Customs Tax

melon_collie

I've just got hit with a 21.5% Customs charge on a purchase that I made online. Fair enough, I paided the courier no questions asked. However, from looking at the invoice I seem to have been charged incorrectly. I was charged 21.5% of €81, when it should be $81. This can't be correct???? Can I contect the courier for a refund??

Mataguri

melon_collie wrote: »

I've just got hit with a 21.5% Customs charge on a purchase that I made online. Fair enough, I paided the courier no questions asked. However, from looking at the invoice I seem to have been charged incorrectly. I was charged 21.5% of €81, when it should be $81. This can't be correct???? Can I contect the courier for a refund??

Do it say on the invoice that it was 21% of €81 or did you come to this conclusion because of the charge amount? I only ask because most people seem to be unaware that couriers charge a handling fee (€15 I think), plus you also pay customs on the shipping cost.

melon_collie

I was charged €17.48, which was 21.5% of €81. However, the total amount that I paid through paypal for the goods and shipping was €49.65. Surely I should have been charged 21.5% of €49.65? Is there anything I can do about this?

Beasty

melon_collie wrote: »

I was charged €17.48, which was 21.5% of €81. However, the total amount that I paid through paypal for the goods and shipping was €49.65. Surely I should have been charged 21.5% of €49.65? Is there anything I can do about this?

As Mataguri said, whoever delivers the item charges a handling fee. Depending on what the item was, there may be import duty, as well as the VAT of 21.5% on top of that

Does the paperwork break down the charge in any way?

melon_collie

I'm just looking at the DHL invoice here and there's a 2% surcharge which I presume is the fee charged by DHL. That amounts to 35 cent. The Customs Import VAT is 17.48 euros. That is the complete breakdown.