Cost of tax - postage UK to France

[niemeyjt]

How enlightened! Swiss Poste stings me for CHF14 however I pay.

Some US vendors (BHP Photo, Hak5) off a prepay the tax option - which I always use. Sadly Woodpeckers don't.

[niemeyjt]

Just to add - the Swiss charge VAT (at 8%) on the item whereas UK charges VAT (at 20%) on the item + shipping.

[exile]

Just to add - the Swiss charge VAT (at 8%) on the item whereas UK charges VAT (at 20%) on the item + shipping.

As does France. I assume it is standard across the EU - VAT on product plus shipping + handling charge.

[exile]

How enlightened! Swiss Poste stings me for CHF14 however I pay.

It would be enlightened if it worked like that consistently; but it doesn't.

I suspect if a package arrives Royal Mail letter rate than you pay at the door but if it arrives as a small package you get an email - but with limited experience that is no more than a suspicion.

Further, each time I have paid on line the postie has not been informed and I have had to print out confirmation of payment for them to take away.

In principle a good system - but needs improvement.

[elsie]

There is an explanation here https://www.french-property.com/news/mo ... _to_france
and here
https://www.chronopost.fr/en/help/faq/w ... ulate-them
Make sure they have the correct customs declaration.

I now only buy things from Amazon UK (fulfilled by, not the market place) as I know they will apply the correct taxes, duty, etc. and there will be nothing more to pay.

[manonthemoon2]

Thanks for that link Elsie

[exile]

The Chronopost link suggests I should not have been charged VAT but I was. I think the link is out of date.

It is my understanding that the rules changed in July (1.7.22?) so that all goods cross border attract local VAT at all levels of value. (That includes EU cross border sales incidentally.)

[elsie]

At the bottom of the Chronopost page:
Mail order products are taxable from the first Euro (€1). The tax base is calculated as follows: value of goods + shipping costs.
The https://www.douane.gouv.fr/demarche/vou ... r-internet says the same.

This page gives the information for parcels from individuals https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/recevo ... articulier and mentions the 45€ limit:
Import from a third country to the EU to an EU state or to a DOM (example: Canada to France)
≤ 45 euros1 : no customs duty, no VAT
> 45 euros : droits de douane et TVA sont dus

[ajm]

Do recipients in the UK have the same problems with stuff sent from France?

[elsie]

Do recipients in the UK have the same problems with stuff sent from France?

see https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/print