International Custom Charges Question

[Kristl Walek]

I apologize for using the forum in this way---but could I have the help of (non North American) members to tell me if you have to pay customs/duty charges for SEED orders?

And also, is there a maximum amount (your currency please so I can translate that into Canadian) that is allowed entry WITHOUT duty payments?

Thank you!!!!!

[David Pilling]

18 pounds is the magic amount, below that no duty and no VAT. Ornamental seed attracts VAT and seed for things you eat does not - cue appeal to the European court over marshmallow etc.

[Ewelina Wajgert]

If we import from USA small amount of seed, we have inscription on envelope: "non comercial value". In this case, we don't pay duty.

If we import plants for example irises, hemerocallis, peonies we pay duty and VAT from duty  that is dependent from value of the plants (in principle from value on invoice). We must pay 2 times for phytosanitary certificate once in USA and since this year in Poland. Lately I have received even letter that it is me not allowed to import plants until I have firm and take care of permission.  I'm

Whiteout duty we can import probably to 100 USD.

[Susan Band]

David, although it states on the tax website it is £18 it also states "With effect from 1 December 2008, customs duty will not be applied on goods with a value less than £105.
Bit confusing.
Susan

[Giles]

I recently ordered some seed from the USA (Sheffield Seeds) and had to pay VAT (not a problem) plus a £35 handling charge (more than the cost of the seed !!)

[Kristl Walek]

If we import from USA small amount of seed, we have inscription on envelope: "non comercial value". In this case, we don't pay duty.

I know one USA seedhouse that always uses that particular inscription on its customs slip, no matter what the actual value of the seed inside. Inside is, of course, the actual invoice; should customs ever open the package (which they are allowed to do).

The seed is of course "of commercial value" to the seller.

[Kristl Walek]

I recently ordered some seed from the USA (Sheffield Seeds) and had to pay VAT (not a problem) plus a £35 handling charge (more than the cost of the seed !!)

Giles,
I assume the handling charge was imposed by Sheffield, not by the customs/duty authorities? Did you require a phyto for woody seed- which might account for the handling charge?

[mark smyth]

Ewelina I also had a letter from Customs.

My package came with phyto $100 for bare root Geraniums and Pelargoniums from US. Customs in UK opened the box find everything OK and send me a letter to say I must have a nursery to bring plants from US.

[David Pilling]

David, although it states on the tax website it is £18 it also states "With effect from 1 December 2008, customs duty will not be applied on goods with a value less than £105.

See e.g.

http://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/bdotg/action/detail?site=191&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1082225059

less then 18 quid no vat and no duty, less than 120 (going to 135 in 2010) vat, but no duty, above that vat and duty.

There are companies in the channel islands which live on the no VAT band they split orders into chunks each valued less than £18. Then companies on ebay sell things for £1 with £N carriage.

A marshmallow was declared a biscuit and not a cake, so no VAT.

[Ewelina Wajgert]

Inside is, of course, the actual invoice; should customs ever open the package (which they are allowed to do).

The seed is of course "of commercial value" to the seller.

As a rule they don't open the envelopes. Do you need actual invoice inside?

However I never imported larger amount of seeds.

[Ewelina Wajgert]

Ewelina I also had a letter from Customs.

 Customs in UK opened the box find everything OK and send me a letter to say I must have a nursery to bring plants from US.

 
This puzzles me. Perhaps it is new regulation of EU?
I have told with my friend. He has imported some irises later as me. He has received nothing. It follows that the citizens are treated differently. I must admit that my package was very big because inside were plants for 4 people and I import every year something.
But last year was no problem. I'm very surprised and I don't know, what shall be if we cann't really buy no plant in USA?

The plants of friend of this friend go trough Germany, because they are big too. Then it is no problem - total nonsense.

[Giles]

Kristl,
-no, it was a charge levied by 'ParcelForce' (= post office).
They charged £35 for collecting the VAT for Customs.
The whole system is very hit and miss.
Sometimes you are charged, sometimes not.

..and I should add, they wouldn't release it from their depot (20 miles away from me) until I went down there and paid it.

[Kristl Walek]

Inside is, of course, the actual invoice; should customs ever open the package (which they are allowed to do).

The seed is of course "of commercial value" to the seller.

As a rule they don't open the envelopes. Do you need actual invoice inside?

However I never imported larger amount of seeds.

Normally it is the customer who wants the receipt.

Although shipping to down under, one *needs* a receipt, or at least an itemized list of what is being sent, so the species can be checked off against what was supposed to have been sent by AHIS. I have often had to email lists after the fact, when they have not been included (for seed exchange purposes, etc).

I just recently had TWO German mailings questioned by customs there that had "seed exchange" "no value" on the customs slip.

[Ewelina Wajgert]

Normally it is the customer who wants the receipt.
I just recently had TWO German mailings questioned by customs there that had "seed exchange" "no value" on the customs slip.

If it is seed exchange you don't receive receipt. I had never problems with seeds. I don't know what it's with seeds in Canada. I can write what it looks at us.

I had mail from my friend that the customs have questioned value of his plants. He has received plants from post and he had inside letter he should give within 14 days real value of plants to the customs.

[Stephenb]

Here in Norway, the limit is 200kr (about US$35 or £21) above which you have to pay both VAT and duty. Being outside the EU, this also applies even to Sweden. However, Swedish seed companies such as Impecta who send a lot of seed to Norway are aware of this and may even divide up the order into smaller orders each under 200kr.

Otherwise, we can receive up to 50 non-commercial seed packets free from friends (seed exchange) or from SRGC etc.  I was once sent 90 or so seed packets and I asked the sender to divide into two parts under 50 packets. Unfortunately, the customs received both on the same day and confiscated one.....