Book sending to Germany

[vajo]

Since the first of July Germany had changed the rules for book sendings from outside Europe.

I recieved a book today from Australia and musst paid 19% vAT + Posting 6 EUR. The vAT includes the book price + sending costs. I phoned with the custom office on Frankfurt Aiport and they explained me that the german government had changed the rules for importing books from outside europe because the german book publisher had make an complaint on the finance minister paying vAT on their books. 

 

All gets more and more expensive 

[kissakai]

I was surprised when I ordered my book from from the Samurai Museum in Germany as it was subject to duty of around 20%

I thought books/teaching aids were duty free!

I have queried it but as yet no reply

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by kissakai
spelling eror

[Andi B.]

I thought, we have 7% VAT on books and other print media in Germany, so I would expect 7% but not 19% if I buy outside Europe..?

[PietroParis]

12 minutes ago, Andi B. said:

I thought, we have 7% VAT on books and other print media in Germany, so I would expect 7% but not 19% if I buy outside Europe..?

 

Shipping companies “pre-process” the customs fees, I suspect they apply a blanket 20% VAT rate to simplify their lives. Or maybe they pay the correct rate to the customs and pocket the difference... I am currently in a dispute with DHL: after correctly identifying an object as antique, with a tariff code that in France should result in a 5.5% rate, they charged me 20% nonetheless.

[uwe]

I've learned that it sometimes depends on the guys at the custom office, their knowlegde and will to cooperate (or listen). Everytime I pick up an item of the same category I get a diffrent "ID number". So a lot of negotiations are necessary....

[Teimei]

4 hours ago, uwe said:

I've learned that it sometimes depends on the guys at the custom office, their knowlegde and will to cooperate (or listen). Everytime I pick up an item of the same category I get a diffrent "ID number". So a lot of negotiations are necessary....

So true. Some times they just guess.

[FZ1]

12 hours ago, kissakai said:

I was surprised when I ordered my book from from the Samurai Museum in Germany as it was subject to duty of around 20%

I thought books/teaching aids were duty free!

I have queried it but as yet no reply

 

 

I just got some books sent to the UK from Germany this week, and got 0% VAT.  Consistency?   Naaaah! 

 

Jon