How can one find out how much does custom duty cost, if applicable?

[Raymond]

I ship hundreds of shipments a month and I have rarely received complaints like this before. Today I received an email from Italy complaining about custom duty. My customer was charged for $30 euro for an item that cost $15 USD + $6 shipping. I find it very unreasonable and am wondering if there is any way I can help this customer to get at least part of his money back.

[wheel]

Just be careful that it is in fact the custom duty. A lot of times it's the courier company helping themselves to another piece of the pie. There's basically no customs duty between Canada and the US, yet I've seen scenarios like you've described. The courier company will charge some large percentage for paperwork (clearing), then charge national and provincial taxes, then charge a service fee on top of the taxes.

I believe the general consensus is to make sure the purchaser is well aware that there may be duty and taxes owing, and that they are responsible for them, since they're doing the importing.

[Raymond]

Problem is the shipment was sent by regular registered mail. There shouldn't be any surcharges incured in shipping through the snail mail system.

$30 euro is quite an unreasonable amount of tax for an item that worths $15 USD retail. I really can't blame my customer for complaining.

[topr8]

sometimes customs duty is incredibly high, what do you think governments are arguing about in all those world trade treaties they draw up.

i know for sure that clothing and fashion items incur very high import duty.

each european country charges different rates, import duty and vat can be levied at the point of import.

as a seller it is YOUR responsibility to make it clear to your customer that they may have to pay taxes at point of entry - one of the pitfalls of international trade!

btw the usa does the same thing it's a two way street!

[wheel]

>>. There shouldn't be any surcharges incured in shipping through the snail mail system

Incorrect. There absolutely can be. Ship from the US to Canada via post and you'll have to pay a $5 fee plus 7% tax when you pick up your parcel if the value is over $200. So you'd be looking at about $19 on a $200 product. Yet not a penny of duty being paid.

In terms of getting the actual value of duty, probably tough to do. I still think the most likely possibility for the high charge your customer paid is 'other fees' and not actual customs duty. Might be taxes, might be fees for clearing it into the country. But I'm not surprised at the fees, this is a common occurence for the unwary shipping internationally.