slinch Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Though about posting this in the everything else board, but this greatly affects many of us, so maybe it fits here as well. Mods feel free to move it if necessary. So I just read the news, that the EU commission is planning to remove import VAT exemption for purchases outside EU, meaning that instead of only packages above a certain value (22€ in most places) getting hit by tax, all packages will be taxed from now on. A huge bummer if/when this ends up happening. Quote Action against VAT fraud from outside the EU: Small consignments imported into the EU that are worth less than €22 are currently exempt from VAT. With around 150 million parcels imported free of VAT into the EU each year, this system is open to massive fraud and abuse, creating major distortions against EU business. Firstly, EU businesses are put at a clear disadvantage since unlike their non-EU competitors, they are liable to apply VAT from the first eurocent sold. Secondly, imported high-value goods such as smartphones and tablets are consistently undervalued or wrongly described in the importation paperwork in order to benefit from this VAT exemption. The Commission has therefore decided to remove this exemption. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-4010_en.htm EHughes527 and rogeoa8 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHughes527 Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Good read thx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nico Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Shittiest thing I have read all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesi Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 (edited) Well, that sucks big time. Just a few months ago our national postal office decided that they will tack on an additional 15€ fee to any package you have to pay VAT on (for their hard work reading the customs declaration), and now this. Seems like in the future the only viable way to continue buying records from outside the EU will be to have a friend who will consolidate all your purchases in one big package, or to use one of those shipping forwarders who consolidate your stuff as well. Thanks for pointing this out, Slinch. Edited December 1, 2016 by mesi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vool Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 The only good thing about this is that I'll buy less... ....kidding, probably not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mourning Wood Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 would US sellers still be able to save EU/UK buyers some money by declaring the contents a gift with a value under $10? Obviously labels/stores/distros selling brand new records would probably not do this anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinch Posted December 1, 2016 Author Share Posted December 1, 2016 1 minute ago, Mourning Wood said: would US sellers still be able to save EU/UK buyers some money by declaring the contents a gift with a value under $10? Obviously labels/stores/distros selling brand new records would probably not do this anyway... Probably not, because the main reason they decided this is supposedly due to the deficit caused by customs fraud, which this fall under. Mourning Wood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzo Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 wtf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Because of postal service fees rather than the actual tax I've been getting records sent to a US address for ages. All UK postal services have been putting a fee on when they charge for VAT for a very long time so your £25 album usually ends up costing £40 with £5 of VAT and a £10 fee, some are much worse, Fedex springs to mind and their fee is something like £15 or £20 before you start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xfactor675 Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 (edited) I've been ordering from the US since '03 and in this timeframe I only had to pay import duties once. Guess I'm just lucky, hopefully this won't go through. On the side note I know that trade tax is huge force in the economy but in the 21st century it should be irrelevant by now as much as our depedency on fossil fuel if the human race had some common sense... Edited December 1, 2016 by xfactor675 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzo Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Yeah, i often spread out orders so it's lower then 24$. Only payed tax like 3 times or something in +10years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vool Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Been at customs at least 30x! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 You either bundle them and pay the tax or pay more in shipping individual orders so you pay your money and make your choice. On the whole I find it cheaper to bundle them and pay the tax but it's no fun either way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nico Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 I always make sure, I keep it under 22 euros. Plus I am not against paying tax if I have too, but those ridiculous clearing fees make it too shitty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniele Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Badder that bad... Badder that bad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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