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If this is your experience buying things internationally from smaller websites, that surprises me greatly. When I purchase items from US retailers in European c
by noodlesUK 7y ago
If this is your experience buying things internationally from smaller websites, that surprises me greatly. When I purchase items from US retailers in European countries, before the item arrives, I get a little slip to pay the duties on the item. If I don’t pay, the item doesn’t arrive.
- wolco 7y agoDuty is imposed at the country level. In my country things we make have additional duty but products we don't are not. I would assume importing milk might trigger 50% duty but receiving a dnakit from 23andme wouldn't.
- noodlesUK 7y agoMy experience has been that I need to pay VAT, as well as any specific duties for the category of item I’m bringing in. This can be a lot, as VAT is currently 20%. I’m okay with it though. Any item I buy locally have VAT, and I think it’s unfair if you don’t charge that on imports. It’s the beauty of a VAT that it won’t hurt production if you’re reselling the goods anyway.
- diffeomorphism 7y agoNo, you and the sellers are just committing tax fraud at a small enough level that nobody cares: https://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/DutiesTaxes/Pages/Duties-and-Taxes-for-Importers-.aspx https://www.sars.gov.za/ClientSegments/Customs-Excise/Duties... Amazon is too large to get away with that and hence charges you sales tax. The "small shops" can get away with it, but it is still illegal.