Import Duties to the EU

[Former_Member]

I always mark my items as merchandise on the Customs forms when shipping outside of the USA (not Gift as that's illegal).

In my policies I mention that customs, etc. are the responsibility of the shipper.

My client says that she receives items from Etsy USA all the time without paying for customs.

How is this possible that items are being shipped from the USA to the EU without customs being charged?

How do you ship?

Stephanie

[Chanchala]

For the UK if the value of goods is less that £18 they don't charge. Also, I've heard that sometimes they ignore and don't bother to charge - but I got charged (as a buyer)!

Otherwise maybe it was marked as gift? Which is wrong.

[Former_Member]

I always shop from all over, and once I had to pay 23 euros for customs for an item that cost 40 euros.

I think it has to do with what type of item it is, whatever you fill on the form. If you fill the form for the item price+shipping then it's more likely the buyer will get screwed over by customs.

What always happens to me in general (not just etsy) is that customs charges the % assuming $ as euros.. then I have to claim in and the whole process is a pain.

[Former_Member]

I only do the retail value of the piece as shipping shouldn't be included so I'm okay there.

Can you explain more about your last paragraph? Didn't quite get that :)

[Former_Member]

In the Netherlands you don't have to pay duty if your purchase value is
€22 - $29.95 or less excluding shipping.

[PrairiePrimitives]

I've heard that if the value is less than $20 US, then an international customer probably won't have to pay any duty on it. Having read the comments here though, that does seem to vary by country.

I only put down the value of the actual item. Postage shouldn't be included in that, and if it is (and you're pretty sure of it), I'd be letting the seller know just so they don't continue to do that in the future. :-)