Hey Dutchies, is there a way to dispute postage tax?

[Too Bo Coo]

The €12,50 is used for several costs:

De inklaringskosten die u betaalt als u een pakket van buiten de EU ontvangt, zijn als volgt opgebouwd:
•De kosten voor het opmaken van de vereiste douaneaangifte.
•Douanerechten, btw en andere invoerheffingen.
•Kosten voor het eventueel aanschrijven van de ontvanger wanneer de inhoud, waarde en gegevens van de zending niet overeenkomen of onvolledig zijn.
•Het vaststellen van product en waarde.
•Opslag- en bewaarkosten.
•Incassokosten.
•Administratieve kosten.

So the amount is not all profit for TNT........

DJ

I've worked in a lot of large organizations, there is simply no way on earth that it costs anyone 12,50 to 'process' this, however it is justified.  One can argue, the tax itself is meant to pay for the processing of the tax...  I'd find it hard to believe that it costs TNT even 6,25.... 

[the commissar]

I do sympathise - I remember what an unpleasant surprise it was the first time I got caught for this with the Royal Mail in the UK.

I seem to recall that these fees have come up on here before and someone pointed out then that the courier/post company is effectively acting as your import agent - responsible for collecting and paying the tax etc. I expect that if you were to arrange the purchase via an import agent the fee would be a lot more no matter how small the tax and duties were.

[Too Bo Coo]

I do sympathise - I remember what an unpleasant surprise it was the first time I got caught for this with the Royal Mail in the UK.

I seem to recall that these fees have come up on here before and someone pointed out then that the courier/post company is effectively acting as your import agent - responsible for collecting and paying the tax etc. I expect that if you were to arrange the purchase via an import agent the fee would be a lot more no matter how small the tax and duties were.

Of course one can argue that the actual international postage rates, which are not inconsequential, should cover this 'service' as it is not really distinct from traditional postal services.

[former user]

I think the problem with the tax is (apart from the bizarre handling fees) thet when non US people order from the US, they do not realize that the prices they see in the online shop are before VAT (usually, not always, and it is rarely notified). That means that US customers get charged the VAT on top when paying, whereas the others have the surprise of paying customs tax or VAT (whatever the arrangements between the respective countries).
So as a rule, US online shops should deduct the US-VAT (if they charged it) when selling to non-US-customers, otherwise it is double taxation....
I would always ask about the US-VAT in case it is not notified in the shop.

[Too Bo Coo]

These are from Johnny Castings, and I noted, he expressly wrote (non-taxable).  Gotta love that kind of vendor!   Oh, and the stuff is just top notch, so it was worth the extra 25...

[zizi666]

My mistake - Belgian Postal services are not fully privatised (at the moment) and we have similar fees. I errouneously assumed that Nl Post was also a government organisation.

True, but the private companies like DHL, UPS have to follow the same rules, so here in Belgium, the fee would go in their pockets.

[Too Bo Coo]

the americans don't put the tax on the sticker price in retail. No idea if online it adds the tax to american residents at the checkout.

it does