CUSTOMS fees and limits in our different countries, please add yours

[#1]

Buyers sometimes don't realise they are liable to pay import duties, so if you know the limit and fees (maybe an official link?) for your country, please add them here. It'll help us all be prepared! And of course - add to your policies if you haven't, that it is the buyer's responsibility.

[Former_Member]

excellent link socks, thank you. I've highlighted it!

[OvejitaBe]

In Spain, the limit is 22€ for companies and 45€ for individuals. http://www.correos.es/Contenido/02E-EnviarPaq/03-PaqInternacional/02E03-adtpostales.asp?pestania='E'

For more than 22/45€ limits you have to pay VAT (usually 21%), if it's more than 150€ you have to add import duty. In addition, you have to pay Correos for the customs processing http://www.correos.es/Contenido/02E-EnviarPaq/03-PaqInternacional/02E03-adtpostales.asp?pestania='E'#

At the customs form we don't have to add the shipping cost to the total value, only the content value. I don't know it they count the shipping cost if you have to pay taxes...

[TigersandDragons]

In France the limit for DUTY is not charged if the total value of the goods (excluding shipping charges and insurance) does not exceed €150.

The standard VAT rate for importing items into France is 19.6%, with certain products, for example books, attracting VAT at the reduced rate of 5.5%. VAT is calculated on the value of the goods, plus the international shipping costs and insurance, plus any import duty due.
So shipping cost is part of value.

I have not been able to find info. on if there is a handling/clearing/brokering fee in France, and what the limit you have to be under to avoid paying VAT. Maybe if my French was better, I could find the information in French

[TigersandDragons · Accepted solution]

Sandy has found a great tool on UPS website http://www.ups.com/ga/CountryRegs?loc=en_US
You can put in the origin country and destination country, and check "value limits" to find what they are for each country to ship to. So Any of us sellers can Use it!

Plus there's a lot more info on that page you can choose to read about prohibited items, gift limits.
I think some of the information won't be exactly the same as what you would get for postal regulations, but it should be helpful just the same.

FYI for France the limit to avoid paying VAT for shipments sent by non EU countries is 22 Euro, and shipping is part of value.

[Former_Member]

thanks Tigers

[Former_Member]

I saw another thread yesterday from a dismayed seller whose UK buyer was dismayed to discover she had to pay VAT (value added tax) on delivery. It just isn't something people think about until it happens, so it's good to be clear in our listings/policies.

[inthemoodforleather]

Hi people!
I'm new to this team, but what I just read is one of the most important piece of info I've found in a team yet!

Thanks, I've been unable to figure out how all this fee's question works out, and now I know where to start!
Thanks!

[TigersandDragons]

Had a customer from Sweden, who wanted their order to be marked "gift", because it is shipping to another party.
So I went to the UPS site to read up on limits and rules to Sweden
.
Found this very interesting paragraph:
"In addition to a detailed description of each item, write additional comments of "gift" or "gift shipment" on the invoice and in the Special Instructions box of the UPS Waybill to insure a proper assessment of duties and taxes.
If products and shipping are ordered in a gift shop or on the internet, the name of the gift giver must be on the invoice to be considered a gift shipment."

So to Sweden at least, it is acceptable for me to mark this shipment as a gift.

[Former_Member]

bizarre - but generous of the swedes!

[Former_Member]

NZ duty and GST calculator

http://www.whatsmyduty.org.nz/

only have to pay either when value of duty & GST exceeds $60 NZ$ (incl cost of freight) about $370 NZ$

[KnitsByNat]

Have any of you heard about the Canada-EU "free trade" agreement?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/eu-harper/article14924915/

Wonder how this will actually impact custom fees.

[planettreasures]

I have a very angry customer at the moment because she had to pay VAT in the UK for some items.
She wants me to cover the cost. I know I'm not obliged to but I don't have anything in my policies about it.
As Anne said, I think it's because we don't think too much about import taxes here....
I will definitely amend my policies now.
But I'm not sure how to respond to the customer - I dont want bad feedback like the other seller mentioned.

