VAT paid twice on non-EU parcel (private to private) | Payments and Shipping

lucmonell_0 · 2024-09-27T17:34:39.709000Z

Hi, I’m bringing up yet another hypocrisy..A month ago I bought a package from Japan and eBay, during checkout, made me pay VAT, so I should have been all set with taxes (package worth $65, so no duties were expected since under 150 euros there are no customs duties), but when the package arrived the postman surprised me by saying I had to pay, and I paid anyway (about 18 euros in VAT plus 5 in customs fee) and picked up the package. I contacted eBay and they redirected me to the form to fill out.After a day or two eBay replied that the proof of payment was not enough and they also wanted the customs charges receipt, which I didn’t have because they don’t issue it to the customer unless the package is held and customs contacts you directly (I won’t even tell you the round of emails sent and calls made before I could receive this document, which in total took 1 month..), in the meantime, before receiving the documentation, it happened that the item I bought had issues and after a few emails exchanged with the seller (very kind) they decided to refund me in full (item cost and VAT included handled by eBay), so the only thing I was left to recover was what I paid to the postman.I filled out the form again (since the ticket had now expired) adding all the documentation and found out that eBay can’t refund me that amount because the order has already been closed..They don’t explain it, but it’s possible to find the documentation stating that taxes paid in excess will be refunded up to the value of the same order; under normal conditions this is acceptable because in the end it makes no difference to the final customer, but when things like this happen???I have no way right now to request a VAT refund from the tax office because I am a private citizen..I contacted support again and got the exact same response as before, but this time with the addition of contacting the seller.. Now, since they wrote that they read my conversation with the seller, they know that he is also a private individual, so he doesn’t even see the taxes to be paid with a binocular, what is this incompetence?I would really like to understand how to solve the issue and whether I really have to take legal action for 23 euros...

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VAT paid twice on non-EU parcel (private to private) | Payments and Shipping | eBay Italy