For all you importers, Customs crackdown

Red Nissan

There have been a few posts about customs and some unusual activity, this is seemingly a seasonal thing, but customs have a whole force of extra people, presumably those taken on for the household tax who are now stopping everthing form outside the EU and charging for it, even if it's under the import limit.

Post your sad stories.

Had to pay €30 to postie this AM for muscle supplement from the USA today, been importing this for five years already, postie said customs have a whole brigade of people opening everything.

Doc Ruby

Is it drugs related, something to do with the silk road or similar sites maybe? I was thinking about buying in some strike anywhere matches as they aren't sold here, probably won't now.

seanp_25

I've something in customs now (Chinese electronics) since last week according to the tracking on it.

How is the customs duty calculated? Is it a fixed % of the value of what's being imported?

How long does it take something to go through customs?

imtdub

This is from Revenue leaflet.

"8 Gifts

Customs duty and VAT is not payable on consignments of a value not exceeding €45 sent as gifts by private individuals for the personal or family use of private individuals. The provisions of Para. 2 of O.I. 107/05 are to be observed. Relief from VAT does not apply in the case of tobacco products, alcohol/alcoholic beverages, perfumes or toilet waters and the limits set out at Para. 3 of O.I. 107/05 relating to the relief from Customs duty on those goods are to be observed. Where, after excluding the value of goods which qualified for the relief set out above, the total value of the remainder of the dutiable goods contained in a gift consignment does not exceed €350, Customs duty should be charged on the balance at the standard rate of 3.5% or the relevant tariff rate, whichever is the lower.2

Goods of negligible value

Packages, other than those containing tobacco or tobacco products, alcoholic products, perfumes or toilet waters, up to a value of €22 regardless of their status (private or commercial) are admitted free of Customs duty and VAT under the scheme commonly known as “small packages” or “de minimis” relief 3"

anncoates

Red Nissan wrote: »

Had to pay €30 to postie this AM for muscle supplement from the USA today, been importing this for five years already, postie said customs have a whole brigade of people opening everything.

Trouser-muscle supplement, eh?

kneemos

A lot of customs are dying out sadly.

maximoose

All my counterfeit and illegal stuff seems to be making it here just fine OP.

Shiraz 4.99

I have ordered 4 items from China in the past year.
The three I ordered through China/Singapore/Hong Kong post all got stopped & I got hit with the 23% + €6 handling.
The 4th item I decided to pay DHL cause I needed it in a hurry, it got stopped also but I only had to pay duty on the fake amount listed on the docket.
It was a €250 phone so it saved me quite a chunk of change.

rubadub

Red Nissan wrote: »

stopping everything form outside the EU and charging for it, even if it's under the import limit.

if its under the limit they won't charge.

The limit is said to be €22, but revenue confirmed to me that for items at the current 23% VAT rate the limit is 26.08

rubadub wrote: »

I emailed revenue about the €22 limit, in some old threads I was saying the limit is higher than €22 in most cases and they confirmed it. €26.08 at the current 23% VAT rate. The limit was higher when VAT was 21%

Hi,
I was reading on revenue.ie that the limit is €22 until something is applicable for VAT when importing from online shops

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

Consignments not exceeding a total customs value of €22 may be imported without payment of VAT.

However it goes on to say

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.

So on typical imported items like a DVD the VAT is 23%, so if the DVD is €25 it is above the €22 threshold limit, but the VAT would only be €5.75 so is below the €6 limit. Am I right in thinking that this in effect means the real threshold value for non-excise items at 23% is €26.08 -since only items above this value will have VAT equal or above €6.

Thanks

Dear ***,
Your calculations in the example you quoted are correct but do remember that, if the freight costs or the VAT rates increase, the €22 threshold will produce a different result. This threshold is set in European Law, while the €6 de minimus limit is just a local practice based on administrative expedience.

