Buying beer in the EU and getting it couriered to Ireland - is this legal?

bobbysands81

Hi all,

Once all the required tax and excise duties are paid on alcohol bought in the EU, is it possible for an individual (and not an importer) buying alcohol to get it shipped by courier to Ireland (through a normal courier)?

Is this legal?

the beer revolu

"Once all the tax and excise duties are paid"

Above lies the problem. There is no facality to do this.

Short answer : No it's not legal. Beware of any seller claiming otherwise.

Alun

Is this an EU wide restriction or is it just an Irish thing? And if it's just for Ireland, why?

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058298216/buying-beer-in-the-eu-and-getting-it-couriered-to-ireland-is-this-legal

Never had an issue with this, fill yer boots...

https://www.mybooze.eu/

BeerNut

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120649381#Comment_120649381

It's EU-wide. The overriding rule is that taxes are due in the country where the product is used. The principle of free movement means they've had to put in a deliberate loophole, whereby if you are transporting your own goods for personal use, the rule doesn't apply. It's there so there's no need for customs inspections on internal EU land borders -- you would have to have them otherwise.

There is a proposal with the EU Commission, incidentally, to remove the loophole on public health grounds: stopping cross-border shopping for cheaper alcohol and tobacco, and making it a requirement to pay your local taxes whenever you bring some from another EU country. I can't see how it would work, but it's there.

bobbysands81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120649363#Comment_120649363

Yeah, I bought some beer from beerrepublic.de recently and, having my previous haul from there seized, had a fair idea this one would be too… so I emailed Customs and asked could I pay the duty on it. I was told that if it was seized it would be their decision whether the drink would be released to me or not and I mightn’t even allowed be able to pay the duty/fine etc… and keep the alcohol.

I find it strange that I’m not able to do this - why is the law constituted in such a way that I can’t legally buy a few beers from a different country (that aren’t available here) and declare and pay any monies owed?

At some stage I’m going to call in to Revenue offices and seek clarification on this as the officials I was talking to by email seemed to be under the opinion that it might be possible to organise this if you meet a Revenue official in person and before the alcohol is bought… but I’m not so sure.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120649589#Comment_120649589

I suspect that it's as simple a thing as that the cost of administering this for every person individually buying would be greater than the revenue generated.

BeerNut

If the company you're buying from did its homework in registering to pay tax to Irish Revenue you would be allowed to order from them. Chances are you wouldn't, though, because it's not going to be much cheaper.

L1011

In a decade of licence registers I have found a single entity outside the State registered with Revenue for liquor licencing.

Monarch Airlines of Luton. To allow them to sell alcohol on their Dublin based aircraft.

No online retailer abroad has ever been registered, and every single one of them mentioned here that has claimed to be all paid up has had someone get it seized afterwards.

bobbysands81

I’m not buying beer because it’s cheaper… I’m buying low enough quantities (maybe 15 cans/bottles) of beers that I just can’t get here… that’s why I’m very happy to declare it in advance and pay whatever duties are owed.

Beanstalk

So how do you declare in advance out of interest?

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120661698#Comment_120661698

You can't as a private individual.

sceach16

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120649416#Comment_120649416

I did. Had stuff seized. Others on Boards did too. Some are lucky......some are not!

Hotblack Desiato

Basically you need a licence to import alcohol - with the exception of what you bring back with you for personal use while travelling. This isn't just an Irish thing. There is no single market for excisable goods. If there was some place in, say, Poland doing cheap online cigarettes you'd face exactly the same issue.

You may be allowed pay duty and get your goods if they're stopped. Or they may be destroyed. It seems that Customs usually allow you a 'first bite' but it appears likely that if they find any subsequent shipments to the same person they just destroy them.

If excise rates ever get harmonised across the EU then the single market could be applied to these goods, but there'd be little point with no savings to be made - and most eastern EU states have far lower excise duty on alcohol and tobacco than we do and aren't inclined to increase it to our levels.

Baasterd

I have imported multiple cases of wine from Italy never a problem....mind you it did say Olive Oil and food on the boxes 😀