Customs duties and duty-free shopping limits (Belarus, Russia, Ukraine). How to bypass postal limits correctly, and how much can you save on this? USA

For several weeks now, passions on the new legislation in the field of postal items have not subsided on the Internet (and not only on it).

We have almost 10 times cut the "value" limit on international parcels. Now for those parcels that "cost" more than 22 euros and weigh more than 10 kilograms, you will have to pay a fee of 30 percent. Moreover, the total cost and weight are calculated for a month, and there is no gradation among the parcels.

That is, it does not matter at all whether goods ordered from foreign stores arrived, or gifts from relatives, friends and other acquaintances. For all the same rules.

The exception is the EAEU countries (Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan): in relation to parcels received from there, customs control is not carried out at all.

What is the reason for such a sharp limitation?

Government officials talk about the need to fight illegal sellers who receive large quantities of goods not for personal use, but for sale.

Vladimir Orlovsky Photo: belta.by

Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee Vladimir Orlovsky cites the following figures as an example:

“Last year, over 250,000 citizens of Belarus received from 10 to 100 or more parcels through MGOs from online stores. As the analysis showed, these goods were imported for commercial use.”

In addition, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich believes that international parcels have collapsed Belarusian trade and created problems for Belarus, therefore he sees the protection of the national market in restrictive measures.

Why exactly 22 euros?

The answer to this question is even simpler: because such a hard limit is set in most European countries. We have no doubt that the Europeans are actively protecting their market, but nevertheless we decided to learn more about their best practices, as well as the experience of other leading countries of the world.

EU countries.

Almost all EU member states have the same rules, and they do include the amount of 22 euros. But! There is a certain gradation.

Firstly, 22 euros - the limit for those parcels that are sent from commercial organizations. For those that are transferred “from an individual to an individual” (that is, in other words, for gifts), another norm is set - 45 euros.

Secondly, the percentage of fees depends on the "value" of the parcel. Between 22 and 150 euros, only VAT is taken (the amount of tax is not the same for all countries, but fluctuates somewhere around 20 percent), more than 150 euros - VAT + customs duties.

The amount of customs duties depends on the type of goods. So, books are not taxed at all (by the way, they are only 7-9 percent VAT). In Germany, for example, mobile phones and smartphones, game consoles, digital cameras, and flash drives are exempted from paying duties. Tariffs range from 0 to 6.5 percent, bags - from 3 to 9.7, gold and silver jewelry - from 2.5 to 4, clothes - 12 percent ...

As for, at a cost of up to 700 euros, a reduced customs fee is charged (for example, Estonia - 2.5%). Naturally, within the EU, parcels are not taxed.

If we talk about exceptions, then the UK can be attributed to them: it enters the EU under special conditions and therefore applies its own special rules. True, only the amounts differ here, but not the approach.

Photo: dic.academic.ru

The limit for commercial parcels is 15 pounds (about 19 euros), for gifts - 34 pounds (43 euros). For parcels up to 135 pounds (171 euros), as in other EU countries, only 20 percent VAT will be charged. If the “price” is higher, customs duties are also added (again, depending on what is being sent).

By the way, one more nuance: if the amount of all additional fees does not exceed 7 pounds (about 9 euros), then she just says goodbye.

Switzerland

As an example of a country that is in Europe, but not part of the EU.

Here, the duty-free limit is quite small - only 5 francs (approximately the same in euros). All commercial parcels of higher value are subject to VAT (8 percent, for books, magazines, medicines - 2.5 percent) and customs duties. The latter are calculated depending on the type of product and its weight (most often less than one franc per kilogram), and books, laptops and other electronics are not subject to duties.

Gifts are limited to 100 francs.

USA

Parcels arriving here must be clearly marked "as a gift" or "for personal use". At the same time, for some reason, the “gift” limit is two times lower - $ 100 as opposed to $ 200.

If the value of the parcel exceeds the specified amount of $ 200, but the customs service did not see goods for sale in the contents, VAT is not charged - only duties must be paid: from 0 to 37.5 percent, depending on what is delivered.

Canada

In this country, it also matters whether a person received a gift or an order from an online store. The limit for the first case is 60 Canadian dollars (a little more than 43 US dollars), for the second - 20 (approximately $14). In case of excess, VAT is paid from the difference (the tax differs depending on the region - from 5 to 15 percent) and customs duties. For the size of the latter, the country of dispatch and the type of goods are taken into account.

