Sent order to France, customer asked to pay 25% of the order value by customs
I had a customer contact me today that was asked to pay 45 Euros to customs in France for a 200 Euro order before the order is released. The customer refuses to pay and has said that we did not make it clear before they purchased the goods. I am Vat registered in France, company based in the UK and have an EORI number. The order was placed after Christmas on Amazon.fr, shipped in the new year after Brexit and when the UK-France border reopened. Are these charges correct?
I have just read on the import-export.societegenerale.fr website that customs threshold (from which tariffs are required) are 150 Euros. Does this mean any order under the 150 Euro value including shipping is duty free to buyers in France?
112 replies
Seller_2yqmdD0El7xRp
Sounds about right. €200 order. France VAT is 20% so €40 + admin fee from the courier company.
We have stopped listing in the EU as when selling items on those site the seller is responsible for VAT and duty paid.
However if a customer buys from Amazon.co.uk they are responsible for the VAT and duty.
Seller_qZO3ZCjoBXEeL
Unfortunately you have spanned the BREXIT transition.
Orders shipped after 31st of December are exports from the UK to France. As such, French customs see them as imports and require VAT to be paid, possibly duty also.
The threshold for this is EUR22.
Orders placed on an Amazon marketplace should be shipped inclusive of any taxes and costs. So A French order placed on Amazon.fr should not have required any payment to be delivered. Your customer is rightly annoyed.
The solution is to ship your .fr marketplace orders as DDP - there are a lot of issues around pricing, VAT and so forth and a large number of thread about this on the forums.
Seller_pn5QJRmGWDsJz
Thanks
Im not VAT registered,so,i don’t have an accountant.
Can you tell me from where i can get all the info i need for new Brexit rules?
I tried to hire a normal accountant,but knows nothing.
Seller_xUKHc5xSYJmI4
Hi
Could I have the HS code for the item sent and which form you completed with your consignment?
Seller_ucDsknTi80pw3
Is the item made in the UK or EU? If it is, under the new rules that item is exempt from import duty between the UK and EU. As long as you detail that on the export documents that should stop the issue. Obviously if it’s not made in the UK or EU then usual exporting rules apply.
Seller_0UsCN5pKkU6bJ
Be careful the 22 Euro limit does not apply in Sweden and Denmark as they abolished it sometime ago.
Seller_xUKHc5xSYJmI4
The courier usually arranges customs clearance provided you have completed and provided correct documentation with your consignment, this being invoices and completed CN23.
I have also noted that the HS code provided is changed on the 12/01/2020 but noticed your order was dispatched before this date. It also appears to me the customer is being charged VAT(20%) and handling fee for the import (Customs Clearance) because the documentation appears to have been completed incorrectly. Customs clearance is usually done by your courier.
This is area new to me also and I still learning daily before reopening the listings on the other platforms.
Just wanted to add I recently placed an order on another website and had to pay 20% VAT on the order coming from the far east and when I receive the order I will only have to pay the customs clearance provided the seller has completed the correct documentation. VAT is added at the point of sale.
Seller_SlXZyY9vz3zbX
I believe that the correct process would be that you should contact the carrier and pay the bill then reclaim the import VAT on your French VAT return.
I’ve had the same query running around my head for weeks but for Germany. I’ve come to the conclusion that sales VAT and import VAT appear to be treated separately which leads to double taxation. You have the claim the latter back on your VAT return. Unless someone knows better - there doesn’t appear to be a way to declare goods where (French) VAT has already been paid on the sale so that customs let it through without double taxation.
Seller_HbtEgJLFVZHWb
…before the order is released - what do you mean, released?
