Item stuck in custom .. Bought from aliexpress 25.5€

gogreen81

Hi
I got a letter from customs that my online order of wifi cam was stuck on custom and I need to show bill
Not really aware of this rule as had only ordered few cheap things from aliexpress before
Not to avoid the tax but wanted to understand how much can exactly I would be liable to pay. It is 23% vat and 7 eur handling
Any chance they don't take money at all. My invoice show 25.5€ which is greater than 22 I know .
If I don't reply they might refund it. Can I claim money back from the seller as I don't want pay another 10-15 € on a 25€ item. I would buy it local here instead
Learning for next time .....

Looking for some suggestions
Don't mind PM

Am ok if the moderator wants to merge this thread but hoping I get a reply soon as I need to reply to revenue

Thanks

L1011

gogreen81 wrote: »

. Can I claim money back from the seller as I don't want pay another 10-15 € on a 25€ item.

No. Don't buy items from abroad if you don't want to pay customs.

rubadub

gogreen81 wrote: »

. My invoice show 25.5€ which is greater than 22 I know .

You should not be charged. They officially do not collect VAT of €6 or below, if the VAT changes the limit for this €6 changes.

At the current 23% VAT rate the limit is in effect €26.08.

But the limit includes postage, it is not clear if you are including postage in your price.

gogreen81

Thanks that's what I was wondering about the 6€ eur rule which was not clear .

the item was a free post and I hope it says the amount on the packet itself but I definitely remember that bill amount was less than 26€

Will I still be paying handling fee of 7 €
Any other charges I have to pay

Thanks for help
Good learning for me while doing online shopping .. Outside Amazon

rubadub wrote: »

You should not be charged. They officially do not collect VAT of €6 or below, if the VAT changes the limit for this €6 changes.

At the current 23% VAT rate the limit is in effect €26.08.

But the limit includes postage, it is not clear if you are including postage in your price.

rubadub

gogreen81 wrote: »

Thanks that's what I was wondering about the 6€ eur rule which was not clear .

the item was a free post and I hope it says the amount on the packet itself but I definitely remember that bill amount was less than 26€

Will I still be paying handling fee of 7 €
Any other charges I have to pay

There should be no handling fee as far as I know. You are lucky it is with an post, and not the shady couriers. An post will accept that it was free postage, as the dogs on the street know its common practise to include it in the price -but couriers may make up their own outrageous price which I presume is to get you over the limit so they can then collect admin fees. Some collect on a % of the collected fee, and so is again in their interest to make up a very high postage price -which you pay vat on.

I had to email revenue to declare a value coming through an post, it had "free" postage on the invoice. So in my email I said.

The total cost of the item, including postage, was $165.43 (which was €126.25)

I attach proof of purchase.

If the seller put down a stupid price like 10 dollars revenue will ask you to forward on the paypal or other online invoice of what you really paid.

I put down the genuine figure from my credit card, as if they used the rate on the day I sent the email it would have been more.

Stating a 22 euro limit is easier for them, otherwise when ever the VAT changes they would have to update all the associated documents, and complicate it with different vat rates if there are any.

ED E

Sending an email including the Paypal invoice usually clears it up. In your case it will be alipay.

Login to Ali, go to:
http://trade.aliexpress.com/order_list.htm
Click View Detail on the relevant order
Save page as PDF
Email to Customs.

They'll release it as no charge then, jobs oxo.

gogreen81

Thanks guys
Was just about to do this and realised that the amount was 27.29
I thought it was 25 something

Not sure what I will do now
Will they return the item back to seller ? If I don't reply within 14 days ?

Never goin to order anything above 22 now

ED E wrote: »

Sending an email including the Paypal invoice usually clears it up. In your case it will be alipay.

Login to Ali, go to:
http://trade.aliexpress.com/order_list.htm
Click View Detail on the relevant order
Save page as PDF
Email to Customs.

They'll release it as no charge then, jobs oxo.

gogreen81

Guys suggestions pls do they actually return the package?
I can claim a refund from the seller then or get the similar product but a bit cheaper

But only if the customs actually return

Thanks !!!

L1011

They don't return the item.

rubadub

L1011 wrote: »

They don't return the item.

Do you know what happens then?

I can't recall what was on previous notices and am surprised its not stated on the notification the OP got.

I know the usual parcels that go to a depot do get returned to sender if uncollected. I thought the last time I had customs charges I got that same notice with an additional notice saying payment would be due on collection too.

https://managingmail.anpost.ie/redelivery/RedeliveryTerms.aspx

8. Postal items with customs charges due can avail of the Service but customs charges must be paid on receipt of the item whether redelivered to You or to Your nominated agent. Customs charges cannot be paid online.

9. The retention periods for undelivered postal items depending on the item type are:
a. An Irish Registered postal item (originating within Ireland) may be held for 3 working days before being returned to the sender, day 1 being the day after the date of delivery of the “Sorry we missed you” form.
b. International postal items (any item originating outside the Republic of Ireland) may be held for 16 working days before being returned to the sender, day 1 being the day after the date of delivery of the “Sorry we missed you” form.
c. All other postal items may be held for 5 working days before being returned to the sender, day 1 being the day after the date of delivery of the “Sorry we missed you” form.

I cannot find anything explicitly saying uncollected mail with customs charges due will not be returned. I could not imagine it being destroyed either, the houseowner could be on holidays or in hospital etc and have not have seen any notification at all. If the person formally tells an post they are not going to pay I could imagine it may be gotten rid of.

Some places I have bought from said if customs charges are due to refuse to accept the package and it would be returned to them but this may have been couriers.

FreshCoffee

Revenue have a customs guide for items coming in by post:

www.revenue.ie/en/customs/leaflets/postal-guide.pdf

Section 13 says if you don't respond within 14 days to their request for a receipt then "the package may be returned to the sender".

I suppost that also means it may not :-(



13. Undeclared goods
Any information omitted from the customs declaration can lead to delays in receiving your package, as it will need to be opened to ascertain if the goods are liable to import duties. Generally, Revenue will write to the addressee requesting a copy of the purchase invoice for the goods or where this is not available a pay-pal receipt or a print-out from the internet detailing how much the goods cost. If a reply is not received within 14 days the package may be returned to the sender.

gogreen81

thanks guys.. special thanks to rubadub.
i sent the invoice details to customs. got a response within an hour..
not charged anything .. probably i was lukcy this time