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Customs duties and declaration of contents

Do I have to pay customs duties?

Our tips on customs clearance

Shipping goods internationally means complying with the customs regulations of each destination country. No matter how trivial an item may seem, it may be subject to customs duties in the country of destination of the package (outside the EU). It is important to inform yourself about the customs rules of each destination country. Both the sender and the receiver are responsible for the goods being transported. We are at your disposal to advise you on your shipments. However, Mon courrier de France cannot be held responsible for customs taxes to be paid to the authorities of the destination country.

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How does the customs clearance process work?

Commercial shipments from outside the EU are subject to tax from the first euro. Items sent between private individuals are tax-free up to a value of €45.

Customs duties (usually between 0% and 20%) are calculated on the actual value of the item + shipping costs + insurance. This is called the CIF value (Cost, Insurance, Freight). Each type of product is identified by a 10-digit code (TARIC code) which defines the customs rate.

The Customs Service will base its determination of the actual value of your items on the declaration of content that you have filled (if it is a non-commercial shipment).

How are customs duties calculated?

Calculation of customs duties

Example of customs duties

Mr M sends a bicycle worth 1000 euros excluding VAT from Taiwan to France for a shipment worth 240 euros with an insurance of 12 euros.

 

Customs duties of 15% apply to bicycles imported into France.

The customs duty to be paid will be according to the formula:

 

(actual value + transport costs + insurance) x duty rate

=

(1000 € + 240 € + 12 €)x 0,15% = 187,80 €.

 

The customs duties will therefore be €187.80 for the import of this bike to France. The actual value of the bike will be based on the declaration of contents for customs.

Example of how to calculate VAT

The calculation of the Value Added Tax is based on the following formula:

 

(actual value + transport costs + insurance + customs duties) x amount of VAT (i.e. 20%)

(1252 € + 187,80 €) x 20% = 287,86 € = (VAT payable)

 

The VAT to be paid on this shipment would therefore be EUR 287.96.

 

In total, Mr M will therefore pay EUR 187.8 in customs duties and EUR 287.96 in VAT.

 

To this amount, you will have to add the processing fee applied by each transporter, which varies between 10 and 25 euros.

Examples of tariff rates

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