[TigersandDragons]

Well you can try to politely point out that it is their British government who has taxed them for importing goods, this fee did not come from you.

-That you are required by your government's laws to fill out the customs form accurately as to value and contents on all exports, and you complied with that law.

- Each country has it's own complex laws, rules, export-free limits and fees (taxes/duties) when it comes to importing goods to protect their own industries and local economy. It is impossible for you to be an expert in all of these. These complex laws/rules/limits are ever changing as well.

You have good feedback, so I think you could handle a negative. I don't think you should pay the fees, I never would, but for some buyers, that is the only way they wouldn't leave a neg.
You can leave a response if they give a low rating.

I would be fighting hard with myself because I would also want to write something to the effect that if they want to continue to buy items from outside their country, it would be best if they investigated what the UK Customs laws are that could affect these shipments.
That you have customers in Canada, Germany, etc. who are willing to pay whatever additional taxes and fees that their country charges them to receive goods they cannot get locally.

[TigersandDragons]

Don't just amend your policies Tess, because so many buyers never read those. Also put it in your checkout message. It will be on their screen as they are going through checkout, it will be printed on their Etsy invoice.

Here is mine:
UK & INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Please be aware that you will be responsible for any taxes, VAT, customs duties, handling/brokering fees or other amounts that may be levied by your home country for importing. Please check with your Customs office and/or Postal Service if you are concerned about possible tariffs. Our government requires a customs declaration of value form on all parcels leaving Canada.

[planettreasures]

Thanks tigersanddragons.
You are right - I went through all those things in my head.
I also did say that I couldn't send anything without it being weighed and checked by the post office.
And that the tax is levied by their government and that there is nothing I can do about it. That I'm not obliged to refund anything.
But in the interests of goodwill I offered half of the fee.
I did fight with myself because I knew that it wasnt my problem but feel that I have indeed bent over backwards on this one!

I also should have said that is the buyers responsibility to find out what extra taxes and fees may apply - after all, ignorance of the law is no defence!

[planettreasures]

And including that message at checkout is a great idea, thanks for the suggestion.

[Former_Member]

Sorry on behalf of my nation, Tess ;-)

It is of course the buyer's responsibility, but it is such a shock the first time you get caught for VAT. It's not the actual duty I mind so much (though the £15 lower limit is just stupidly low) but having to pay an additional £8 to the post office so that they can graciously accept my fee - that is the bit that annoys me!

[planettreasures]

haha! Nifty, your apology is graciously accepted : )
I agree, that 15 pounds is very low and the post office fee on top seems excessive - but what can you do?

[Former_Member]

not a lot. they don't always collect, that somehow makes it worse. I bought some glass straws for last christmas from here, didn't get charged vat but should have. postman told me that they don't always bother. I bought a set of 8 from this guy, so well over the threshold
http://www.etsy.com/listing/98273535/glass-drinking-straws-4-piece-lampworked?ref=shop_home_active

[TigersandDragons]

Our limit is $20 in Canada (that does not include postage cost) with an $8 brokering fee, but the postal service has gotten incredibly lax when it comes to the brokering the last few years so I usually only get charged on higher cost parcels.

[Former_Member]

I always forget that Canada is even harsher with the limit than the UK. thanks tigers

[TigersandDragons]

Brokering by the post office better than it used to be - I used to get charged if a parcel was $21, but now it's only on larger orders. I've even had $100 orders not charged on rare occasions.

However, anything shipped by Courier is done to the letter of the law by the brokers, so that's when people who have been used to getting their parcels shipped by postal service get surprised, confused, and sometimes angry because they misunderstand the rules of importing. And the high brokering fees on top of the taxes and duties don't help either.

From what I've read here on Etsy, I believe that Royal Post is currently more vigilant than Canada Post when it comes to brokering and collecting those taxes and fees.

[Former_Member]

yeah, I think they've tightened up. that'll be because they've just sold the farm.

[TigersandDragons]

? Does Royal Post no longer belong to the government?

[Former_Member]

nope - the government sold royal mail off last year. unbelievably.