La Poste email regarding VAT AFTER package delivery: What should I do?

Locked

Discussion interactions are currently paused.

Summary: julich-1219 ran into a double VAT billing issue on books ordered from the UK. After already paying the tax at purchase, an additional €23 VAT charge at an incorrect rate was requested when the package was picked up. After explaining the situation to La Poste and providing the evidence, they were able to collect the package without paying. Later, they received a standard email from La Poste about these taxes. koalagris advised that, since the evidence had already been accepted at the counter, no further action was necessary, advice that julich-1219 accepted.

Hello,

I need some advice.

I ordered books from the United Kingdom for 125 GBP, i.e. 146 euros. I paid 8 euros of VAT to Ebay (shown on the tax invoice) at the 5.5% VAT rate applied to books. The seller sent them himself via Royal Mail.

On the UK customs declaration label (CN22), the seller put nothing for "If Applicable VAT No" but did write "COMIC BOOKS", the correct goods category. The seller wrote the Ebay IOSS number (common to all Ebay orders) on the parcel in thick marker, and the number is fully visible.

The postal website was asking me to pay 25 euros (23 euros in VAT, at an incorrect rate of 20%, and 2 euros in handling fees). I opened a claim Saturday morning by phone saying I had already paid the VAT. My parcel arrived yesterday at the post office. I went to pick it up. I explained. I gave them the Ebay tax invoice. I was asked to fill out a customs duties and taxes payment declaration form to contest the 31 euros (23 euros + 8 euros in increased handling fees). They kept the invoice with the form. They told me I had nothing to pay. They gave me my parcel.

2 hours later, I received the following email from La Poste:

Subject: Following up on your request regarding the payment of your customs duties and taxes

You contacted us on the {!Ticket:Créé le;} to let us know that***** CASE 1: Request to pay customs duties and taxesyou were asked to pay your customs duties and taxes, even though you had already paid them at the time of purchase.The sender or their provider encountered a technical problem when transmitting the information to La Poste and French customs that you had paid your taxes when you made your online purchase.

When this tax payment at the time of purchase is not reported to us, La Poste must pay the import duties and taxes to French customs and collect them from you.

To be able to receive your shipment, we offer you the option of paying your customs duties and taxes to us, at reduced cost on laposte.fr, or directly to your mail carrier, or at a post office. You can then turn to the merchant site where you made your purchase to request reimbursement of the customs duties and taxes initially paid.

If you do not wish to pay your customs duties and taxes to La Poste, your shipment will be returned to its sender.

***** CASE 2: Double payment of customs duties and taxesyou paid your customs duties and taxes a second time, even though you had already paid them at the time of purchase.The sender or their provider encountered a technical problem when transmitting the information to La Poste and French customs that you had paid your taxes when you made your online purchase.

When this tax payment at the time of purchase is not reported to us, La Poste must pay the import duties and taxes to French customs and collect them from you.

We invite you to turn to the merchant site where you made your purchase, in order to get a refund of the customs duties and taxes initially paid.*****

The customs website (https://www.douane.gouv.fr/actualites/e-commerce-et-achats-en-ligne-de-biens-situes-en-dehors-de-lue...) also shows this: "I paid the VAT at the time of purchase from an IOSS-registered seller/platform, but I am being asked for VAT again in order to collect my parcel, what should I do?
In this case, you must provide proof of your purchase via an IOSS-registered platform or seller (proof of the transaction, for example) to the carrier who is asking you again for the VAT in order to release your parcel. After verification, they will correct the customs declaration for your parcel, and you will not have to pay any additional VAT."

What do you advise me to do following the email I received? Nothing at all? Go back to the post office and ask for advice? Contact customs?

Thank you in advance for your help

julich-1219

2 View listings

Posted 2 years ago·Last reply 2 years ago

2 comments

koalagris

Mentor2 years ago

View listings

Hello @julich-1219

You explained yourself directly at the counter, so the matter is settled and the proof provided at the post office when you collected it is sufficient (otherwise you would not have been able to retrieve the parcel).

The message received afterward is only the (formatted) response to your phone complaint on Saturday (as stated in their email), regardless of what you did yesterday...

Kind regards

julich-1219

OP2 years ago

View listings

Hello,

Okay. Thank you for your feedback. As things stand, then, I won't do anything unless I'm contacted again.

Best regards