Import Duty Clarification

MacAonghusa

Lads,

Quick question regarding import duty etc.
Is my understanding correct that you only pay duty on anything with a value over €150 ... but pay VAT on everything irrespective of value? (ignoring drink & fags)

Does this apply to all good or only specific categories?

Shiva

You pay VAT on anything over (I think) €45.

Duty is a strange one. I cant remember the limit off-hand, or even if there is one, but whether or not you pay it depends on how the goods being imported are classified by the shipper on the customs forms, and even sometimes by the interpretation of the customs officer processing the shipment.

Its also not as simple as having a duty category of "airsoft guns", or even "toys" - theres thousands of categories, and each category gets broken down into sub-categories. So for example, if your goods were classed as "toys", they would also have a sub-classification of "toys - wooden" or "toys-metal" or "toys-plastic", etc, etc, depending on the construction materials and other factors.

The rates for each of these categories is different, with some not even having a duty imposed on them. Again, I cant remember specifics, because I haven't looked at it in awhile, but I know one category of toy (wooden, I think) has zero duty applied, whereas plastic has 5%. And thats before you even go near toys that are made of wood, metal AND plastic, and other combinations

ED E

The VAT of E45 is the small packet exemption IIRC. I heard it mentioned that that limit was due to go up to 150 several times over the last while, but I've never managed to find any official reference to that. Last few orders (Sub 150) havent got hit so maybe, or maybe that was just TNT.

Captain Chaos

The last order I got via UPS was around €70 ish in an A4 sized package and I owed about €26. It's like they just stick on or don't include charges when they feel like it.

ED E

Captain Chaos wrote: »

The last order I got via UPS was around €70 ish in an A4 sized package and I owed about €26. It's like they just stick on or don't include charges when they feel like it.

Go with TNT whenever possible.

Gran Hermano

Any purchase over €22 from outside the EU is subject to Customs charge,
I have a letter from Revenue in front of me I received today.
That €22 limit is the value of the item and any postage/freight/insurance/packing.

They are looking for me to email them in copy of my invoice so they can calculate the charge.
Pity the item actually only cost me €21.60 inc shipping.

MacAonghusa

Thanks for the feedback lads.

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Any purchase over €22 from outside the EU is subject to Customs charge,

Is that just VAT?

Chuck the Buck

MacAonghusa wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback lads.



Is that just VAT?

Thats just vat, but as said above I think its gone up to €45. Import duty on the other hand (usually damn all percentage wise) hits you when its above €150 (or something like that). And if I remember correctly if the package value is above €600 and something you've to pay for a customs clerk (or something alone does lines) to fill out the forms for the vat and duty!

TNTQ

Chuck the Buck wrote: »

Thats just vat, but as said above I think its gone up to €45. Import duty on the other hand (usually damn all percentage wise) hits you when its above €150 (or something like that). And if I remember correctly if the package value is above €600 and something you've to pay for a customs clerk (or something alone does lines) to fill out the forms for the vat and duty!

With that custom clerk I hear for the first time. For the Duty you take 3.5% to 6.5%. Most of the time is 3.5%.

I agree with Tony, there are thousands of categories so even Customs workers have problems with them. For e.g. Handcrafted wooden toys are 0% duty.

I thing from all possible shipping companies Post is the cheapes in terms of Customs Clerance Fees and vary accurate in terms of VAT. They you have TNT and DHL, works roughly the same.

Below is how do you calculate Duty and VAT:

Cost of item: 100$
Postage and Packing: 32$
Total: 132$
Classification of goods: 3.5% Duty
VAT Rate: 21.5%
Currency exchange: USD to Euro 1.41
Courier: anPost
Handling Fee: 6€

So you have:

132$/1.41=93.61€

93.61€*3.5%=96.89€

96.89€*21.5%=117.72€

117.72€-93.61€=24.11€

24.11€+6€=31.11€

31.11€ - this is how much you would have to give post man.

For the rough calculation you can take 25% will be the amout you have to pay.

As you can see above its a bit more (32%), because of low value you add 6€.

DHL and TNT charges will be about the same and let you pay with Credit Card.

Hope it helps:D