Regards,


****
Customs Division

zl1whqvjs75cdy

How does it cost 6 quid to open a box, take a note of whats inside and sellotape it shut again?

biko

Hmm, I hope my submachinegun and five boxes of ammo makes it here from the states ok.

premierstone

Brayson Few Commando wrote: »

How does it cost 6 quid to open a box, take a note of whats inside and sellotape it shut again?

The €6 handling fee is charged by An Post not Customs.

rubadub

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

How does it cost 6 quid to open a box, take a note of whats inside and sellotape it shut again?

Couriers usually charge more, I think the legal limit is €15.

I can easily see the admin being €6, I'm guessing you ever worked in admin or processed sales orders, there is obviously a lot more to it than what you describe, money collection, postman calling to you etc. There are ways you can pay the duty in advance yourself so avoid this, personally the free time I would spend organizing this would not be worth the €6 saving.

Capt'n Midnight

rubadub wrote: »

if its under the limit they won't charge.

The limit is said to be €22, but revenue confirmed to me that for items at the current 23% VAT rate the limit is 26.08

€22 + 23% VAT = €27.07

Don't forget the €22 also includes the cost of postage and packing if listed.

wazky

biko wrote: »

Hmm, I hope my submachinegun and five boxes of ammo makes it here from the states ok.

Should be fine as long as you don't go shooting a cat with it.

rubadub

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

€22 + 23% VAT = €26.07

€22+23%=€27.06

They officially do not collect if the VAT is below €6, that's where my figure comes from.

Missyelliot2

Can you ask the sender to value it at less than the cut-off amount?

imtdub

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

Can you ask the sender to value it at less than the cut-off amount?

It's upto you, you can always try that. But folks at customs are not muppets either, they can easily cop-on if something is of higher value.

Khannie

Missyelliot2 wrote: »

Can you ask the sender to value it at less than the cut-off amount?

Customs demand proof of price paid (by receipt or the like).

imtdub

Khannie wrote: »

Customs demand proof of price paid (by receipt or the like).

You can get around that easily, by breaking it into two payments or something like that. Far-east suppliers are very accommodating :rolleyes:.

Gauge

Stung for €14 this morning, postie had a bit of an attitude about it too, guess they're expecting abuse because he immediately pointed to the receipt and told me to direct any complaints to the number.

The VAT isn't the end of the world but the €6 'An Post' fee was what really annoyed me, made up almost half the total charge.

stmol32

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

I have ordered 4 items from China in the past year.

Pandas?

Eight Ball

Just another part of living in the rip off republic. Thankfully is you know what you are doing there are as always ways around paying.

donegal__road

use Parcel Motel.

Shop online anywhere in the world, and collect at your nearest Parcel Motel for a small fee.

Mark Twain

The market is definetly there for a new generation of hard-living smugglers who will land their goods by sea. Like the type The Famous Five and The Adventerous Four would bring down in Enid Blyton books. Only the modern day smugglers will have guns, and will shoot Timmy and Julian in the head.

dxhound2005

Something else to be aware of. The postage paid is added to the value of the goods. Then any duty is calculated on that total. And then VAT is calculated on the overall total, goods plus postage plus duty. And then An Post add €6. Well worth seeking out alternatives at home or at least inside the EU before sending off to China for an apparent bargain.

BabyGorilla

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Something else to be aware of. The postage paid is added to the value of the goods. Then any duty is calculated on that total. And then VAT is calculated on the overall total, goods plus postage plus duty. And then An Post add €6.

WHAT ! the miserable bastards.

(probably doing more harm than good for work related equipment)

crazygeryy

Gauge wrote: »

Stung for €14 this morning, postie had a bit of an attitude about it too, guess they're expecting abuse because he immediately pointed to the receipt and told me to direct any complaints to the number.

The VAT isn't the end of the world but the €6 'An Post' fee was what really annoyed me, made up almost half the total charge.

Maybe he had an attitude because you were pissed off having to pay it?it's not posties fault he just delivers the stuff he doesn't make the rules.

