AliExpress and Irish Tax

10000maniacs · 30-07-2021 9:56pm #1

A weird thing happened to me today.

I got an email from An Post stating that I owed €10.18 tax + €3.50 fees on a radio I bought on AliExpress.

But since July the 1st 2021, AliExpress have been gathering the tax on behalf of the Irish customs, so I already paid tax on the radio.

What gives here? Do I have to pay double tax on everything I order that is not in the EU?

Weepsie · 30-07-2021 9:59pm

No idea but customs and vat are different things

10000maniacs · 30-07-2021 10:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117685016#Comment_117685016

Irish customs call it VAT or value added tax.

AliExpress call it tax.

Either way, it seems to be the same €10.18 they are both charging me.

Weepsie · 30-07-2021 11:06pm

You can be charged customs duty separately to vat though, and a few other charges

10000maniacs · 30-07-2021 11:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117685232#Comment_117685232

They are both collecting the same tax due.

From the AliExpress website:

Information on additional charges

For items delivered from outside the European Union, you may be subject to additional charges for VAT and, when applicable, customs duties in your country. If AliExpress is obliged by law to collect VAT, you will see the VAT inclusive price at checkout. For more information about these costs, please contact the tax and customs authorities in your country.

GM228 · 30-07-2021 11:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117685023#Comment_117685023

This is a bit odd because AliExpress actually correctly call it VAT (as opposed to tax) and their receipts specifically shows VAT (again as opposed to tax).

https://service.aliexpress.com/page/knowledge?pageId=37&category=1000021915&knowledge=1060863305&language=en

con747 · 30-07-2021 11:38pm

It's most likely just a glitch in the system somewhere so get in touch and show the vat has been paid and it should be ok.

rm212 · 31-07-2021 1:07pm

Likely a case of the seller not attaching the AliExpress invoices/shipping documents correctly.

10000maniacs · 31-07-2021 1:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117686532#Comment_117686532

So which website do I go to so as to make my case that I have already paid my VAT on the item?

con747 · 31-07-2021 1:16pm

Try An Post customer service as they collect the vat.

31-07-2021 1:18pm

make sure to report this to Aliexpress also

obviously something is not working in the process somewhere

surely the idea is that VAT is prepaid at point of sale at Aliexpress so the An Post "checking" fee (and subsequent double VAT payment) is to be avoided

rm212 · 31-07-2021 2:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117686539#Comment_117686539

Send An Post the invoice as proof of VAT paid.

02-08-2021 10:58am

and ask an post how come the system is not linked up with aliexpress when VAT is paid there at point of purchase?

phester28 · 04-08-2021 12:22am

good luck with that. I emailed them at the ecommchargequery@anpost.ie They released the package but I never heard back why it was stopped or what was not correct on it.

I checked at work at the post room and I could find some packages that use a similar label system that Aliexpress use. But the main difference is this package showed Vat collected and showed the Irish vat number. Aliexpress labels still show the pre vat in my case in $ amount and no vat number or amount collected. So I think an post have no way to tell if Vat was collected or not

10000maniacs · 04-08-2021 4:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117702675#Comment_117702675

I know that a lot of the customs guys aren't exactly up there in the logic department but deducing what is the correct thing to do is easy here.

1: Parcel is from AliExpress

2: Parcel shipped after July 1st

3: AliExpress kindly collects Irish VAT on all items shipped from China to Ireland after July 1st and gives it to Irish Revenue.

4 So therefore let the parcel through. AliExpress have done the job already. Nothing else to squeeze out of anybody here.

Peregrinus · 04-08-2021 5:37am

I think aliexpress needs not only to collect and account for VAT, but to label their packages in a way that reflects this. Even if postal authorities know that aliexpress should collect and account for VAT, they won't - because they are rational beings - assume that it has always done so in every case, even if the paperwork aliexpress has issued for that case suggests that they haven't.

04-08-2021 7:19am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117694399#Comment_117694399

Assuming An Post haven't read the shipping documents incorrectly, this surely is a question you should be asking Aliexpress.

OP, Share the Aliexpress details with them, and let us know how you get on, whether the paperwork was accurate or not.

04-08-2021 7:33am

Aliexpress is only a platform for many thousands of different sellers who sell and ship the items.

