Are there any restrictions on buying goods on Aliexpress? This question is of interest to many avid buyers, since this marketplace is a real find for shopping. To decide on the answer to this question, we suggest a little understanding of the basics of customs law. This will help to find out not only the restrictions on the monetary parameter, but also on the weight one, which is no less important.
If you refer to the rules of purchases on this trading platform, then the cash limit on orders for Aliexpress is not set. This means that you can safely order goods for any amount your soul desires. But there is one small "but". Intrigued? The thing is that when buying goods in foreign online stores, you must also take into account customs rules. Experienced buyers know that exceeding the limits established by the country's customs legislation can affect the family budget. After all, if you exceed certain indicators, you have to pay customs duty. But let's understand everything in order.
In 2010, at the legislative level, uniform weight and monetary limits were established, within which the delivery of goods is carried out without collecting customs duties. At the same time, such limits are the same for all organizations that process postal items whether they are public or private entities.
Another feature of such limits is that they are provided for a period of one month.
Thus, the maximum monetary indicator for parcels from abroad is 1000 euros per month. As for the weight, it reaches the mark of 31 kg.
Given these indicators, the buyer can adjust their orders and try to keep within the allowed limits. Otherwise, customs duty cannot be avoided, but is it really so high now that it is necessary to carefully count your parcels within a month?
Aliexpress order fee
Many people know that exceeding the norm and the value of the order will lead to the obligation to pay customs duties. But only a few understand the essence of this concept. In simple terms, this is a certain amount of money that will need to be paid in case of exceeding the limits. Turning to legislative framework and the theory of jurisprudence, we can distinguish the following characteristics customs duty by answering the following questions:
- What is a toll? - This is a mandatory payment.
- In what cases is it charged? - When moving goods across the customs border.
- Which organs state power authorized to collect it? - Customs.
- What ensures the fulfillment of the obligation to pay it? — Measures of state coercion, including incurring legal responsibility both administrative and criminal.
As you can see, this payment is not in vain called mandatory, because the consequences for non-payment can be deplorable. To prevent this from happening, remember the two main indicators - 1000 euros and 31 kg. The slightest excess - and you have to pay.
Ahead of plans, the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission decided to lower the threshold for duty-free importation of goods into the association countries from the beginning of next year. For Russia, it will be reduced three times - from €1.5 thousand to €500
Photo: Maxim Bogodvid / RIA Novosti
From the beginning of next year, the threshold for duty-free importation by land transport of goods for personal use into the territory of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU - Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia) will be reduced to €500. The total weight of such goods should not exceed 25 kg, follows from the decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission. The document was published on the legal portal of the EAEU, all five members of the council approved this decision on November 1. On behalf of Russia, it was signed by First Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.
For Russia, this threshold will be reduced three times. Now, according to the current legislation, without paying customs duties, it is possible to transport items worth up to €1.5 thousand into the country without paying customs duties. By air, it is allowed to import goods to Russia duty-free for a maximum of €10 thousand (this rule does not change). The total weight of these items in both cases should not exceed 50 kg. In case of exceeding the specified norms, the owner of the goods today will have to pay a duty of 30% of its value (not less than €4 for each extra kilogram).
If there are more goods than specified in the norm, both in terms of weight and amount, the duty that is larger in amount will be levied, RBC told RBC about the existing this moment practice head of the commercial department of the company "Universal Freight Solutions" Maxim Koverchenko. “In terms of excess weight, €4 per 1 kg is taken, and in terms of excess cost, it will be 30%. Customs will eventually take what is more in value, will not take this or that, ”he said. According to him, at present the norms for collecting duties are the same, only the import threshold is higher in terms of amount and weight. Koverchenko believes that as a result of such a move, people "will order smaller quantities if the production allows."
The plans of the EAEU, which can be imported into the territory of the member countries of the union for personal use up to € 500, have been known since May last year. However, at that time, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) assumed that such changes would occur gradually, until 2021. In 2017 and 2018, the duty-free import rules, according to the plans of the EEC, should have remained the same, in 2019 the threshold was supposed to be reduced to €1,000, and in 2020 to €750. At the level of €500, it should have been established from the beginning of 2021.
By the same time, according to the documents of the economic commission, the Weight Limit goods that can be imported without duty (as decided by the EAEU, it was planned to be reduced from the current 50 to 25 kg in 2021).
