iherb (yes more questions about them!!)

danlen

So, was looking at making a purchase from iherb and was just looking for advice regarding buying food products from them. Was looking at buying some almond and coconut flour along with my next batch of supps but I wasn't sure if there are any rules regardind bringing in actual foodstuffs from outside the EU and if this would cause problems with customs. Any advice would be great.

In addition, how likely is it that I get done for customs/VAT once the package arrives? Is there a limit under which I would be safe?

Thanks in advance. The floor is yours...

El_Dangeroso

danlen wrote: »

So, was looking at making a purchase from iherb and was just looking for advice regarding buying food products from them. Was looking at buying some almond and coconut flour along with my next batch of supps but I wasn't sure if there are any rules regardind bringing in actual foodstuffs from outside the EU and if this would cause problems with customs. Any advice would be great.

In addition, how likely is it that I get done for customs/VAT once the package arrives? Is there a limit under which I would be safe?

Thanks in advance. The floor is yours...

Should be grand but you can get coconut and almond flour much cheaper from a shop at home once you factor in shipping.

You will get caught for customs. I believe the rate is 12.5% of the order value. They have really cracked down on that in recent times. I don't believe it applies to orders under €50 but don't quote me on that!

danlen

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Should be grand but you can get coconut and almond flour much cheaper from a shop at home once you factor in shipping.

Yeah just thought I'd throw into onto the end of my next supp order, call it laziness. Out of curiousity, do you buy coconut/almond flour here online or in the shops? Which do you find the cheapest overall?

El_Dangeroso

danlen wrote: »

Yeah just thought I'd throw into onto the end of my next supp order, call it laziness. Out of curiousity, do you buy coconut/almond flour here online or in the shops? Which do you find the cheapest overall?

In the shops, you can get almond flour (sometimes called almond meal) in dunnes. The only place I've seen coconut flour is the health food shop, brand is tiana.

I gave up trying to make anything remotely bready or cakey a long time ago though, the results are always pretty disappointing.

Renn

I buy any flours in the Asia Food Market in Dublin. Usually are cheap enough there.

rubadub

I got east end brand coconut flour in the Asian shop in blackrock market in dublin, it was cheap, I think cheaper than the usual shamrock dessicated coconut in supermarkets -east end is also a decent brand.

Almond flour and cheap nuts can be found in the baking section in supermarkets, my tesco has nuts in about 5-6 locations! snacks/baking/organic/veg/"healthy"

The limit where VAT becomes applicable is €22 (including postage), duty is applicable over €150 (excluding postage)

You can search revenues site for items on google, e.g.
coconut site:revenue.ie

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en#sclient=psy&hl=en&complete=1&site=webhp&q=coconut+site:revenue.ie&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=573da4ec7e15bdf2

Coconut is zero VAT rated as are almonds. The weird thing is if stuff is advertised as sports supplements VAT is applied, this came up with a UK site which now charges Irish VAT on protein powder -however if they just advertised it as food it would be zero VAT. If dunnes sold glucose alongside lucozade it could be 21% VAT, if they keep it in the baby food section it is 0% VAT....

There is a sticky thread on VAT in online buying
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055862554

Adelie

rubadub wrote: »

The limit where VAT becomes applicable is €22 (including postage), duty is applicable over €150 (excluding postage)

I'm thinking of making my first iHerb order, for vitamins/supplements which are 0% VAT. The order will be well under €150. So in theory I shouldn't pay any extra charges, right? Has anyone ordered from iHerb and incurred additional costs on delivery?

siochain

yeah I got hit on my last order, first time and I had been using them for a while.

Adelie

siochain wrote: »

yeah I got hit on my last order, first time and I had been using them for a while.

Was it 0% VAT products and under 150? How can they justify charging you, did you challenge them on it? I've read comments from other Irish people on iHerb who were charged for supplements so it seems like you're not the only one.

Renn

****, really? I ordered stuff to the value of $76.28 recently. My last order, $57.72, arrived with zero problems.

Adelie

Renn wrote: »

****, really? I ordered stuff to the value of $76.28 recently. My last order, $57.72, arrived with zero problems.

Well based on my quick research, they have no grounds to charge you, and the majority of orders to Ireland do arrive with no problems. But it seems like there are some exceptions.

rubadub

Adelie wrote: »

Was it 0% VAT products and under 150?

I have seen siochain posting in the fitness forum so I am guessing it could have been sports supplements, which would be liable, but a picture of a cake on a tub of whey and it is zero VAT, but a picture of a bicep on the very same item and it is 21%....

siochain

total order was $93.42 and just stocking up on Omega 3, Glucosamine & Chondroitin, CQ10, Vit C etc. DHL guy just said theres a VAT charge, it was close to €10, I said to him I never been changed before and it was a repeat order, he said they we cracking down on this latley......

rubadub

€10 is quite low, was this including the DHL customs handling fee? I think this can be €5-€15

There is a lower limit of how much VAT they can charge

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

Where the customs duty on a consignment of goods amounts to less than €10 it will not be collected. Similarly, VAT liability amounting to less than or equal to €6 will not be collected. No similar rule applies in the case of excise duty which will always be collected if the goods are liable to excise duty.

So if the limit is €6 and you are buying a item with 21% VAT then it could be €28.57 in value before you are liable.

The lower €22 figure must be for alcohol or perfume or something -with excise duty.


here is the revenue bit on supps. http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vat/faqs/selling-or-importing-food-nutritional-supplements.html

Food supplements are generally zero rated for VAT only if they are taken to supplement a person's diet for the purposes of sustenance.

The following substances are zero rated, whether they are marketed as food supplements or not:

* 'Food-grade' chemicals, colourings, flavourings and similar additives which are not in an edible form but whose sole use is verifiably as an ingredient for food, regardless of the rate applying to the eventual food products.
* Vitamins and minerals in solid form, such as capsules, tablets, pills or lozenges, intended for oral consumption without further preparation.
* Vitamins and minerals in liquid form intended for oral consumption without further preparation, but not including beverages such as high vitamin drinks.
* Fish oils for oral consumption.

The following types of substance will not come within the scope of the zero per cent rate, even if labelled and marketed as food supplements:

* Beverages of any kind (including water) and concentrates, essences, powders, crystals etc. for the preparation of beverages [unless they come within the scope of Paragraph (xii) (b) (I) to (IV)]
* Substances marketed as being specifically for health or medical reasons (in most cases, however, these will be zero rated as medicine for human oral consumption in accordance with Paragraph (xiii) of the Second Schedule).
* Substances marketed as being specifically to improve sporting or physical performance
* Substances in the form of bars or sweets or any other form similar to confectionery coming within the scope of Paragraph (xii)(d)(I).
* Any substance that, although consisting in whole or in part of ingredients regarded as food supplements, is marketed for use other than by being consumed (e.g. ointments, liniments, rubs etc.).

siochain

never had to pay DHL customs handling fee on receipt of good's before. He defo said it was for VAT and it came to 9.50 ish, he had no change of an €10 note of course. Checked the DHL tracking number and the don't seem to retain history for viewing for orders delivered a few months ago. I'll email them.

I'll be more prepared to challenge any charges the next time.

Cheers