Madsen

Perfect_Dub wrote:

i mean u pay enough taxes over here and to go spend ur money elsewhere they still screw you,always some scheme to rip you off

i priced a guitar in usa for €2200 and over here its €4100 thats disgracefull but opted to buy to fenders from germans so i dont pay duty and excise

At the end of the day, the taxes themselves are perfectly reasonable. The near-100% markup is down to the retailers. When you buy from Germany you still pay VAT, it's just included in the price like it is for anything you buy off the shelf in Ireland.

The lack of import/excise duties is because Europe is teh win.

Eoin Madsen

Savman wrote:

Just be forewarned, the shipping company may jave a sexy receptionist to explain it all out for you nicely but

If only. About a year ago I got over-billed (as far as I could see) by Fedex for some clothing items I bought. The tax literally came to twice the price of the items + shipping, and I couldn't see how it made sense, even with their greedy processing fee (that they might be calling dollars euros was the only theory I could come up with). We're talking about 60ish euros tax here on a 55ish euro item (with shipping). So I emailed them and asked them to confirm and clarify it. I got a few round about "I'll pass this on" kinda responses, then nothing.

Eventually I received another invoice in the post of the "Pay in the next 10 days or else" variety. I emailed them again and expressed my opinion (it included a calculation based on the rate tables and information available from Revenue.ie), to which I received no response. I haven't heard from them since, and the tax remains unpaid. It was quite strange!

NeMiSiS

I did something similar Eoin, still have payed them nothing. Was for clothes too.. wanted 50 euro for 2 tshirts worth about $18 each.. Told them to go and ****e.

TK