CUSTOMS INFORMATION
Hello, I apologize in advance for the fact that I’ll be talking about purchases made outside Ebay, but I have a few questions about how customs charges are calculated.
Over the last few months I’ve bought various items from a non-European online store without ever having them shipped.
Without noticing, the value slightly exceeded 150 euros and now I’m asking myself the following question...
...considering that customs applies above the 150 limit, would it be better for me to split my purchases into 2 different shipments (so as to pay only 22% VAT) or would it be better for me to pay customs on a single shipment with the higher value?
I should note that shipping costs around 20 euros; before deciding what to do, I’d like to better understand all the fees and duties that apply to goods over 150 euros.
Thanks everyone 🙂
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoGood evening ninonakano
Have you by any chance used one of those mail forwarding services that let you accumulate a certain number of items and then have them all shipped together in a single shipment?
Kind regards.
Anonymous User
OP3 years agoNo, I used a service that buys items from Japan, I’m not writing the name to avoid advertising it 😁
Anonymous User
OP3 years ago...maybe yes, I don't know how the service I used is defined 😂
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoGood morning ninonakano
Ok, the service is definitely the one I was referring to.
Basically, you pay them a commission to make purchases on your behalf from Japan; the items ordered remain in their Japanese offices/warehouses until you give them the go-ahead to ship everything to Italy in a single combined shipment.
To answer the initial question about how and what you can do, I’ll send you in private a few possible options you can ask them for before consolidating the order.
marioelegio
·3 years agoCustoms conventions vary from country to country and also depend on the product categories, so it’s impossible to give a single answer. Just as an example, for an agreement between the EU and Japan, tariffs between these countries are almost zero on most goods, except for alcohol and tobacco, where they are 16.5%.
It’s not at all easy to use, but the answers should be here: https://www.adm.gov.it/portale/dogane/operatore/classificazione-delle-merci/taric-classificazione-merci
hi
mario
Anonymous User
OP3 years agoRecently I bought some collectible cards from Japan worth 5 euros, and they charged me 3.10 euros on delivery for VAT, I hope this agreement is still valid for customs fees 🙂
marioelegio
·3 years agoThe calculation was correct.
Of the 3.10 euros, 2 were for Poste Italiane (minimum fee for amounts up to 22 euros) as postal charges for customs assistance, and 1.10 euros was 22% VAT on the 5 euros. Any other type of shipping would have resulted in higher costs.
hi
mario
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoPerfect.
So, going back to the original question, there is no need to make two shipments because that would mean paying double shipping costs and also something extra regarding customs duty collection costs and collection fees.
If he paid 3.10 euros on 5 euros
He will pay the respective 22% VAT amount for 150 euros or more.
And the rest (we estimate 3 - 4%) for the remaining import costs.
Anonymous User
OP3 years agoSo if I understand correctly, once the 150 euro threshold is exceeded, only an additional 3-4% fee is added?
When going over 150 euro, are there other taxes applied besides VAT and customs?
Are we sure there won’t still be any other taxes or possible additional customs procedures? 🙂
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoYou always pay that 25 - 26% for each shipment.
If you order for 150 euro you’ll pay roughly 39 euro
If you order for 200 euro you’ll still pay about 26% and so on.
Even if you order for 50 euro you’ll still pay about 26% in taxes.
That’s why you don’t need to make two shipments to split the amounts.
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoIf we want to be precise, the rule would be this:
From July 1, 2021, the exemption limit on shipments no longer exists and VAT and DUTIES must also be paid on products with a value under €22. Products with a total value under €150 will not incur duty collection, but only VAT payment.
But I have ended up paying more for amounts over 150 euros, so don't take it as gospel.
To be on the safe side, calculate 25-26% for any amount, whatever the figure.
If in the end you pay less, you can only be happy.
Anonymous User
OP3 years agoThanks a lot for the info, have a good evening 😉