In addition, the association has been discussing for several years lowering the threshold for duty-free importation of online purchases. In February , this decision was finally agreed upon . According to it, by the end of 2018, the threshold for duty-free trade for goods imported into the territory of the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union as part of online commerce will be €1,000. From January 1, 2019, this threshold will be reduced to €500, and from January 1, 2020 it will be €200. However, this sequence did not fully suit the Russian Ministry of Finance. In April, the ministry proposed to reduce the threshold for duty-free online shopping to €500 already from July 1.
Reducing the duty-free threshold to €500 does not resolve the issue of equalizing competition between foreign and Russian retailers, since 99.5% of all international shipments accounts for parcels whose value is below this amount, Artem Sokolov, president of the Association of Internet Trade Companies (AKIT), said in an interview with RBC. Therefore, he says, such a threshold value will not affect the market. According to the expert, duty-free import "should not exist in principle, since this leads to an imbalance between local players and foreign ones." Although lowering the threshold to €500 is a step in the right direction, work must continue, and Russia needs to learn from experience in this matter. developed countries, such as China, where there is no duty-free import, and Europe, where it will not be from 2021, the head of ACIT concluded.
The EAEU is an international integration economic association created on the basis of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. The union has been operating since 2015.
And finally, one special category - indivisible goods- these are goods weighing more than 35 kg, which cannot be divided into smaller parts (furniture, electronics, etc.). Paying for these items "Total customs fee» - duty + excise + VAT.
For example, let's take a sofa - weight 50 kg, customs value - 400 euros.
In the calculations, we will need to determine the product code in accordance with the TNVED - you can find these codes on the website of the Eurasian Economic Commission -
In accordance with TNVED, the duty for our sofa is 15% of its customs value, but not less than 0.519 euros per 1 kg. Plus excise for sofa = 0 and VAT = 18%.
Duty = 400 * 15% = 60 euros. I did not calculate the amount of the duty for excess weight, since it will definitely be less.
VAT = (400 + 60) * 18% = 82.8 euros
Total = 60 + 82.8 = 142.8 euros
As you can see, quite a lot has dripped. So if you find some cheap furniture on Aliexpress, do not be lazy to calculate how much you will have to pay in addition to its cost. The savings may not be that significant.
If you only order goods on Aliexpress from time to time, then worry about customs limits and you don't have to pay taxes.
Every day, new people register on the aliexpress trading platform: some are looking for the necessary thing for a long time and carefully, others are fond of virtual shopping, making several orders a week. The low cost of goods and attractive delivery conditions have already been appreciated by Russian entrepreneurs, who began to buy goods in large quantities from aliexpress. Few people know that in some situations, the buyer must pay additional customs fees. In order not to be in an uncomfortable position at the post office, unexpectedly receiving a receipt for payment of the duty along with the parcel, you need to know in what cases customs clearance of goods for aliexpress occurs.
In what cases are customs duties imposed on goods with aliexpress?
On aliexpress, the seller usually offers several transport companies through which he can send the goods. You can choose how free option delivery and commercial services. At the same time, no matter which company you choose, any order goes through Russian customs, which presents uniform requirements to all shipments. Even if you buy things on aliexpress only for yourself and your family, without commercial benefit, the customs can issue you a receipt for paying the duty:
- general material value parcels received by you for 31 calendar days exceeded 1000 Euro (30% of the difference in the cost of the parcel and the named limit is paid);
- the weight of all shipments for the same period exceeded 31 kg (the fee is 4 Euro per 1 kg exceeding the norm).
These rules are valid in all countries of the Customs Union. In Belarus, customs requirements are even more strict: if the limit of 1000 Euros is exceeded, the recipient of the parcels must pay 60% of the difference. The minimum value of the parcel, which is subject to the payment of duty, is 120 Euro.
These requirements need to be known, first of all, to participants in small and medium-sized businesses. Most customers on aliexpress are limited to small orders that are placed in small packages. The desire to order in bulk arises when stores offer goods at an attractive price, but in bulk.
To get a discount, someone unites for a joint order, others plan to give away the excess among acquaintances and friends. However, at customs, such a parcel can be identified as commercial and be required to clear it. Knowing the rules, Chinese sellers can send an order in several parcels to one address.
