Shipping Musical Instrument from US to Ireland

CyberGranny

Hello,

On impulse I bought my granddaughter a new Keyboard and I initially thought I could bring it back on the plane. First I didn't realise how big it was and how much it would cost to check $200, plus if if it's not in a hard case, they won't ship it and if they do, they might destroy it and not insure it. Plus I couldn't carry it, so I'll have to ship it. It will cost me about $130 to ship it via the US post - UPS, FedEx and DHL want over $500. But what about customs? I only paid $300 for it, so I wouldn't mind if I paid 21% of $300 (I have the receipt), but it sells for at least 550 euros in Ireland and I don't want to pay Vat based on the rip off Republic prices. Once again, I am not trying to evade tax, I just don't want to get stuck footing half the bill for the bank bailout and I never thought shipping would be so much. Any cheaper methods of shipping and any advice on customs? Hopefully some one here has shipped instruments before and can give me some good advice. Thank you.

Alanstrainor

You're looking at around 25% all together, including VAT and customs duty.

Malice

Since you still have the receipt can you simply return it and then get the keyboard from a European seller?

reniwren

mark it as a gift when shipping other than that you will pay vat on shipping + item, Which would work out at around the 750 euro marktotal paid

CyberGranny

Thanks for all the replies, but 25% on what, what I paid or the market value in our crazy over-priced country? If it's 25% of what I paid I don't mind and I'm still a head $300 + $75(25% of $300) + $130 shipping = $505 = €380 and it's about €550 here. But if I have to pay 25% of €550 then it's €138 + $300 + $130 then it equals about €460 and if they charge VAT on the shipping charges as well then it's about €485, still cheaper, but not really a bargain and hardly worth the trouble and risks - getting lost or damaged in transport and no warranty, plus I'd still need a 240 V ac power module.

1. So what do they charge the 25% against the actual cost price or the Insane Irish market price? I'd assume it must be the cost price, since if I was to buy it here for €550 that would already include the VAT, so how could they charge me VAT against the Irish market value?

2. Second, what are the odds of not being hit for customs? It's pretty big - so obviously more than the €20 limit, so I suspect I'll be hit. Also if I do ship it I'll have to ship it in the original box, which has all of manufacturer's name model number and details on it, I couldn't repack it since I'd never get a box that long and I wouldn't want to take it out of the original box since I couldn't pack it as well and that would risk damage in shipment.

Ravelleman

A few words of advice - it is extremely unwise to discuss possible ways of avoiding tax on a public forum like this. It is also frowned upon by the management of boards, for obvious reasons, so be careful.

They charge customs on the price you paid in the US, not the Irish price.

CyberGranny

Thank you for clarification, but I was not trying to avoid any taxes, I was just trying to find out my alternatives and I have heard contradicting information. My husband and I have worked hard all our lives and we have always paid all our taxes and for years at an extremely high rate. I have heard that they may charge VAT at the Irish value of the item, you have confirm this is incorrect and at revenue.ie it also states the VAT is charged against the declared purchase price, which you may need proof to confirm and they say can be contested. That may be the case if it is delivered by an post. I had an unfortunate incident a few years ago where my sister in the US sent me a gift, an outfit she bought in the sales for about $25 and she shipped it via the US post office, who used an English delivery company - I think GLS. They imported it into the EU via Germany charged Duty, VAT and a very large handling fee and I had to pay about €60 to receive it. I tried to contest it, but the company never answered the phone and never replied to my letters and the non existent Irish Consumer affairs didn't help. A few months later I heard it was discussed on Joe Duffy with many in the same situation as me. The bottom line is, you can declare the purchase value, but they could valuate it higher. If they do you can contest it, but you cannot contest anything if the other party ignores you and acts and is allowed to act outside the law.

Revenue.ie also had all of the VAT and customs duty amounts and fees, which is 12% customs on the purchase + shipping cost, then 21% VAT on the purchase price + shipping cost + Customs duty amount and then a €6 An Post Handling fee. So for me it would be $300 +$130 shipping =$430 = €332 + 12% Customs duty = €39.84, = €371.84 +21% VAT = €78.09, = €450 + €6 An Post Handling fee = €456, still cheaper than rip off republic, but what if they decide to charge it at a higher valuation and they don't answer the phone or reply to my letters?