MonstaMash

donegal__road wrote: »

use Parcel Motel.

Shop online anywhere in the world, and collect at your nearest Parcel Motel for a small fee.

Just a heads up as I had an issue with this...

What happens if there is VAT and/or Duty due on my item?
Please ensure that any charges payable are paid in advance of delivery. Parcel Motel will not accept responsibility for payment of any VAT or Duty charges due on items delivered. If the postal operator or courier asks for cash on delivery, your item will be refused by us. :eek:

http://www.parcelmotel.com/faqs.html

Mr Whirly

Good news for retailers.

eamonnq

donegal__road wrote: »

use Parcel Motel.

Shop online anywhere in the world, and collect at your nearest Parcel Motel for a small fee.

Bear in mind that if UK customs put a charge on your parcel bound for Parcel Motel, that Parcel Motel will not pay any charges and your item will be refused.

gobnaitolunacy

Mark Twain wrote: »

The market is definetly there for a new generation of hard-living smugglers who will land their goods by sea. Like the type The Famous Five and The Adventerous Four would bring down in Enid Blyton books. Only the modern day smugglers will have guns, and will shoot Timmy and Julian in the head.

Or force them at gunpoint to take packets of funky talcum powder in their lugggae.

Gauge

crazygeryy wrote: »

Maybe he had an attitude because you were pissed off having to pay it?it's not posties fault he just delivers the stuff he doesn't make the rules.

I wasn't at all p1ssed off. He literally arrived at the door, asked my name and greeted me with 'Right, I'll need €13.92 from you and before you ask no I don't have any change.'

hatrickpatrick

Mark Twain wrote: »

The market is definetly there for a new generation of hard-living smugglers who will land their goods by sea. Like the type The Famous Five and The Adventerous Four would bring down in Enid Blyton books. Only the modern day smugglers will have guns, and will shoot Timmy and Julian in the head.

All together now:

Weeeeeeeeeeeee drink and we pillage and we do what we please
We get all that we want for free!
We'll kick your ass and **** your lass,
Somalian pirates we.
So with a Yo Ho Ho! (Yo ho ho)
And with a Yee Hee Hee! (Yee hee hee)
We'll take to the African sea!
We'll brave the squalls and bust your balls,
Somalian pirates we.
Somalian pirates we!

Weeeeee left our homes and we left our mothers,
To go on a pillaging spree.
We'll cut off your ears and break your toes
And make you drink our pee...
And if you sail into our waters,
You best hear this decree!
We'll take your boat, set your ass afloat,
Somalian pirates we.

So with a Yo Ho Ho! (Yo ho ho)
And trick-a-latté-do! (Trick-a-latté-do)
We'll shoot you in the face with glee,
Then we'll cut off your c***
And feed it to a croc,
Somalian pirates we!
SOMALIAN PIRATES WEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Miaireland

I had my first item stopped by customs this week. To be fair when I buy from outside the EU I always budget for the extra cost but this week was the first time I ever had to pay.

The thing I found odd was I got the item delivered to work. I had left some money with a workmate in case the item arrived on my day off (which of course it did) to pay for the custom charge if it had been stopped and I was not there. However she said that the postman demanded that she ring me to see if I wanted to pay the charge instead of just taking the money from her. She said that he stood over her until she spoke to me.

Nodster

I detest peeps who take drugs....expecially Customs

Red Nissan

Mr Whirly wrote: »

Good news for retailers.

No, actually, not necessarily, I've just ordered two items, both from China, one is drop shipping from the UK.

Assuming the quality is right, one will still pay 60% more to a typical retail store against the best Chinese Shops and paying the full duties due on landing, some Chinese Stores do charge the EU VAT.

One such stores refunded in full the amount I had paid after a similar crackdown a few years ago. Items since then have arrived no problem.

Red Nissan

Gauge wrote: »

I wasn't at all p1ssed off. He literally arrived at the door, asked my name and greeted me with 'Right, I'll need €13.92 from you and before you ask no I don't have any change.'