In addition, Canada has signed free trade agreements with many countries (South Korea, USA, EU, Israel ...), so parcels that come from there are not subject to any fees.

Japan

The approach is almost the same, only with different amounts. Parcels under 10,000 yen (about $90) are free of any taxes and fees. From 10,000 yen to 20,000 yen, reduced fare applies. If more - VAT (8 percent) + customs duties from 0 to 30 percent (as in the previous examples, depending on the type of product).

In general, all countries protect their market and impose limits on international parcels. But, as it turns out, some people know what specifically needs to be protected and to what extent.

And, of course, they can boast of their own production.

When ordering goods from foreign online stores, the first thing the buyer should know is the customs limits of his country. Although Belarus and Russia are members of the Common Customs Union, the limits of postal items per recipient in our countries are completely different. This article presents customs restrictions for Belarus, Russia and Ukraine for postal items through state postal services and through courier services.

For Belarus

one calendar month to one recipient goods can move for personal use up to an amount equivalent to 22 euro (the limit is valid from 25.10.2014). Date X is the date of receipt of the postal item in our country (receipt at the temporary storage warehouse - a temporary storage warehouse, do not confuse it with the date the parcel was received at the post office).

Goods for personal use imported into the customs territory of the Republic of Belarus through courier services (DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, etc.) during one calendar month to one recipient, are not subject to customs duty within the amount equivalent to 22 euro (the limit is valid from 25.10.2014). However, these shipments must be independently cleared (declared) on the territory Airport Minsk-2 , as well as pay for storage at temporary storage warehouse and customs clearance fee - 5 euros. You can also entrust the declaration procedure to licensed customs brokers, for example - (the service is provided for a fee).

ATTENTION! On February 11, the President of the Republic of Belarus signed Decree No. 40 on changing the threshold of the customs limit to 22 euro . The decree will come into force on April 14, 2016.

Goods for personal use- these are goods intended for personal, family, household and other needs of individuals not related to the implementation of entrepreneurial activities.

If these limits are exceeded - 22 euros - you must pay 30%

Not limited number of parcels per calendar month, only their total cost of 22 euros is limited.

Payment of customs duty on postal items through state postal services are made at your post office, via courier - at Minsk-2 Airport.

Since the exact equivalent of the cost of the parcel is determined at the rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus at the time of the customs check, which is very difficult to predict in advance, highly recommended when making a purchase and calculating the limit keep a small cash reserve to fluctuations in the exchange rate.

Link to the site of the customs committee - gtk.gov.by
Addresses and contact numbers of customs authorities - gtk.gov.by
Guidelines for determining the purpose of goods - gtk.gov.by
Restrictions on the import and export of certain types of goods for personal use - gtk.gov.by

For Russia

Duty-free from abroad for one calendar month to one recipient in international mail (state postal services and EMS) goods can move for personal use(except for indivisible goods) within the amount equivalent to 1000 euros and maximum weight 31kg. Source - Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 446 dated 06/17/2010 (p. 44, paragraph 16).

If these limits are exceeded, you must pay 30% customs duty on the excess amount, but not less than 4 euros per kg.

With regard to courier services, the situation is approximately as follows (it is better to clarify additionally in the representative offices of these services in the Russian Federation):

UPS Courier Service- purchase price limit for individuals - 200 euros.
DHL Courier Service- suspended delivery for individuals, only a small list of stores remained available for private traders.
FedEx Courier Service- you can get for Moscow for up to 200 euros, and for all other cities / regions for $ 75.

As a rule, it does not raise questions from users. But there are some nuances. The fact is that when crossing the border, goods undergo customs control and for duty-free importation, you need to fit into certain limits. Let's discuss with you what the maximum amount is currently applicable to purchases with Aliexpress for residents of Belarus.

• Tobacco products. Usually on Aliexpress you can find various tobacco for hookahs, for example, if you look very well for other smoking blends.
• Seeds and plants. You have probably seen that on the site you can buy seeds of plants and flowers, or even the plants themselves. So do it carefully, because otherwise you can earn a lot of problems.
• Weapons, spare parts, ammunition. Well, you definitely won’t find supplies in the form of grenades and similar weapons, but various knives, spare parts for weapons, for example, optical sights and other interesting things are sold here.
• Precious stones and diamonds. No, you can, of course, buy jewelry, but if you want to buy a separate stone, which is unlikely, since they cannot be found on Aliexpress then customs won't let it through.
• Spy's equipment. Here the question is somewhat controversial, since voice recorders, cameras, communication jammers, and so on can be attributed to such equipment. Sometimes even telephones and similar equipment are not allowed through. Nevertheless, the legislation is becoming more and more adequate and many things are missed, but it is possible that when ordering the same GPS tracker for a child, you will not have problems. It is not known what it depends on, probably on the adequacy of the customs officer, but still be prepared for anything.

