EU Customs Tariif codes for hand tools?

Hi All,

We have had several (4) items returned to sender by Republic of Ireland Customs, all sent to Dublin. All marked Rejected/Failed Electronic Customs.

All items were sent using Royal Mai online click & drop service to generate payment and address and customs forms for later drop off at our local post office to get the proof of posting slips.

The only thing I can think of is that there is now a field for customs code which is now mandatory but was not when the items were posted.

Trying to find the specific code for hand tool items is a nightmare as the codes seem to have been generated by someone who never held a tool in their lives!

I have been unable to find codes for measuring equipment, micrometers and such; hand planes and spokeshaves and have resorted to the nearest match I can find and will hope the items get through this time (at my expense).

Does anyone know if there is a resource that deals with these specific types of hand tools?

cherrs, Martin

I guess it's all in there somewhere - Micrometers and other measuring eqt. dealt with in Chapter 90 part 17

UK Integrated Online Tariff - Search Results 'Micrometer'

Also worth a look - Heading 8205 (My italics)

'Classification
Hand tools (including glaziers' diamonds), not elsewhere specified or included; blowlamps; vices, clamps and the like, other than accessories for and parts of machine-tools or water-jet cutting machines; anvils; portable forges; hand- or pedal-operated grinding wheels with frameworks

UK Integrated Online Tariff - Hand Tools Heading 8205

Hope this helps, I found the Search Box worked better than I'd hoped, good luck

Posts deleted, no politics on the forum pls

Edited By JasonB on 31/01/2022 06:59:39

As a UK citizen resident in Ireland, the situation now for goods coming from the UK is an unmitigated disaster, as many UK sellers on places like E-Bay don't know the new rules, or are simply refusing to sell to Ireland at all.

Brexit is the reason, the system now is that a UK business seller should sell without adding UK VAT, and complete complex customs declaration paperwork with the relevant codes provided so that the EU authorities (not just Ireland, all of the EU) can then apply the relevant charges to import into the EU.

At one time, private individuals could ship GIFT items without additional charges, but even gift from family members can attract charges, depending on the value.

The first charge is VAT, which is for goods to Ireland usually 23%, but a few items may be at a lower rate, or even fewer are zero rated. There is no exempt value now, until recently, items under (I think) €23 were not charged, but that exemption has now gone.

The next issue is that some items above €150 can also attract customs duty, at varying rates depending on the product, and that's why the tariff code is all about, and if that's not there, or wrong, the items could well be returned to sender.

The charges will also be worked out on the inclusive value including shipping charges, which adds to the final bill, and then to add insult to injury, the couriers are adding a (sometimes substantial) processing charge to the final bill for their handling, and possibly payments made to get the item into the country. Don't even then start on the delays that this process is causing, that's another issue that's causing huge problems for many companies.

The result is that an item that initially appeared to be cheap can end up costing a lot more (close to double in some cases) than was expected by the time it is delivered to the end customer, and yes, that's what the UK voted for.

I can tell you that in a while, it will become clear just how big a distaster it will turn out to be, it will take a while, but there will be massive changes from some companies who will decide that the complexities of dealing with what has become a third country for tax and VAT are not worth the hassles, and they will move to alternative suppliers within the EU. It's happening already, the number of companies that no longer ship via the UK, and are using more expensive and longer freight routes to France to avoid the paperwork minefield and attendant delays is only massive, and that's only the start of it.

I'm no longer buying on E-Bay, it's a pain to have to use EU web sites, but the costs are so much cheaper, and the same is true for Amazon, for the same reasons, there are so many suppliers on both platforms that just plain refuse to ship to Ireland, it's not worth wasting the time looking for people that will ship "abroad".

Maybe UK suppliers will cop on, and get organised to send goods to the EU, there are some in the hobby that are organised, but there's way too many who need to get their act together if they want to survive, unless they're happy to only supply UK customers.

Oh dualing pistols at the ready. No political postings allowed guys. Just an answer to the original question would surfice.

Steve.

Hi Martin,

Just to echo what Steve (Garry) above said. I have a few items returned to sender so I have much sympathy with you.

Here a another few links . The EU Taric database can be accessed here and additional information is here

Additionally , the revenue in Ireland have this explanation which might be useful.

Because of the volume of trade between UK and Ireland, all packages without a Taric code or without a value declared are automatically returned by the courier/Post Office who act as agents.. The system is fairly automated and most packages don't get anywhere near a customs official.

As I understand it, If the tools are made in the UK then they can be imported without any customs duty being charged and the only charge is VAT. However if the item is made outside the UK then duties are payable as well as vat. The seller ( in the UK) should export the item without charging UK vat.

Note though that vat is payable on the landed cost of the item. That included all duties and transport costs. So for instance, a Chinese micrometer costing £50 +vat might attract a duty of 10% (£5) and postage might be another £10. the total , £65, is then subject to vat , which in Ireland is 23% so an additional £14.95. bringing it to £79.95. The courier/post office then charge a customs handling fee ( from €3.50 (approximately £3) with An Post to €20( but could be higher) from couriers. The seller ends up paying, in total, about £83

Not actual revenue advice, but it is better that the package would have nearest Taric code rather none. Ands the same with value, if it is not declared the package is automatically returned .

Would it be worthwhile having an agent in the EU who could act as a distribution centre for you?

Hope the links might be helpful.

G

Hi Gerard,

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

This is going to be a nightmare for a little one man band (+wife) business like ours!

I wonder how evident it is to my eBay buyers exactly how much extra an item is going to cost them by the time they get it? If they do not know this upfront it will come as a nasty surprise!

I have just spent some time making up a list of the codes we most often need, you really have to hunt around for them on the tariff site.

Cheers, Martin

Micrometers are 90 17 30

Spokeshaves and Hand Planes are probably 82 08 20 - Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal - Knives and cutting blades, for machines or for mechanical appliances - For woodworking

The EU Access2Markets site is pretty good for finding the HS tariff codes. : https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/results?product=820820&origin=GB&destination=FR

Dave

Surely the same Tariif etc. is applicable whether the chinese micrometer is imported via the UK (a Non EU country) as when the same micrometer is imported from China (also a Non EU counttry) directly.

Possibly, I'm not too sure.

But a micrometer made in the UK and imported into the EU would be subject to zero duty and I think the correct codes would clarify that.

The tariff code just tells you what the thing is. There are associated tariffs depending on the country of origin.

If the micrometer is directly imported from China its 2.7% tariff. China to france micrometer import

If its imported from China to the UK and then exported it still has a country of origin of China, and so 2.7% applies.

If a micrometer is made in the UK then its origin is UK and the FTA preferential rate of 0% applies (although you still have to do a load of paperwork which wasn't the case prior brexit - that is the none tariff barrier that actually costs money).

A set of bits to make a micrometer from China which require 'sufficient' work to make them into a functional micrometer can qualify as UK origin, and hence 0% tariff

<Avoiding semi political rant about the costs of brexit here>

Dave