I've sent them away before with this attitude. It's unacceptable IMO. And I don't think it is the local postie's job either in fact. There was a time I'd get a letter stating a package was available for collection or delivery with such and such a charge, if you wish it delivered please have correct amount for the post person.

All of a sudden they just turn up at your door demanding money.

eamonnq

Red Nissan wrote: »

I. And I don't think it is the local postie's job either in fact.

I am fairly sure it is.

crazygeryy

Red Nissan wrote: »

I've sent them away before with this attitude. It's unacceptable IMO. And I don't think it is the local postie's job either in fact. There was a time I'd get a letter stating a package was available for collection or delivery with such and such a charge, if you wish it delivered please have correct amount for the post person.

All of a sudden they just turn up at your door demanding money.

the postie gets the package.the customs charge is on it.he cannot hand over that package unless the customs charge is paid by the Receiver in cash or by cheque.or if the person wants,they can collect it and pay the charge at their convenience at the local post office.
my uncle is a postie.
and it sounds like someone has an attitude and it aint the postie.
"sent them away":rolleyes:

Sh1tbag OToole

Great news. Too much cheap flimsy crap coming in from China and the likes. Now if they'd only push up the import tariffs people in this part of the world might finally get up off their arse and start making actual stuff that is actually useful for people instead of selling the same cheap Chinese tack to each other for rip off prices. Eventually the "reseller economy" will collapse upon itself anyway but maybe our overlords can prevent it getting to that stage

Mr Whirly

Red Nissan wrote: »

No, actually, not necessarily, I've just ordered two items, both from China, one is drop shipping from the UK.

Assuming the quality is right, one will still pay 60% more to a typical retail store against the best Chinese Shops and paying the full duties due on landing, some Chinese Stores do charge the EU VAT.

One such stores refunded in full the amount I had paid after a similar crackdown a few years ago. Items since then have arrived no problem.

Depends on the item you're buying obviously. It will certainly help the retail industry I work in. While the items may be cheaper customers will still have to factor in the cost of shipping, warranty, time of arrival, vat and fees. Should be enough to deter the majority of our customers.

Red Nissan

crazygeryy wrote: »

"sent them away":rolleyes:

Yes, that was in response to another poster who was annoyed at An Post collection agents attitude.

I've seen that too, I import bucket loads, I've seen it all. It's often cheaper to get DHL, FedEx, UPS to deliver, EXCEPT, they often throw the package to the local postal service and don't deliver anymore due to airport landing fees and exorbitant rents on secure warehouses at ramps.

See, I'm being pedantic, but I still believe that it's not the actual postman's duties to collect these taxes at the front door on his daily and routine rounds.

The postman must not be subjected to anything that will cause him embarrassment for instance. And that is in the rules of posting. Ask your relative about that.

Red Nissan

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Great news. Too much cheap flimsy crap coming in from China and the likes. Now if they'd only push up the import tariffs people in this part of the world might finally get up off their arse and start making actual stuff that is actually useful for people instead of selling the same cheap Chinese tack to each other for rip off prices. Eventually the "reseller economy" will collapse upon itself anyway but maybe our overlords can prevent it getting to that stage

You might have a point. But historically, take cars for instance, it replicates all over actually, we made bad, poorly designed cars, unsafe and they were even more badly manufactured by lazy, strike thirsty, union card carrying workers who cut off their own noses despite their face, leaving customers with expensive, featureless, dangerous, and mechanically poor vehicles that glaringly allowed the Japanese to sell us even worse but better specified and safer vehicles at substantially lower prices.

Over time, these rust buckets outlasted the best we could make and they became industry standard and industry leaders at even cheaper prices to the consumer.

China makes good stuff nowadays, China is a big place and criminals can exploit technology and manufacturing like a Henry Ford's wet dream. Good Chinese products are to be feared and they can redevelop on the fly. To be sure if we asked any electrician to change a wire to fix a fault, we'd have a blooming strike on our hands.