Peregrinus · 04-08-2021 8:04am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117702945#Comment_117702945

Yes, but aliexpress handles the payments, and so is in a position to make arrangement in relation to taxes and duties which apply to all traders using its platform.

04-08-2021 8:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117703011#Comment_117703011

Aliexpress do handle the payments but it seems to be that the issue is very much about that An Post can't /or are not identifying from the item documentation on the physical item coming through sent by the sellers that the VAT is paid (and therefore stopping them and putting on the inspection charge)?

bren_mc · 05-08-2021 9:15am

I had a similar experience on aliexpress this week - VAT charged by seller but Irish customs looking to apply it again (same amount). I found this on the aliexpress website FAQ

Q: Will I be charged again when goods deliver to my country?

A: If you have paid for order with VAT in AliExpress, VAT should not be charged again by customs/logistics provider. In case you were charged again, please keep the invoice and submit it to customer service team to get refund of it. Please note administration fee pay to logistics provider cannot be refunded in this case.

Anyone got any idea how to contact customer service team.?

phester28 · 05-08-2021 9:30am

you should not pay it again, and in the first instance you should not look for redress from Aliexpress.

You should email the details of the charge from an post (for example) and and also a copy of the invoice to ecommchargequery@anpost.ie (in this case) they then should release the package. Until an post clarify why they stop packages that have vat paid so that we as customers can feed back to Alixpress then this will continue.

10000maniacs · 05-08-2021 10:38am

If somebody has paid twice It should be Irish customs coughing up the payment including fees.

Does the law of deduction not work anymore for these guys in customs? Or did it ever?

Package from AliExpress China to Republic of Ireland.

Shipped after July 1st 2021.

AliExpress collect VAT on ALL Irish deliveries on behalf of Irish customs since July 1st 2021.

Therefore by the laws of deduction, they have already got their VAT or worst case it is on its way from AliExpress into the revenue coffers, so let the parcel through already.

These customs guys annoy me greatly.

jimmycrackcorm · 05-08-2021 10:47am

AFAIR from my Aliexpress deliveries, it is the seller who attaches the customs labels which they have always done. However, I suspect they don't denote that Irish VAT is incorporated into the platform.

05-08-2021 1:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117708709#Comment_117708709

who? Aliexpress - it's available on the website in the "my orders" section

should get the "Ask Me" pop up and go from there and select the order in question

you will need proof of payment / invoice from An Post

they won't refund the €3.50 "inspection fee" though

05-08-2021 1:44pm

can anyone post a pic of the front of label (not your address) for something that came through successfully from Aliexpress ordered since July 1 with duty paid to see if VAT Paid is indicated on it?

phester28 · 05-08-2021 4:37pm

See attached, They dont indicate vat paid or a vat number. This kind of label appears common across the ali platform. Yet ali claim vat. So the buck IMO stops with ali poor labelling

con747 · 05-08-2021 4:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117711250#Comment_117711250

Is your phone number visible on that? If so delete it.

davetherave · 05-08-2021 5:05pm

Crossposting what I said in the other thread. You might be buying aliexpress.com but you are dealing with a seller, much the same as you buy something on ebay. It is just a marketplace for tens of thousands of stores/sellers.

It could be that Ali Express are collecting it, but the individual sellers themselves aren't including the IOSS number in the customs declaration so Revenue/An Post have no evidence that the package has come from a retailer/company that is registered for VAT and it has been collected at the point of sale.

https://service.aliexpress.com/page/knowledge?pageId=37&category=1000021915&knowledge=1060863305&language=en

For all goods shipped from outside of EU and VAT-collected by AliExpress, our sellers and their logistics operators will need to include the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) number of AliExpress in their import declaration into EU, this is to ensure that the goods can then be released for free circulation and delivered to you without being charged with VAT or any additional handling fees at the customs.

@phester28 just tagging you so hopefully you get a ping to this message, your landline is visible in that photo.

Esel · 05-08-2021 6:04pm

"Hello, Mr Phester28. I am calling from AliExpress in connection with your Irish VAT problem. If you give me your IBAN, I will arrange a full refund for you, plus you will receive a €20 coupon to use against your next purchase as a gesture of goodwill."

phester28 · 05-08-2021 7:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117711381#Comment_117711381

No that is a Chinese number

AliExpress and Irish Tax

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