Importing products from China is very popular and usually very profitable. However, before we decide to import anything from China, we should get information about the amount of duty and VAT, as this may vary depending on the product category. Therefore, below, we will describe what the issue of fees when importing products from China looks like, and we will pay attention to the most important things. How does the duty from China look like?
Import from China – Duty from China
Importing products from China both for own use and use by the company should be preceded by checking the amount of the duty. We should also find out if there are any additional restrictions for a particular product. It may turn out that the import is not profitable at the moment, and we will avoid failure. Duties and VAT are deducted from the value of the goods together with the shipping costs. Transport costs are added to the customs value. Especially when it comes to allowing it to be sold in EU Member State. We pay the relevant customs fee depending on the product category, and we do not have to pay a fee for some goods, and also when the value of the goods does not exceed EUR 150. In other words, customs duties are applicable on goods valued at EUR 150 and more.
Checking the amount of duty
If we buy from China via the Internet, we need to check exactly what customs duty applies to the product. Currently, then we will find a lot of calculators on the Internet that will calculate all fees. The official information, however, is best to look at the official websites of customs services. So it’s good to get acquainted with such systems as ISZTAR or TARIC.
For example, according to the ISZTAR system, the duty for cell phones is 0% for the USA, while for cotton fabric it is already 8%. Also, for some goods, separate documents or markings are required that are indicated in the customs system.
Anti-dumping duties
When importing goods from China, we have to be aware of anti-dumping duties. This is a type of fee imposed by the state on imported goods, the price of which is lower than the price on the producer’s home market. The application of such duties is intended to level out the competitive conditions in the internal market. It happens that the European Union imposes anti-dumping duties on products imported from China, eg, tires for trucks and buses or bicycles or, as it used to be, in the case of imports of solar panels. In this way, it protects the European market from the competitive price of Chinese goods.
VAT
The VAT is a fee that we have to take into account when importing goods from China, the USA, and other countries outside the European Union. However, as in the case of duty, we also have some exceptions here.
In UE we will not pay VAT for shipments:
- marked as a gift or consumer sample
- which are not commercial (marked as a gift) and the recipient receives them without incurring any costs
- marked as a gift that was sent from a private person from outside the EU to a private person
- of an occasional nature, e.g., birthday or jubilee.
In the case of other shipments, we will pay 23% VAT.
Before starting to import goods from China, it is worth getting acquainted with the issue of additional fees. In the ISZTAR or TARIC system, we can easily check the duties of different products. Earlier and proper preparation will help us later import from China. It is worth checking in advance what is the customs from China.
