Yeah. I'm registered with the French La Poste and got an email about this which only today went through the hoops
and getting my head around:
- Purchase from outside the EU, VAT at 20% applied on total goods value, excluding transport. Paid at the point of
sale online by larger online retailers, or at the point of entry from the 1st Euro. No deductions or different VAT rate
unless it's sanitary towels or gear for disabled vehicals etc. etc. A Middleburn crank will get full whack.
Gift, purchase, used, unused etc. makes no difference.
- Customs Duty according to HS tariff code on the item and COO, including transport cost. Exempt if less than 150 Eur.
- Customes Clearance fee. Here, got to say "Vive La France!" - 2 to 5 Euro flat rate for small packages if paid on line
prior. If paid at the door on arrival, 8 Euro. In my mind, this is exactly how should be; a flat rate independent of value
since the paper work processing is exactly the same. It will be hard for other companies to beat this.
- All charges can be claimed back in case of returns........but good luck with that hefty one. Only a telephone number
supplied to deal with it! France being France, at least they have stated that most documents will be archived from
3 years to 6 years per importation. So if your purchases product does have a 5 year guarentee it is potentially feasible.
As we know. Sadly. That's it. There is no maneuver for swaps between UK and EU without being shafted by sovereignty,
and purchases for small low value items are on the back bench.
