customs duties/vat

edwardkiley

hello

I am getting my friend to send me an expensive electronic vapourizer from america. I am just wondering if I have to pay custom duties/import tax/vat on this item and if so how is it determined.

its a high tech vapourizer and its worth around 120$ but its second hand.

Calahonda52

will it work on 240V/50 Hz
https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs-traders-and-agents/importing-and-exporting/customs-valuation/index.aspx

edwardkiley

its 110V

Im not sure how to tell if it will work in Ireland?

so I take it I would have to pay vat as its over 45 euro

how do they value it?

Tow

As is from the USA, they take the ((Declared Value + Postage) + Duty (if any) + Handling Charge) + VAT

If 'Declared Value' looks reasonable they will use it, otherwise use their own estimate.
If the cost of 'Postage' is not declared or 'Free' they will use the cost of sending the package back to point of origin, from the point it entered the EU.

Have is sent by normal post and marked as a gift, the tax free limit is higher and An Post often dont bothered to collect it.

dennyk

edwardkiley wrote: »

its 110V

Im not sure how to tell if it will work in Ireland?

It won't work on the electric grid here; if you tried to plug it in, it'll damage or destroy it, and it could even shock you or start a fire if it has no built-in over-voltage failsafe.

You could buy a step-down transformer (voltage converter), but they are expensive, bulky, and the (relatively) cheap ones tend to be unreliable. If you do go that route, make certain whatever you buy is actually a transformer and not just a plug adapter, and make certain it is rated for more than the maximum wattage of your device, or else it'll burn out and probably destroy your device in the process.

All in all, you're probably better off buying a new or used vaporizer around here, though.

Captcha

https://www.vaposhop.com/vaporizers/portable-vaporizers/firefly-2/

This is a good one, discounted, new with warranty.

edwardkiley

Tow wrote: »

As is from the USA, they take the ((Declared Value + Postage) + Duty (if any) + Handling Charge) + VAT

If 'Declared Value' looks reasonable they will use it, otherwise use their own estimate.
If the cost of 'Postage' is not declared or 'Free' they will use the cost of sending the package back to point of origin, from the point it entered the EU.

Have is sent by normal post and marked as a gift, the tax free limit is higher and An Post often dont bothered to collect it.

The person was going to send it to me through USPS. He was going to mark it as free. what is the tax free limit for gifts? I thought it was 45

Tow

If it is marked as 'free' and is unlucky to be sent to customs (only some of An Post's parcels are) they will pull a value out of their arse.