Buying outside the EU

Your consumer rights when buying outside the EU

When you buy from businesses outside the EU, you have fewer consumer rights protections than you would when buying from businesses based in the EU, Iceland or Norway. You should check where the business is based and how to resolve an issue or return an item, as you do not have the same rights as you would expect if you buy within the EU. You may also have to pay extra taxes and charges when your goods arrive in Ireland.

How can you check where a business is based before you buy something?

It’s important to know where the business is located before you buy. You cannot rely on the website name or prices shown in Euro. For example, a website ending in .ie does not always mean the business is based in Ireland.

Check the terms and conditions, privacy policy or ‘contact us’ section of the website to find the physical address of the business. The business’s website should tell you where it is based. A lack of information about a company or address details that you can’t verify elsewhere can be a sign that you are on a scam website. 

What policies should you check before buying from a website outside the EU?

Businesses that promote their products to consumers in the EU should follow EU rules on consumer rights, but this doesn’t always happen. Read the terms and conditions carefully. Find out if you:

• Have the right to return an item
• Will have to post the package to an international address
• Need to pay postage for returns
• Can cancel an order before it is dispatched
• Can return an item if you change your mind
• Will need to pay Irish VAT and/or customs duties in the final price. If not, you may get a bill from Revenue when your goods are delivered.

What should you do if something goes wrong with your order?

What extra taxes and charges might you have to pay if you buy something from a business outside the EU?

When you buy from the EU, taxes and charges are usually included in the price. When buying from outside the EU, extra charges may be added when your goods are imported. The main charges you can face are:

• Value added tax (VAT)
• Customs duty
• Customs processing fees

Search the website, including the terms and conditions, carefully for information on import charges and taxes. If the business does not make clear that these costs are included then you may be charged. 

How does VAT apply to goods bought outside the EU?

VAT is due on all shipments , no matter what the value. VAT applies to the total cost, including shipping, delivery, insurance, handling and administration charges. Learn more about how VAT is applied and what you might have to pay on the Revenue website.

When do you have to pay customs duty?

If the total value of your goods is €150 or more, you may need to pay customs duty. Customs duty can also apply to certain products worth less than €150.  Find out more about customs duty on the Revenue website.

What extra charges might be applied at checkout when you buy something from outside the EU?

Some businesses all include taxes and charges in the total cost at checkout. If so, you won’t have to pay further charges when your goods are delivered. Otherwise, the delivery company may collect the taxes and charges from you and add a handling fee for processing. You’ll usually get a notification from the delivery company with details of what you owe.

If you receive a message about extra handling fee charges, double check that the details are correct and match your order, in order to make sure it is not a scam attempt.

What are customs processing fees?

Customs processing fees are extra charges applied by delivery companies, such as An Post, when goods are imported into Ireland from outside the EU/EEA. These fees cover the administrative costs of collecting and processing customs fees (such as customs duty, excise duty and VAT) from the person receiving the goods. The fee is on top of the actual customs charges, and must be paid before the item is delivered. You can find out more here from An Post.

Remember to check any notifications about customs charges or processing fees to make sure they are consistent with what you ordered, This will help you ensure the notification is legitimate and help you to avoid scams.

How do you return an item bought outside the EU?

• If you return an item, you may be able to claim a refund of VAT and customs duty. Keep proof that you have returned the item.
• If you paid these charges directly to the retailer, you will usually get them back as part of your refund.
• If you paid VAT or customs duty to a postal or courier company, you may need to apply to them directly for a refund.
• Administrative fees paid to the delivery company are usually non-refundable.

For more information on claiming a refund, visit: Revenue: Claiming a refund of VAT and customs duty. 

The European Commission also provides information on taxes and charges for goods bought outside the EU: European Commission: Buying goods online from outside the EU.