Customs charge on second hand bag?!

Lunaarli

I just got a bill from customs for €45.42 for a second hand bag I bought on ebay that cost €190... surely that can't be right?!?!?

Kintarō Hattori

Lunaarli wrote: »

I just got a bill from customs for €45.42 for a second hand bag I bought on ebay that cost €190... surely that can't be right?!?!?

If the item came from outside of the EU then it is most likely correct. You are allowed purchase items up to the value of €22 which won't have a VAT charge. Higher than that however and you're liable for 23% Vat and they charge VAT based on the item AND postage price. It may also have included an admin fee.

muffler

Lunaarli wrote: »

I just got a bill from customs for €45.42 for a second hand bag I bought on ebay that cost €190... surely that can't be right?!?!?

I was charged €15 on a €44 tablet I bought last year from Hong Kong so yeah, Id say their figure is probably near enough.

Lunaarli

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

If the item came from outside of the EU then it is most likely correct. You are allowed purchase items up to the value of €22 which won't have a VAT charge. Higher than that however and you're liable for 23% Vat and they charge VAT based on the item AND postage price. It may also have included an admin fee.

God, I'm heartbroken!!
It was €199 inclusive of postage..

I thought I was getting a bargain... is there any way of querying it?!
Or can the postman miraculously lose the customs slip!?!?

Kintarō Hattori

Lunaarli wrote: »

God, I'm heartbroken!!
It was €199 inclusive of postage..

I thought I was getting a bargain... is there any way of querying it?!
Or can the postman miraculously lose the customs slip!?!?

Nope, it's really well documented- especially in this forum
It's unfortunate but you have to pay it. You know the old thing that only two things in life are certain, death and taxes. They've checked the package and have seen that you're liable for it.

rubadub

That actually sounds a bit low.

Bags are 23% vat. As you are above €150 there is also duty liable, not sure what that would be. Then there should be a an post handling fee which I think is €6, it is usually more if via couriers.

So the vat alone on €199 should be €45.77

Lunaarli

rubadub wrote: »

That actually sounds a bit low.

Bags are 23% vat. As you are above €150 there is also duty liable, not sure what that would be. Then there should be a an post handling fee which I think is €6, it is usually more if via couriers.

So the vat alone on €199 should be €45.77

So I should be greatful?!
I didn't think you had to pay customs on second hand stuff or has that changed?!

rubadub

Lunaarli wrote: »

I didn't think you had to pay customs on second hand stuff or has that changed?!

You do, just think about it, if you didn't have to then pretty much every business would be simply labeling stuff as being secondhand.

I think there are some odd exemptions like high value agricultural equipment.

Lunaarli

rubadub wrote: »

You do, just think about it, if you didn't have to then pretty much every business would be simply labeling stuff as being secondhand.

I think there are some odd exemptions like high value agricultural equipment.

Well the bag is clearly second hand though, well used.. dirty

I remember when i first started buying online back in 2000 I was excempt from customs on bulk buying second hand clothes..

So gutted.. Oh well, you live you learn (you stop buying needless clothes and bags on ebay!!!!!)

ElNino

Lunaarli wrote: »

So gutted.. Oh well, you live you learn (you stop buying needless clothes and bags on ebay!!!!!)

or buy from countries within the EU.

rubadub

Lunaarli wrote: »

I remember when i first started buying online back in 2000 I was excempt from customs on bulk buying second hand clothes..

Childrens clothes are exempt, could this be it? I never heard of any item like this being exempt simply by labelling it second hand.

rags & cloth are both standard rate, I did hear a story (possibly urban legend) of a guy buying in second hand levis jeans and labelling them as rags to not pay vat.
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vat/rates/decision-detail-01797.jsp

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/vat/rates/decision-detail-00586.jsp