VAT and import duties from Japan | Selling on eBay

gian_793199 · 2026-03-18T19:42:39.505000Z

Hello everyone, I need to buy an item from Japan worth less than €150 (shipping included), so I should NOT have to pay any additional charges and/or fees upon delivery. In fact, this happened to me in the past: an extra-EU package bought on another marketplace, also worth less than €150, and at the time of delivery the courier still requested payment of an additional amount (as VAT plus something else). Back then I also contacted Poste Italiane and filed a formal complaint by email, but with infuriating candor they replied (on behalf of Customs) in a very blunt way that the package came from a non-EU country and therefore VAT had to be paid (as if it had not already been paid at the time of purchase). So much for the value limit and all that. Since from what I read online this seems to be a recurring practice, I’m asking for information on how online purchases of non-EU goods worth less than €150 work and how they are regulated. Basically, should I expect surprises at the time of delivery??

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VAT and import duties from Japan | Selling on eBay | eBay Italy