Import duyt/tax to ireland.

L31mr0d

Before someone goes ahead and bans me, i'm not looking for ways to avoid import duty/tax i'm just looking for information on it.

I recently ordered a few things from the states over ebay, and they don't break any of the customs laws I found here. But my friends keep telling me I could get hit with import duty? How does this work, i've bought things from the states for the last 5 years and i've never had to pay any extra charges. So is it pure chance whether I get charged or not (i.e. do they pick every 1 in 10 to be taxed?) or do they only charge duty on certain items. Any information would be appreciated.

Beano

Its pretty much the luck of the draw. I have noticed that regular airmail from the states tends not to get hit with import duty very often if at all. Express Airmail from the states tends to get hit a lot. Couriers like DHL and UPS get hit nearly every time.

Ruu_Old

Someone else posted on another thread that the duty was 25%+shipping of the order. I don't know though.

L31mr0d

Ok well I did a search for previouse threads... I don't see what the point of the warning up the top is there for if all I have to do is do a search for import duty and nearly every thread seems to have ways to avoid it. What is the point in locking a thread if you're not going to delete the post with the illegal information?

Anyway. I'm wondering where I could get information on it. As I seem to see a lot of guessing but not many concrete answers. Is there a website which lays down which postal agencies charge what and how do they do so. Some people say the limit is €50, other places say the limit for ireland is €600? Its all heresay until I can see any information about it which is sparce to say the least. From reading around it seems that private shipping companies like FedEx, UPS, etc make their bread and butter off Import duties so they will more than likely charge you regardless of whats in the package, whereas the basic postal service doesn't seem to check? Why is this, surely the law applies to An post as it does to DHL or FedEx.

Beano

The only money that the likes of Fedex and UPS make frm this is the fee they charge to collect the import. Usually they charge €15. An Post have a much lower fee so are less keen to charge the duty. The goods must be over €40 something in value. There is no maximum. YOu are charge 13% import duty onthe value of the goods (including shipping) plus 21% VAT on top of all that. Plus the handling fee charged by DHL , An Post or whoever.

smemon

yeah i got stung importing a dress from the states.

dress cost $400 but i got them to put the value down as $100. postman arrives demanding over €30 in taxes/handling fee's and all that rubbish :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

god help me had the value been $400 been declared

L31mr0d

yeah but those anyone know why some things get through and others dont? I mean is the law really lax or something or do they just randomly pick packages and then charge the tax on them?

Ruu_Old

Have you checked the FAQ on the revenue website? It looks to have a good amount of information.

DermoMIO

iv found that iv only gotten charged once from an post and that was for a mp3 player that i had sent back to iriver and it was sent back to me so an post gave it to some company who charged me something like €120 in customs charges for it i was really mad. but an post tend not to charge u and i buy alot off ebay from america.

i got hit hard off UPS when i bought a limited edition item off Universal Music and UPS charged me the cost of it in customs i was really pissed then.

but thats only two out of about 30 items iv bought off ebay from the u.s

Darando

So can if I get the seller on ebay to mark as "gift" or the value as $50, then will I get hit with customs???

Im getting a computer part for about $70 plus $20 postage.

mikeanywhere

One of the ways I used to get round being hit for import duties etc when in the UK was to have the seller put it down as either a gift or as a commercial sample.

Not sure what the story would be here in Ireland as not ordered any stuff yet.

Gone West

Please stop talking about tax evasion.
We don't want boards to get in trouble now, do we?
Darando
mikeanywhere
smemon
all banned for a week.

Read the stickie thread at the top of this forum.
I thought it was pretty clear when it says "dont talk about tax evasion"
thanks.

L31mr0d: If you have a problem with the rules of the forum, or my locking of this thread, feel free to take it up in feedback.
Have a nice day!