1. What exactly will be more expensive?
If you now place an order at a non-European web store such as AliExpress or Wish, you only pay VAT on products with a value of more than 22 euros. For cheaper orders, such as a case of 7 euros, you do not currently pay VAT.
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This will change from July 1. The European Union will then apply new import rules for all products that you buy outside the EU. This applies, for example, to parcels from countries such as China, but also to the United Kingdom due to Brexit.
When the new import rules come into effect, you always pay VAT, even for packages of less than 22 euros for which you did not have to pay VAT before.
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2. How does this work?
For every package that enters the Netherlands, a delivery service is needed that brings the package to you. Think of PostNL, DHL and UPS. Every carrier is obliged to submit an import declaration. This is also known as clearance.
In some cases, these costs are also for your account. They consist of VAT, handling costs and import duties. Handling fees are what you pay for the work of customs or delivery service to check the value of your package. You only pay import duties if it concerns a product that is more than 150 euros.
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3. How much more expensive will it get?
As standard, you will pay 21 percent VAT for a package, regardless of the value. For an order of 10 euros you will then lose 2.10 in VAT. Whether customs clearance costs are charged in addition depends on the web store where you purchase the product.
The webshop can choose to collect VAT directly when you pay. Then this does not have to be done by the customs or delivery service and you do not have to pay customs clearance costs. This is called the one-stop system. If the web store does not opt for that system, customs clearance costs must be paid. They differ per delivery service.
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With Post-NL you pay 4 euros clearance costs if you pay online and 7 euros if you pick it up at a parcel point. With DHL, the costs are about 10 euros. If you do not want to pay the costs, you can always refuse the package.
US reports that the well-known AliExpress has in any case chosen to use the one-stop-shop system.
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4. Why is it getting more expensive?
Parcels from outside the EU are especially more expensive because the current system creates inequality between European and non-European online stores. With the introduction of the new rules, there is a level playing field.
Martijn Hos from Thuiswinkel.org said earlier to Editie NL: “It is good that parties outside the EU are obliged to pay VAT. This creates a level playing field. The point is that prices become more equal and that consumers buy from the already good Dutch offer.”
According to Hos, this new import regulation also helps against expensive purchases and counterfeits. With cheap items you will end up more expensive because they are of poorer quality and must be replaced quickly.
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5. Does this also apply to a package that I order now and that arrives after 1 July?
If you have already ordered a package and the order arrives after July 1, you also pay VAT. So pay close attention to the delivery time if you still want to order a package from a non-European web store.
For items from online stores that do not yet use the one-stop shop because it is not yet 1 July, you will therefore also have to pay customs clearance costs on arrival at the beginning of July.
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6. Do many people have to deal with this?
From the most recent Numbers Thuiswinkel.org shows that in 2019 4.6 million Dutch people bought a product or service in another country. Together they spent 1.1 billion euros on this.
According to Just Hasselaar of Thuiswinkel.org, it is expected that this will be approximately 5 million Dutch people before the year 2020. So many people will be affected by the new regulations of the European Union.
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