Customs Charges?

TechnoPool

So i got a knock on the door from an Post for a delivery from Play.com, the item cost 35e delivered so when i went to get the item i was told i had to pay a 15.90 customs charge on it.

I politely told him that ive ordered this item more than once before and never had this charge on it, third one ive ordered this year, only to be told by the postman 'ah sure, we had the celtic tiger back then'. :rolleyes:


Xbox Live Card Btw.

Im guessing it's due to where play.com shipping the card from?


anyone else have this with anything they have ordered over the net?

Karoma

Yup, Customs are a very strict these days. Ordered a battery for 40-50e, ended up paying another 20-something euro. The most absurd thing is that the limit is 22e!

prinz

IIRC they do random sampling on parcels etc, so basically you were just lucky before.

Kradock

It's import duty , determined by the senders terms on the shipment.
You should have been paying this duty on your other shipments but as the postie said the Celtic Tiger is dead and you will see much more of this as customs gather up the coffers.

Adding this duty to your purchase will probably make you in most cases shop at home.

chopperbyrne

Thought there is no import duty if it comes from within the EU?

3DataModem

Jersey is not in the EU

Takk

TechnoPool wrote: »

I politely told him that ive ordered this item more than once before and never had this charge on it, third one ive ordered this year, only to be told by the postman 'ah sure, we had the celtic tiger back then'. :rolleyes:


Xbox Live Card Btw

Use sites that email the points/membership code to you.

TechnoPool

Takk wrote: »

Use sites that email the points/membership code to you.

ye well i just kept going with the cards as id not had this charge done before, and only 5 days ago got a 3 month card delivered for my little cousin with no charge.

Im going to return the card and go with one of the sites for the codes.

Hail 2 Da Chimp

As far as I know, they get really strict about this kind of thing coming up to Crimbo, the rest of the year they're really quiet...

Splinter

TechnoPool wrote: »

ye well i just kept going with the cards as id not had this charge done before, and only 5 days ago got a 3 month card delivered for my little cousin with no charge.

Im going to return the card and go with one of the sites for the codes.

you wont get the customs charge back if you return it btw

TechnoPool

Splinter wrote: »

you wont get the customs charge back if you return it btw

well i didnt accept the item at the door, so i wont be paying it.

Turd Ferguson

Cant you get around these charges if you register the parcel as being a present to someone, as opposed to an item that you just purchased

My name is URL

Funnily enough I just recieved a letter from the Revenue Dept today telling me that they're holding a lap-top battery that I ordered online

This letter is to inform you that your letter packet is being held by Customs & Excise at the above address.

blah blah blah

The customs charges due will be collected by the postman on delivery

Jesus Wept

chopperbyrne wrote: »

Thought there is no import duty if it comes from within the EU?

3DataModem wrote: »

Jersey is not in the EU

What a jip.
So no ordering anything off play at Christmas, thought they were UK.

Splinter

TechnoPool wrote: »

well i didnt accept the item at the door, so i wont be paying it.

ah ok Sorry i thought you paid it. na just refuse it and it wont be returned til someone pays the duty (either you or the shipper)

TechnoPool

ha well my CC will probs be charged, so im just gonna go to the post office and tell them to return it to the Address on the package and say i never ordered anything.

Splinter

the post office cant charge you on your CC, they don't have your details, if they do then PLAY.com just passed on your details without your consent. just refuse to pay the duty and tell them you dont want it. simple as

ejmaztec

Turd Ferguson wrote: »

Cant you get around these charges if you register the parcel as being a present to someone, as opposed to an item that you just purchased

They don't give a toss what it's described as. Gift or whatever, they still want the money.:(

TechnoPool

i meant play.com are going to charge me for the item when it was shipped.


so i'll just go to the post office and get them to return it saying some excuse along the lines of a brother or something using my card without permission.:o

ejmaztec

TechnoPool wrote: »

i meant play.com are going to charge me for the item when it was shipped.


so i'll just go to the post office and get them to return it saying some excuse along the lines of a brother or something using my card without permission.:o

It's going to cost you more than 15.90 with all of the messing around over it.

Kradock

Once you haven't signed for it , i.e do not collect it from the PO then it will be returned to the sender.

