How to reclaim charges on parcels delivered to France from abroad
Payment for import VAT or admin costs may be levied on deliveries from outside the EU
Postal workers sometimes demand import fees to cover VAT (usually 20%) or frais de gestion (admin costs)
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Those receiving parcels from outside the EU are often surprised when the delivery service requests payment for import VAT or admin fees. In some cases this can be reclaimed if it was incorrectly charged.
The Connexion has heard from dozens of readers who were charged unexpected fees by their postal worker to receive items from non-EU countries, including the US, UK, New Zealand and Canada.
The fees usually fall into one or both of two categories: VAT (usually 20%) and frais de gestion (admin costs).
The latter are charged by delivery companies including La Poste if VAT and / or customs duties were payable on import and resulted in extra paperwork.
Note that French import VAT on purchases from the UK should only be payable in cases where the seller has not already collected VAT on behalf of France and included it in the cost.
Customs duties are payable on higher value imports if the imported item was not made in the UK.
When can parcels legitimately attract taxes and fees?
Gifts under €45 in value should not attract any French import VAT or customs duties. If an item is valued at more than €45 both may apply, with VAT at 20%, plus duties at around 0-22% depending on the category of item if not shown to be mostly or wholly made in the UK.
In addition where La Poste, or another delivery service, incurs costs in paying import VAT / duties at the border, they often bill the recipient an admin fee in addition to reimbursement of the taxes they paid.
The situation is not helped if the delivery service fails to provide a clear breakdown of the nature of these fees, including whether they are VAT, customs duty, and / or admin fees.
What to do in case of incorrect fees levied by La Poste
If you refuse to pay the fees the item is then returned to a local La Poste office or directly back to the sender (ask the postal worker what will happen if you refuse to pay).
If the parcel is returned to a post office you can wait for it to arrive and then speak to a staff member about the issue.
However, it may be easier to pay the fees then submit a compensation claim.
It is important to ensure you receive a receipt of your payment when making it.
This can either be provided by the postal worker when you pay it or obtained via the La Poste website here.
If you believe that a fee has been applied incorrectly you can contact La Poste either online or via its French-speaking helpline at 3631.
You can also contact les Douanes (the French Customs) via their helpline at 0800 94 40 40 (in French), however they typically refer callers back to La Poste unless the parcel arrived via another delivery service).
If La Poste fails to respond to your request you can file a complaint with La Médiation de la consommation, the official mediation service
Have you ever been surprised by customs charges? Have you successfully fought against them? Share your experience via letters@connexionfrance.com