As for such goods as food, dietary supplements, sports nutrition and other prohibited goods, they are Aliexpress simply no.

In addition, if you decide to buy a product of one of the prohibited categories for your country, then it is better to consult with the seller. If he delivers to your country, then he certainly knows how this is done and will share information of interest to you.

How is the cost of a parcel with Aliexpress assessed at customs in Belarus?

It is very important for each buyer that the cost of the parcel is estimated correctly, since if it becomes necessary to pay a fee, then no one will want to overpay. Still as an option, the buyer on Aliexpress ordered exactly $ 22 and if the customs value the parcel more, then again you have to pay or prove that the price of the goods is less.

So, how do employees evaluate the cost of packages? First of all, the price must be indicated by the seller directly on the sticker. If the customs officer considers that the price is too low, he will evaluate it himself. Customs has its own price for each item. All goods are collected in a special catalog, and the employee relies on some. The same will be done if the cost is not specified.

If the estimate does not suit you, then you can contact the customs union and provide them with documentation confirming that the cost of the goods is lower. It can be a payment receipt, invoice and other documents.

How to order a lot on Aliexpress to Belarus and not pay a fee?

• If you do not need expensive goods, then try to keep within the limit of 22 euros, and if there is a need to buy more, then try to negotiate with relatives or friends to buy on them. In general, according to the rules, it is not forbidden to order to one address, but to different names. This situation will allow you not to pay duty on Aliexpress in Belarus, since the limit is calculated for each person, and not for a specific address.
• Do not be afraid to ask sellers to indicate smaller amounts on the package, as they always go to a meeting. But remember that customs control all parcels and if it seems to employees that the price is too low, they will independently determine the price of the goods.
• When ordering goods, you can use the services of delivery services through Russia or Kazakhstan, for which the limit is much higher. That is, first your goods will arrive in one of these countries, and only then, after processing, they will be sent to you. It is worth noting that the services of firms are not free. Some take a fixed amount, while others take a percentage of the order. You can find such intermediaries on the Internet in a couple of minutes.

Video: Customs limits on parcels in Belarus

• July 26, 2016, 21:29
• 12545

Belarusians have been buying goods abroad for the fourth month under the new rules. Due to the cut limits, the number of international parcels in June decreased by half compared to January - from 1.7 million to 800 thousand, according to the latest statistics from the State Customs Committee.

FINANCE.TUT.BY looked at the limits for foreign shopping in other countries.

In Russia and Kazakhstan, limits on parcels are almost 50 times higher than in Belarus

Announcing new limits on duty-free receipt of parcels, the State Customs Committee explained that "a similar rule is applied in a number of member states of the European Union." “So, for example, in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, Finland, Slovakia, Germany and others, the rate of duty-free import of goods into the IGO is 22 euros. In Sweden and France, all IGOs, regardless of cost, are subject to VAT,” the State Customs Committee noted.

Our two partners in the EAEU - in Russia and Kazakhstan - have some of the highest limits on foreign parcels. Residents of these countries can receive duty-free parcels from abroad in the amount of up to 1,000 euros and weighing up to 31 kilograms per calendar month. But if the Russians are not limited in the number of ordered parcels, then the Kazakhs can only accept one parcel per month. In this case, the parcel may contain a certain number of goods. For example, phones, tablets, laptops are allowed to order no more than two per month.

Both in Russia and Kazakhstan, for exceeding the limits, they charge a fee of 30% of the cost, but not less than 4 euros per 1 kilogram of weight (charged from the amount exceeding the threshold).

Ukrainians today can order duty-free goods from abroad for 150 euros per month and weighing up to 50 kilograms. The monthly number of parcels is not limited, but not more than one "package" per day. From the amount exceeding the norm, a duty of 10% is charged, as well as VAT of 20%. The cost of delivery of goods is not included in the limits.