Fix the attitude first, work for half the average industrial wage, take pride in your labors and celebrate your employers success. Most of the Chinese rubbish is still markedly ahead of anything we can make and at a fraction of the price. Look up the iPhone story, it will open the other eye.

hansfrei

Ah heoire! What about all the thosands of Irish people working for e-day, all the hundreds of millions of euros they give to the tax man?

An all the tousands workin' in the pay-pal ?

Mr Whirly

Red Nissan wrote: »

You might have a point. But historically, take cars for instance, it replicates all over actually, we made bad, poorly designed cars, unsafe and they were even more badly manufactured by lazy, strike thirsty, union card carrying workers who cut off their own noses despite their face, leaving customers with expensive, featureless, dangerous, and mechanically poor vehicles that glaringly allowed the Japanese to sell us even worse but better specified and safer vehicles at substantially lower prices.

Over time, these rust buckets outlasted the best we could make and they became industry standard and industry leaders at even cheaper prices to the consumer.

China makes good stuff nowadays, China is a big place and criminals can exploit technology and manufacturing like a Henry Ford's wet dream. Good Chinese products are to be feared and they can redevelop on the fly. To be sure if we asked any electrician to change a wire to fix a fault, we'd have a blooming strike on our hands.

Fix the attitude first, work for half the average industrial wage, take pride in your labors and celebrate your employers success. Most of the Chinese rubbish is still markedly ahead of anything we can make and at a fraction of the price. Look up the iPhone story, it will open the other eye.

Fix the attitude? I'd rather we tried to maintain the idea of a fair days pay for a fair days work.

Red Nissan

This is taking my own thread off topic actually, but I've bought items from China for one cent and one euro that retail here for one hundred.

Is the one hundred euro item better? Undoubtedly, am I still using my 1¢ or €1 items, three years on yes, are they perfect? No, but they work and bring a smile to my face every day.

Red Nissan

Mr Whirly wrote: »

Fix the attitude? I'd rather we tried to maintain the idea of a fair days pay for a fair days work.

See, QED. Many Thanks.

annascott

If this is only happening in Ireland, maybe the parcel motels are an option. It only costs €3.50 for each item and you get an address in Northern Ireland ..

mattjack

Red Nissan wrote: »

You might have a point. But historically, take cars for instance, it replicates all over actually, we made bad, poorly designed cars, unsafe and they were even more badly manufactured by lazy, strike thirsty, union card carrying workers who cut off their own noses despite their face, leaving customers with expensive, featureless, dangerous, and mechanically poor vehicles that glaringly allowed the Japanese to sell us even worse but better specified and safer vehicles at substantially lower prices.

Over time, these rust buckets outlasted the best we could make and they became industry standard and industry leaders at even cheaper prices to the consumer.

China makes good stuff nowadays, China is a big place and criminals can exploit technology and manufacturing like a Henry Ford's wet dream. Good Chinese products are to be feared and they can redevelop on the fly. To be sure if we asked any electrician to change a wire to fix a fault, we'd have a blooming strike on our hands.

Fix the attitude first, work for half the average industrial wage, take pride in your labors and celebrate your employers success. Most of the Chinese rubbish is still markedly ahead of anything we can make and at a fraction of the price. Look up the iPhone story, it will open the other eye.

Were cars made here ?

dePeatrick

mattjack wrote: »

Were cars made here ?

Would ya believe.....The Shamrock.....what an original name and wait for it....the colour was...yes you guessed it...GREEN.....(Just one actually, all the rest were white)

One little flaw, if you got a puncture on the back wheel, you had to drop the rear axle to get the wheel off.....:D

Found a fantastic thread here about the shamrock which has made me warm to it enormously

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamrock_(car)

There was a nicer car built though mainly for racing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TMC_Costin

And of course the De Lorean........but no, the Japanese are not worried about us competing with them any time soon on the car front

Apologies for going away off topic