Customs and Excise

LFC5Times

I have bought around 20 items from eBay over the last few months ranging from €10 to about €70.

Just the other day my mum was telling me a friend of hers had to pay Customs and Excise on some clothes she bought from Abercrombie in America and another friend of hers son had to pay C+A for something he bought.

What is the story with getting caught and stuff ?

Seems to be a joke and another way for Government to rob us of money,just because we dont want to pay their rip-off prices

indiewindy

There are loads of threads on this topic, it is import duty collected on behalf of the EU and VAT that has to be paid. Its the same for every country in the EU, goods under €22 are exempt

Daveyn

Tell me about it ! just got stung for 60 euro from Fed ex, bloody Ambercrombie!

ironictoaster

I bought stuff from asia over 22 euros no tax??

jahalpin

LFC5Times wrote:

I have bought around 20 items from eBay over the last few months ranging from €10 to about €70.

Just the other day my mum was telling me a friend of hers had to pay Customs and Excise on some clothes she bought from Abercrombie in America and another friend of hers son had to pay C+A for something he bought.

What is the story with getting caught and stuff ?

Seems to be a joke and another way for Government to rob us of money,just because we dont want to pay their rip-off prices

The Government doesn't actually set the prices of the goods. They set the level of VAT charged in the country. Most countries charge V.A.T. on goods, hate to break it to you, but the roads, hospitals etc actually cost money to provide.

Customs and Excise are only interested in items coming from outside the E.U.

Qwerty?

jahalpin wrote:

Customs and Excise are only interested in items coming from outside the E.U.

Could someone confirm this please....

if I buy a product from a UK website including their 17.5% vat, then I won't have any more VAT to pay?

Beano

Qwerty? wrote:

Could someone confirm this please....

if I buy a product from a UK website including their 17.5% vat, then I won't have any more VAT to pay?

Once you've paid UK vat then you're OK. Be aware though that some UK sites charge you the irish VAT rate of 21%. Amazon.co.uk do this as they are registered for VAT here and thus charge you irish vat.

mcaul

If you bought the items in the USA, sales tax (vat) would be added at the till. Similarly if you are in the USA and purchase items from Europe, tax & duty is added to your purchases when they arrive in USA.