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Extracted from Swedish post services:
https://www.postnord.se/en/receiving/collecting-mail/from-another-country/changes-march-1
Changes that come into force on March 1
Under Swedish legislation, VAT will now be charged from the first krona when making purchases from non-EU countries. This results in a change for people who make online purchases from, for example, China. Information about the rules and answers to frequently asked questions are available here.
VAT from the first krona (1.00 SEK ~0.12 USD)
VAT is usually charged at 25 percent and is paid by the person who orders the product. If you shop online from another EU country, no VAT or customs declaration is made at the border and no administrative fee is charged by PostNord.
Administrative fee
PostNord has been assigned the task of ensuring that VAT on these items is paid to the state before delivery takes place. In addition to the VAT, an administrative fee will therefore be charged for this work. The fee covers the costs incurred as a result of making VAT declarations, such as for salaries, technical equipment and renting of premises. If the value of the consignment is less than SEK 1,500, the fee is SEK 75. If the value is SEK 1,500 or more, the fee is SEK 125 and also includes the customs declaration that has to be made. All administrative fees include VAT.
You will receive a notification stating how much you need to pay
When your consignment arrives in Sweden, the purchased item has to be declared. Once we at PostNord have received the consignment, you receive a notification stating how much VAT, possible customs duty and administrative fee you have to pay. The notification provides information about how to make your payment.
If you no longer want your parcel due to the cost of the VAT and the administrative fee, the payment does not have to be made. This will result in your consignment being returned to the sender.
Delivery will unfortunately take longer
The new rules unfortunately mean that it will take a little longer for you to receive your parcel. We apologize for this but are working hard to ensure that parcels are delivered to recipients as quickly as possible.
The sooner you pay your VAT and fee, the sooner the consignment will be delivered to you. The notification sent to you also states by when your payment has to be made to avoid the consignment being sent back to the sender. You always have at least 14 days to make the payment.
@beskriverwrote:Unfortunately, I have already stopped short and refused to pay for one package. The seller have been informed in advance of what I had to do.
We have a wise word in Sweden for such:
One should not warm up for the crows, i.e. not let the warm air leak out of the house during winter, i.e, not waste anything.
I will simply stop buying from anyone who declares correctly for the customs. I will ask before buying.
I do myself, since I do anything in private, and not as a company of any sort, always declare everything as gift, since it mostly have been trading items for items and not selling for money.
For some, it may be regarded as illegal, but I only regard illegal actions against person or legal owning entity as a company as truly illegal. To avoid being levied in a way that is similar to protection racket by mobsters, I won't regard as illegal, even though it's done by a, in this case, a socialist government.
So, please, heed my warning about Sweden, and do what you think is best by your own values and conscience. My value on Swedish policies in this area is very negative
We had this discussion a few days ago. 😞
Asking a seller to commit fraud is a policy violation.
If you ask a seller to underdeclare ... the violation is on you. If the seller agrees, the violation is on both of you.
It doesn't matter if you consider it to be illegal. It is illegal.
Many small to medium sized sellers are small business owners, or at least operating on a professional level. Asking them to compromise their business because you don't want to pay taxes that your country imposes is unfair and immoral.
If you purchase goods from an international seller, it is merchandise...with a taxable value equal to the amount that you paid for it. It is not a gift.
Do not threaten non-EU sellers. Do not punish non-EU sellers by refusing delivery.
By refusing to pay the VAT and having the item sent back, you:
1) Voided your MBG.
2) Tied up the seller's merchandise for up to 4-6 weeks (return-to-sender parcels go slow boat)
3) May have caused the package to be returned with postage due (not all mail services include return postage), causing the seller to have to ransom their merchandise from the carrier....that is if it even gets returned ...some services don't even bother. The item just gets auctioned off or tossed by Customs.
4) If and when the seller gets it back, you cost the seller at least the non-refundable PayPal Fee ... and if they refund you in full, they are out the postage paid to send the item.
Never mind the extra chance of damage because the item has traveled around the world and back ... with the return trip being "economy" 😞
Your argument is with your government ... not the seller.
The solution is simple: If you do not wish to pay the VAT, don't buy from non-EU sellers.
@beskriverwrote:Yes, I will only pay the only few that may stuck by the idiots here, just to avoid return ship by economy and keep sellers out of harms way.
For me, it's not fraud to remove the government as part of any deals. It's like I sell/buy/trade from/to my own pocket in a way like it has been since time immemorial, i.e. far long ago before anyone of us living today were imaginable at all.
I regard much of these government actions as parasitic. It is actually the same as for a restaurant or other small businesses forced to pay for "protection" to a mobster.
Yes, I equal that in this way.
I see it as a duty to warn everyone for these actions in Sweden. Sweden have by history been a strongly protectionist country with mainly socialist governments since a century back. Swedish governments often regards taxes and fees as principle, not just for necessity to support expenses.
Then everyone can draw their own conclusions.
You aren't helping your cause by calling us idiots.
You keep saying "for me" and "I consider"....I will say it again ... the law is the law. If something is illegal, it is illegal. Your "opinion" of the law does not change the law.
Ever since there have been governments, there have been taxes. The ancient Egyptians paid taxes, the Ancient Chinese did too. The Romans (and their annexed colonies) paid a sum that was based on the "taxare ad valorem" (assessed value) of the item (sales tax, property tax, import tax, etc)
"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's"
"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
You live in a Social Democracy. You have a voice .... tell your elected officials what you think. We non-EU sellers can't do anything about it, but you can.
And, if you really think that your taxes are too high ... you can always emmigrate to a new country....come here to the U.S. ... no universal healthcare, no free university, 40-60 hour work weeks with no guarantee of any time off. No guaranteed pension ... Labor Unions are a dying thing here ... etc, etc, etc.
Your choice.
