Importing small quantities of beer

foxy06

I want to try import just a small quantity (3 or 4 cans) of a craft beer from Ohio. It's something that is not stocked anywhere else in the USA. So i was going to try find someone to buy it for me and send it to me but my question is will it get through customs? Is it illegal to bring in just 3 or 4 cans of a beer by post?

BeerNut

They may get stopped and you'll have to pay the taxes on them to get them released. Other than that it depends on the rules of the carrier. The US Postal Service will not ship alcohol internationally, for example.

BaZmO*

How much would the duty/taxes be if it did get seized?

BeerNut

Excise duty on beer is 23c x number of litres x ABV. VAT is 23% on top of that. Not sure if Revenue charges their own fees on top of that again; someone here might know.

BaZmO*

So a 500ml bottle of 10% beer would be....

€0.23 x 0.5(lt.) x 10(%) = €1.15 + a further 23% VAT? €1.14?

In fairness, if it was a beer that you really really wanted, that wouldn't be too bad, especially considering you'd be buying it a lot cheaper in the first place. The delivery would probably kill you.

BeerNut

BaZmO* wrote: »

The delivery would probably kill you.

Finding a company that's willing to take it in the first place is probably tough too.

BaZmO*

BeerNut wrote: »

Finding a company that's willing to take it in the first place is probably tough too.

Very true. I assume that's just down to the hassle of it?

the beer revolu

The vat and import duty (if applicable) is calculated on the cost of the items and delivery.

ie. The delivery makes up part of the total value.

BaZmO*

the beer revolu wrote: »

The vat and import duty (if applicable) is calculated on the cost of the items and delivery.

ie. The delivery makes up part of the total value.

Actually yeah. The Vat would have to be on the original cost too. It’d start adding up then.

foxy06

I'm not too worried about the cost. It's 4 cans of beer from the states. Even if it was €50 in tax I would be happy to pay it to get them in. It's a bit of a novelty/sentimental purchase. As you say it's finding someone willing to carry them is the problem. If anyone can help i would be very grateful.

blazard

if its novelty then just pay the charges, fedex as an example may have info on transporting alcohol

Peter File

foxy06 wrote: »

I'm not too worried about the cost. It's 4 cans of beer from the states. Even if it was €50 in tax I would be happy to pay it to get them in. It's a bit of a novelty/sentimental purchase. As you say it's finding someone willing to carry them is the problem. If anyone can help i would be very grateful.

Try a customs clearance agent. They will declare it on your behalf and pay the vat and duty due on it for you.

rubadub

Peter File wrote: »

Try a customs clearance agent. They will declare it on your behalf and pay the vat and duty due on it for you.

how much are they going to charge though, we are talking 3-4 cans of beer here. I would first be emailing Irish independent offies if they could organise it.

You can be stung big time. A common issue with DHL is if the postal costs are not declared they will estimate themselves (even though they can no doubt track numbers and see what it really is), the typical cost is about 90euro, so you get 23% VAT charged on that. Then they will slap admin fees on top too.

An post will officially not collect VAT below 6euro (or did in the past). The official import limit for normal goods is 22euro (but at current vat rates it is higher), but there is no limit for excisable goods. In practise however there really is, not sure if it is still popular but people would get a subscription to cigarettes sent from spain, a 20 pack could arrive each day and though excise was applicable they would not bother to collect it.