I have worked within the rules all my life, watching many do otherwise and I'm not trying to circumvent them now, I am just trying to confirm how much it will cost me and what is the most economical avenue. Despite working hard and paying all my bills and taxes - unlike many others in this country, I am on a limited fixed income and all I wanted to do was buy a nice gift for someone I love. So I just asked a few questions, if you want to get all high and mighty, maybe you should talk to Sean Fitzpatrick, David Drumm and Sean Quinn, not a little old lady who wanted to buy something nice for her granddaughter!!

Elysian

You pay duty and vat on what you paid for the item so in this case $300.

PaulieBoy

You pay VAT on the purchase price plus the shipping AFAIK, not on the purchase price alone. At least that's how all my purchases over the years have been calculated.

smokiebeverage

Ravelleman wrote: »

A few words of advice - it is extremely unwise to discuss possible ways of avoiding tax on a public forum like this. It is also frowned upon by the management of boards, for obvious reasons, so be careful.

They charge customs on the price you paid in the US, not the Irish price.

Ah there's nothing quite like a bit of paranoia on a Saturday night!!

Anyway, it works like this. You pay duty on the cost of the item plus the shipping. The rate of duty is around 3.7% for musical instruments (I may be a little out on that but the table is available on the web). Then you pay 21% on that total value. The cheapest way to ship is USPS usually, and assuming it's not a full 88 key keyboard it should cost around $100.00. Now as for the issue when revenue can charge at the 'local' price, that is true, but very uncommon. That rule is there for a different reason altogether, it is to stop cheap imports flooding the local market not to sting you on a 300 keyboard. I have shipped lots from the US and the biggest pain is if they hold it in customs and you have to do the clearance forms, that's unlikely to happen on a $300 item. You are looking at around $100 shipping and $75 for duty an vat. It's not much of a saving but and lots of hassle, question is, is it worth the pain?

CyberGranny

Hi Smokiebeverage,

Thanks for your informative post. It is a full 88 key keyboard and the USPS shipping cost should be about $130. As I indicated above I was once stung and forced to pay at an escalated rate, but the item wasn't delivered by An Post. Does An Post deliver items shipped via USPS or do they use GLS?

I'm just after reading that you are allowed to bring back with you items up to €430 with having to pay VAT, so I may check it on the plane, although because of the size it will cost more money - $200 for an ovewrsized package, and according to http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/travel_to_ireland/customs_regulations_for_travellers.html as long as all of my items don't exceed €430 I shouldn't have to pay any VAT. That is assuming they mean €430 is my purchase price limit. And please note, unless I am not interpreting this correctly, this is the law, so it isn't tax evasion.

Thanks again for all the information!

Ravelleman

CyberGranny wrote: »

I have worked within the rules all my life, watching many do otherwise and I'm not trying to circumvent them now, I am just trying to confirm how much it will cost me and what is the most economical avenue.

I don´t doubt your sincerity. This is just something I say to everyone on this forum as I have seen a lot of threads like this over the years that go down that path and many end in the same way.

I hope it works out for you - if only my grandmother were as comfortable as you are with technology.

Dord

CyberGranny wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, but 25% on what, what I paid or the market value in our crazy over-priced country? If it's 25% of what I paid I don't mind and I'm still a head $300 + $75(25% of $300) + $130 shipping = $505 = €380 and it's about €550 here. But if I have to pay 25% of €550 then it's €138 + $300 + $130 then it equals about €460 and if they charge VAT on the shipping charges as well then it's about €485, still cheaper, but not really a bargain and hardly worth the trouble and risks - getting lost or damaged in transport and no warranty, plus I'd still need a 240 V ac power module.

1. So what do they charge the 25% against the actual cost price or the Insane Irish market price? I'd assume it must be the cost price, since if I was to buy it here for €550 that would already include the VAT, so how could they charge me VAT against the Irish market value?

2. Second, what are the odds of not being hit for customs? It's pretty big - so obviously more than the €20 limit, so I suspect I'll be hit. Also if I do ship it I'll have to ship it in the original box, which has all of manufacturer's name model number and details on it, I couldn't repack it since I'd never get a box that long and I wouldn't want to take it out of the original box since I couldn't pack it as well and that would risk damage in shipment.

Approx 25% on the total price you paid (item+shipping). As shipping is considered a service it's subject to VAT.