Edit . just realised you would have had to pay for it up front so above advise is erroneous^^^^

General Zod

ejmaztec wrote: »

They don't give a toss what it's described as. Gift or whatever, they still want the money.:(

If it's a present then it's already had it's tax paid in the country you bought it in. customs and excise can only be applied to good you are importing yourself.

dvpower

From the bowels of the Play.com T&Cs

Play.com wrote:

If your delivery address is outside of Jersey, you may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once a shipment reaches your country. Any such additional charges for customs clearance must be borne by you. You should note that customs policies vary widely from country to country; Play.com advises each customer to contact their local customs office for further information.

ejmaztec

General Zod wrote: »

If it's a present then it's already had it's tax paid in the country you bought it in. customs and excise can only be applied to good you are importing yourself.

Everything that is bought in a non-EU jurisdiction has had taxes charged in the other country, whether it's bought over there, or online over here. People receiving the goods get charged, whether the goods are sent to them as a gift, or whether they buy them themselves.

There are rules for limits:

http://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/leaflets/pn1179.html

3. Consignments of Negligible Value
Consignments not exceeding an intrinsic value of €150 may be imported without payment of Customs Duty, while consignments not exceeding a total value of €22 may be imported without payment of VAT. (Intrinsic value is the value of the goods alone, and does not include insurance and freight.) However, it should be noted in particular that there is no relief (from Customs Duty, VAT or Excise duty) under this negligible value provision for importations of tobacco, tobacco products, alcohol products, perfumes or toilet waters irrespective of their value.

4. Gift Consignments
4.1 General
Relief from payment of Customs Duty and VAT is allowed on gifts consigned to an individual living in Ireland, from outside of the EC, provided the Customs value (this is the value of the goods plus insurance and freight (which includes postage) costs (CIF value)) of the goods does not exceed €45. (In the case of tobacco products, alcohol products, perfumes or toilet waters the relief is confined to Customs Duty only, and only provided a quantitative limit is not exceeded – see paragraph 4.3).

4.2 Conditions
Relief from payment of Customs Duty and VAT is allowed on gift consignments from outside of the EC. where the following conditions are met:

1.The customs value of the gift does not exceed €45.
2.The gift is correctly declared (see paragraph 5).
3.It has been sent from a private person abroad to another private person within the EC
4.The gift is for the personal or family use of a private individual in Ireland.
5.There is no commercial or trade element i.e. the goods have not been paid for.
6.Alcohol, tobacco products, perfumes or toilet waters are within the allowances set out in paragraph 4.3 (no relief from VAT or Excise Duty). Anything over those allowances is liable to charges.
7.The gift is of an occasional nature only, such as a birthday or anniversary.
4.3 Gift relief – quantitative restriction on gifts of Tobacco Products, Alcohol Products, Perfume and Toilet Waters
Relief from Customs Duty is allowed on gift consignments of alcohol products, tobacco products, perfume and toilet waters. However, to qualify for relief, such consignments must comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 4.2 and be within the following allowances:

Type of Goods Allowances
Tobacco Products 50 cigarettes; or
25 cigarillos (cigars with a maximum individual weight of 3 gms); or
10 cigars; or
50 gms of tobacco; or
a proportional assortment of the different products.

Alcohol Products 1 litre of distilled beverages and spirits over 22% volume; or
1 litre of fortified or sparkling wine, and some liqueurs of 22% volume or less; and
2 litres of still wines.

Perfume and toilet waters 50 gms of perfume; or
0.25 litres of toilet water.


Reminder: It is important to be aware that there is no relief from VAT or Excise duty on the above products, irrespective of their value.

4.4 More than one item in a "gift" consignment
Where a consignment consists of two or more items of an aggregate value exceeding €45, relief will still be given for those items the total value of which does not exceed this amount. However, it is important to understand that the value of an individual item cannot be split up.

4.5 Flat rate of Customs Duty for gifts
Where the value of a gift consignment does not exceed €700, a flat rate of 2.5% customs duty may be applied rather than the rates of Customs Duty normally applicable to the individual items. (Note: This flat rate applies to Customs Duty only, not to VAT or excise duty). In calculating whether or not the €700 limit is exceeded the following should be excluded:

the value of any individual item(s) which qualify under the €45 gift relief allowance; and
the value of any items where the rate of duty applicable to the item is "free" or zero.
Where the €700 limit is exceeded the "normal" rates of Customs Duty apply to the individual items in the consignment (subject to exclusion of any items qualifying under the €45 gift relief provision).

