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Master Shake
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1202
Location: Colorado, USA
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 Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:01 am Post subject: Paying duty on "imported goods" |
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So my dad sent me a Christmas present of a slightly used digital camera and a light jacket. (approx. value = 250-300USD)
Being, perhaps, overly cautious, pops took out insurance on the items for 5 bucks more and declared the value of the items as $300 on the packing slip. This would turn out to be a grave, grave mistake later on.
So the present arrives in Warsaw and some overly zealous guy at the Polish post sees this "$300 insured value" on the packing slip and now they are holding it until I pay duty on the items plus duty on the postage ($44). This comes to a whopping 260 zloty and is roughly 1/3 the value of the items.
I've tried to negotiate with them, explaining that these are not new items, not for resale, that it is a Christmas present, etc. etc. but they refuse to see the light of day. Talking to them, I get the feeling they know this duty is BS but I somehow haven't found the magic combination of words to get them to fork over my kurwa present already.
Any advice? I've had stuff (including digital cameras) mailed to me from the US before without incident so this came as a bit of a surprise.
Thanks!
-Shake |
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maniak
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 194
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| Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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Its not the guy from the post office but Izba Celna. You will have to deal with them in this case, but theres nothing you can do because you pops made a big mistake.
Used items also fall under duty and VAT, and yes the shipping is also taxed. Unfortunately even though the package was marked as a gift a dollar value was added to the package above the $50 limit, therefore it is taxable. Sorry. |
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simon_porter00
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 505
Location: Warsaw, Poland
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:58 am Post subject: |
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| Just to confirm this, the tax rule book says items up to the value of 45 EUR are exempt from vat and other taxes. If your old man wants to send anything over in the future get him to write 150 (or so) zł on the insurance form. |
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Master Shake
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1202
Location: Colorado, USA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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| simon_porter00 wrote: |
| Just to confirm this, the tax rule book says items up to the value of 45 EUR are exempt from vat and other taxes. If your old man wants to send anything over in the future get him to write 150 (or so) zł on the insurance form. |
Yes, good idea. I paid the tax and picked up the stuff today. Opening it, I found they had unwrapped the gift-wrapped presents inside and retaped them up wth Poczta Polska tape. Ducking Ficks!
So, I wouldn't try to send stuff to Poland (at least to Warsaw) worth too much over the 150zl limit in the future. |
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maniak
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 194
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Master Shake wrote: |
So, I wouldn't try to send stuff to Poland (at least to Warsaw) worth too much over the 150zl limit in the future. |
I shipped a car, a gym set, a 40" tv, and PS3 all to poland and never had to pay any tax on them, I think I only paid duty on two shipments once due to bad luck. YMMV, and you really can save a pretty penny over buying stuff in europe. |
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scottie1113
Joined: 25 Oct 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Gdansk
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Maniak, where did you ship from? |
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maniak
Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Posts: 194
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| scottie1113 wrote: |
| Maniak, where did you ship from? |
New Jersey usa
Ill say one thing thoughz: trzeba kombinowac  |
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Master Shake
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1202
Location: Colorado, USA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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| maniak wrote: |
| I shipped a car, a gym set, a 40" tv, and PS3 all to poland and never had to pay any tax on them, I think I only paid duty on two shipments once due to bad luck. YMMV, and you really can save a pretty penny over buying stuff in europe. |
Yes. Even including the 260zl duty I had to pay, the digital camera my dad shipped was about the same price as the same model in Poland.
Definitely cheaper to buy US. |
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sharter
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 878
Location: All over the place
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:36 am Post subject: UK |
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| Pop to the UK. Electronics and clothes are cheaper there. Houses and flats in Poznan are now the same more or less; how Poles afford them god only knows! |
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hrvatski
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Posts: 270
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:17 am Post subject: Re: UK |
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| sharter wrote: |
| Pop to the UK. Electronics and clothes are cheaper there. Houses and flats in Poznan are now the same more or less; how Poles afford them god only knows! |
Why would you buy a flat when you and your spouse can live at your parents place until you're 35?! |
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Jack Walker
Joined: 23 Oct 2008
Posts: 412
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 7:24 am Post subject: Re: UK |
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| sharter wrote: |
| Pop to the UK. Electronics and clothes are cheaper there. Houses and flats in Poznan are now the same more or less; how Poles afford them god only knows! |
The good ol' 30 year mortgage.You need one for your 35m2 of concrete and shat workmanship.That is a 30 year mortgage for just the concrete shell, mind you. |
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dynow
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 1080
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Why would you buy a flat when you and your spouse can live at your parents place until you're 35?! |
seriously. and when you're 35, simply buy a bigger flat for all of you. |
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justflyingin
Joined: 30 Apr 2009
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 7:43 am Post subject: |
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| maniak wrote: |
| Master Shake wrote: |
So, I wouldn't try to send stuff to Poland (at least to Warsaw) worth too much over the 150zl limit in the future. |
I shipped a car, a gym set, a 40" tv, and PS3 all to poland and never had to pay any tax on them, I think I only paid duty on two shipments once due to bad luck. YMMV, and you really can save a pretty penny over buying stuff in europe. |
If you are shipping from the US you can use DOMA or Polish Travel Center. I've had all kinds of stuff sent. It costs about 85cents a lb plus $8 for the box from PA. It comes via boat but I've gotten everything...some things quite valuable and some things not so. It always helps if things look used, but usually we just put general stuff like "used household" for things for the house, "used clothing"...they said to keep it general.
So, I've sent over some pretty nice stuff, using very general terms. Never put a value of more than $45 on your total box. Think yard sale prices. I'd also assume if we ever lost the stuff, that we'd never get the true value back. Thankfully that hasn't happened with these two companies. Now the Post Office is a different matter....
Since I usually do send over used items or donated items, I don't mind putting that little value on the box. Sending things via the regular post office is risky. Someone told me they are getting more aggressive in charging customs. Thankfully I've been here long enough now that we don't send over much these days unless it has been donated to our organization. |
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jamarbruin
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: |
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If you are shipping from the US you can use DOMA or Polish Travel Center. I've had all kinds of stuff sent. It costs about 85cents a lb plus $8 for the box from PA. It comes via boat but I've gotten everything...some things quite valuable and some things not so.
What is the searchable name or website for DOMA?
I'm looking to do a similar move as you described- a flat screen, my xbox360, and computer along with a few books and life's accewssories. My research has only got me to shipping-worldwide.com but it seems pretty expensive, plus I'd be looking at destination fees once my stuff gets to Poland. |
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Blasphemer
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 199
Location: NYC/Warszawa
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 8:22 am Post subject: Re: |
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| jamarbruin wrote: |
| If you are shipping from the US you can use DOMA. |
I agree, I've had all of my stuff shipped here with Doma Travel and they were really helpful and reasonably priced. Also, if you ever have any issues with the import tax, you can explain that this is "Przeniesienie mienia". Which basically means that you are now moving to Poland and this is your stuff, usesd and not new. I have a collection of over 2000 pieces of vinyl, turntables, mixers etc etc... and on few occasions they've asked me to pay tax on it, a single visit to their office fixed it all up. |
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