In many European countries, as well as in Belarus, there are limits for duty-free import of parcels of 22 euros. According to ACIT, restrictions of 22 euros for duty-free receipt of parcels from abroad have been introduced in Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Luxembourg. In Argentina and Brazil, all parcels are subject to tax duty, experts say.

Restrictions of 22 euros have also been introduced in the Czech Republic and Finland. For parcels in the amount of 22 to 150 euros, you need to pay VAT - 20% and 24%, respectively. Some items have lower taxes. For example, VAT on books in Finland is 10%.

For goods over 150 euros, the Finns need to pay not only VAT, but also customs duty. At the same time, in Finland, different groups of goods have their own customs duties. For example, some of the highest rates are for clothes (12%), body parts (4.5%), DVDs (3.5%). These rates apply to parcels from countries outside the EU with which there is no preferential tariff agreement.

In addition, in Finland, the cost of delivery is considered when calculating the cost of the parcel. For example, if a Finn orders his wife a blouse from the USA for 200 euros (plus 35 euros for shipping), you will have to pay 28.20 euros of customs duty.

Expert: “It is unlikely that we will ever see a Chinese man with a watch made in Belarus”

Artem Sokolov, director of the Association of Internet Trade Companies of Russia, cites China as an example.

- In April, China lowered the bar for duty-free importation of goods to zero. Any package that goes to this country is subject to tax,- notes Artem Sokolov. - And it is clear that we are unlikely to ever see a Chinese with Belarusian-made watches. This will never happen, because the product will not be competitive in the Chinese market.

The expert cites the example of Great Britain, which protects the national market from foreign goods.

- The experience of Great Britain is indicative. They have a threshold of 18 pounds. But besides that, they have a VAT registration system. In order to sell something in the UK, a foreign online store must register with the UK tax system. And you need to register with the tax authorities, get an identification number and make monthly payments to the country's budget,- says the specialist.

Recall that earlier in Russia it was proposed to impose taxes on foreign online trading platforms - AliExpress, JD, eBay and others. To do this, they wanted to oblige foreign sellers to become tax residents of Russia.

Limits on the import of goods across the border

Russians can enter duty-free any mode of transport (except air) goods worth up to 1,500 euros and weighing up to 50 kilograms. By plane, it is allowed to import goods to Russia in the amount of up to 10 thousand euros, but not less than 4 euros per 1 kilogram of weight.

Ukrainians can now import goods worth 1,000 euros by air and sea transport, and up to 500 euros by land. Weight limit - up to 50 kilograms. But earlier the question was raised to reduce these limits to 430 and 300 euros, respectively. These are the rules that apply in the European Union.

Meanwhile, individual EU countries can reduce this limit to 150 euros for children under 15 years old. In the European Union, the limits do not include the cost of medicines that the traveler needs, as well as personal belongings.

Help FINANCE.TUT.BY. From 2013 to 2015, the number of international parcels received by Belarusians increased 6 times. So, in 2013 Belarus received 1.9 million parcels, in 2014 - 6.3 million, and last year - 11.8 million.

The reason for tightening the limits of duty-free import of goods was a significant increase in the volume of import of goods on a commercial scale to individuals without paying customs duties. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus Vladimir Orlovsky in the program "Contours" on the ONT TV channel, TUT.BY reports. The representative of the State Customs Committee cited statistics on the volume of international postal items imported into Belarus.

“90% of Belarusians do not receive parcels. More than 250 thousand Belarusians received about 10 parcels a year, and 2.5 thousand Belarusians - more than 100,” he said.

“This is an established practice in the European Union. Most EU countries have set standards of 22 euros for duty-free importation in goods transported by international mail. These are such countries as Germany, Italy, Czech Republic. Moreover, there are more stringent rules - in China, only 7 euros. In some countries - France, Sweden, there is no duty-free import at all, any parcel implies the payment of a tax," he stressed.

“It will happen on April 14 this year,” he said. He noted that the two-month period between the publication of the decree and its entry into force was made so that the Belarusians could receive the ordered goods without paying duties.

The cost of delivery from Moscow to Minsk depends on the weight: delivery of a parcel weighing 0-7.5 kg will cost 4-20 dollars, up to 15 kg - 21-32 dollars, up to 22.5 kg - 33-43 dollars, 22.5- 30 kg - 43-50 dollars. The limit on the value / weight of parcels is 1000 euros / 31 kilograms.