Fran wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:16 pm
I need to get the relevant TARIC Number which I presume is the new name for the former TARIFF Number?
Yes as far as I know. And there is a useful calculator here on the An Post website that you can use.
https://www.anpost.com/Commerce/Parcel- ... odity-code. In some countries they call this HS6 number, and I think in some places IOSS.
The seller should be advised of the correct TARIC Reference number and that should be entered on the Customs Declaration along with other necessary details
Yes, exactly
What then is the talk of 'Electronic Customs Declarations'?
For small sellers, as far as I can tell, what they need to do is make sure that the post office adds that in on the customs declaration. The idea is that one the post office the small seller is using enters that, then it should populate across to An Post.
fact that VAT has been paid and a reference number is given on the form
As far as I can see in their process, the presence or absence of the TARIC code on the customs declaration comes before they even look at VAT or tariffs. So you don't even get a chance to say that the VT is paid, or to pay the VAT.
that will open the floodgates and hopefully bring An Post to its senses.
It would be great to think so, but I think it simply involves cost/labour for them and they either can't or won't afford it.
From the USA I used addresspal and got very good results. The cost for the sender to send the parcel within the USA to addresspal was low. Then addresspal sort out the customs, I got a bill for VAT etc which was based on the smaller postage and item cost. Then a flat fee of 15.99 from addresspal. Overall this worked out much cheaper than international post from the USA. Also, bear in mind that since Trump stripped out the USPS, all international post is gone to hell.
I recently bought some materials for a speaker repair from Taiwan - they sent it last Tuesday by DHL. I got the request for VAT Friday morning, and the parcel will land here Monday. Postage was 30usd and worth every penny. So "proper" couriers seem to be the way to go.
Fran