The table below provides a number of illustrative examples: No. and Value of Items Duties payable on importation
One item valued at €45 Relief granted on total amount.
One item valued at €55 Customs Duty (normal rate or 2.5% flat rate) and VAT payable on total amount.
Five items valued at €10 each Four items relieved in full. One item subject to Customs Duty (normal rate or 2.5% flat rate) and VAT on its full value (in this case, €10).
One item valued at €710 Customs Duty at the normal rate and VAT payable on the full Customs value amount at the normal rate of duty.

4.6 Conditions applicable to the flat-rate of duty for gifts
The flat rate of duty is only applicable where the importations are not of a commercial nature.
A flat rate assessment should not be applied to goods for which the rate of duty is "free" or zero, and such goods should be excluded when calculating whether the €700 limit has been exceeded.
The importer may opt to have the goods charged at the relevant tariff rate(s) applicable to the individual items (although in practice this is unlikely to arise as the 2.5% rate will normally be more beneficial to the importer).
5. Procedure at Importation
Gift
The Customs Declaration Form on the relative parcel, if sent by post, should be marked "Gift" or "Present" in addition to giving the details normally required.

If imported using a Customs Entry (SAD) or on the AEP (Automated Entry Processing) system, the goods should be declared as a gift at importation on the Customs Entry.

Code C08 should be entered in box 37 (b) of the SAD or on the AEP System in order to avail of the relief from Customs Duty and VAT in respect of gifts not exceeding €45 in value.

Where the dutiable element of the consignment is not greater than €700 in value, and the importer wishes to avail of the flat rate of duty, code 1C1 should be entered in box 37 (b) of the SAD or on the AEP System.

Consignments of Negligible Value
The Customs Declaration Form on the relative parcel, if sent by post, should be marked "Negligible Value" and state the value of the goods in question, in addition to giving the details normally required.

If imported using a SAD or on the AEP System, the goods should be declared as a consignment of negligible value. Code C07 should be entered in box 37 (b) of the SAD or on the AEP System in order to avail of the relief from Customs Duty and VAT that applies to consignments of neglibible value.

6. How Various Types of Duty, Chargeable at Importation, are Calculated
The rate and type of duty charged will depend on the type of goods being imported and will include one or more of the following: Type of Duty Description
Customs Duty This is normally charged as a percentage of the value. The percentage varies depending on the type of goods and their country of origin. Duty is charged on the price paid for the goods plus insurance and freight (which includes postage) costs. Further information on rates of duty can be obtained from TARIC or by e-mailing tarclass@revenue.ie
Excise Duty This is charged on alcohol and tobacco products and is in addition to Customs Duty. The Excise Duty on wines and spirits depends on the volume of alcohol and whether wine is still or sparkling. Excise Duty on cigarettes is based on a percentage of the recommended retail price combined with a quantity charge whilst that on other tobacco products is based on the net weight. Information on the current rates of Excise Duty are available in Schedule of Excise Duties (MS Word, 259KB).
Value Added Tax VAT at the point of importation is charged at the same rate that applies to similar goods sold in this country. The value of the goods for the purpose of calculating the amount of VAT payable at import is their value for customs purposes, described above, increased by the amount of any duty or other tax (but not including VAT) payable. Further information can be obtained from your Local Revenue Office. Alternatively, a detailed list of VAT rates are available.

Breaktown

I thought you didn't have to pay customs on items from within the EU?

What bugs me even more than customs charges, is the post office charge. They can charge you anywhere between €5 and €25 because you got charged customs. I gave them sh!t over this and took it to the Ombudsman as I couldn't see how they could get away with charging you money for charging you money, but apparently nothing can be done. :mad:

MOH

Breaktown wrote: »

I thought you didn't have to pay customs on items from within the EU?

What bugs me even more than customs charges, is the post office charge. They can charge you anywhere between €5 and €25 because you got charged customs. I gave them sh!t over this and took it to the Ombudsman as I couldn't see how they could get away with charging you money for charging you money, but apparently nothing can be done. :mad:

Again, Jersey is not in the EU.