How to avoid customs clearance of goods with aliexpress
When ordering equipment or expensive gadgets on aliexpress, you can stumble upon unforeseen expenses. If the customs officers will issue customs duty, you will not be able to receive your order in the mail without paying taxes. The following tips can help you avoid this situation:
- keep a record of the cost and weight of your purchases for each month, see the amount upon receipt on the parcel;
- when dividing an order into several shipments, they must be sent sequentially so that the parcels do not end up at the customs point at the same time;
- a large order of more than 5 identical products can be distributed to different addresses, such as relatives or friends;
- when buying equipment, phones, laptops, ask sellers to indicate the real cost of the goods. In case of a suspiciously low value, customs officers may indicate a different value, the average market value;
- when ordering more than 5 identical products, arrange with the store to send in several parcels.
If, nevertheless, customs imposed a duty on your parcel, you have the right not to pay it and refuse the goods. After that, open a dispute on aliexpress with a detailed description of the situation. If you have documents confirming your refusal of the parcel and sending it back to China, attach their scan to the sender. Similar situations usually settled in favor of the buyer, but you will most likely be required to pay the seller's shipping costs.
In addition to requiring the payment of duties, customs officers can also bring the recipient to administrative responsibility. Before ordering any unusual goods, study the list of goods prohibited for import. On aliexpress, you can find pens with built-in cameras and other tricky gadgets: a customs inspector can classify such items as special technical means for "secret information". Let the slogan of aliexpress "Buy smarter" become your life motto.
Duty free import
Without paying customs duties, individuals have the right to transport goods across the border of the Russian Federation in the amount of:
Up to 1500 euros for land transport (train, car);
(!! - up to 500 euros from January 1, 2019)
Up to 10,000 euros for air transport (airplane).
In both cases, the total weight of imported items must not exceed 50 kg.
If the cost or weight is exceeded
If the price or weight of purchases made abroad is higher than the specified norms, but within the limits of 650,000 rubles. by price and 200 kg by weight, you will have to pay for exceeding the limit:
30% of the cost, but not less than 4 euros for each extra kilogram of weight.
More about duty-free import
It is important to understand that such a benefit as duty-free import applies to goods intended for personal use, satisfaction of personal, family, household and other "not related to the implementation entrepreneurial activity needs". To establish their destination, the customs officer takes into account such factors as the nature of the goods, their quantity, as well as the frequency of their movement across the border.
Items of the same type, for example, several pairs of jeans or shoes purchased for personal use, may be recognized at customs commercial party goods, which will also cause them to be taxed with increased rates, if not more unpleasant consequences for the citizens who transported them.
If the limits of 650,000 rubles are exceeded. or 200 kg, then the fees will be collected by customs officers at the rates of foreign economic activity.
It is not possible to indicate the exact amount of rates for this case in the framework of this review, since for different types products, customs duties are also different, and they exist for all categories of goods. In addition, there are several types of rates: ad valorem, specific and combined. This is not an easy question for the traders themselves. The rates of import customs duties are calculated on the basis of the unified customs tariff CCT in accordance with the rules of the Eurasian Economic Union. Moneyinformer advised ordinary citizens crossing the border to simply avoid situations where these rules might be enforced. You won’t be able to quickly study all the nuances, but you can start familiarizing yourself, for example, with this document.
How much can you take out
It is clear that in order to buy and import something, you must first export something. Of course, this is money. Funds for bank cards no need to declare, cash up to 3000 dollars (currency or rubles, the equivalent amount) too. From 3,000 to 10,000 dollars must be declared, and in order to take out large amounts in cash, permission from the Central Bank will be required.
Also, personal valuables are allowed for export without a declaration - Jewelry, expensive watches ... Some citizens use this rule in order not to pay duty on goods purchased abroad, passing them off as used goods. (See important news).
Internet shopping
Now, in 2018, Russian citizens can buy duty-free goods in foreign online stores for up to 1,000 euros per month, while the total weight of purchases should not exceed 31 kg.
If the price or weight of the purchased goods in any month of the year exceeds these standards, then the purchases will be subject to a duty of 30% of the value of the goods, but not less than 4 euros per 1 kg.
Changes expected:
From the announced plans of the government, it was assumed that from 2019 the threshold for duty-free purchases would change downward.
From January 1, 2019, it should have been equal to 500 euros. Exceeding this limit would entail the collection of duties of the previous value: 30% of the value of the goods, but not less than 4 euros per 1 kg.
- From January 1, 2020, this threshold was to be reduced to 200 euros. The customs duty rate in case of exceeding the limit was to be 15% of the cost of purchases, but not less than 2 euros per 1 kg.
However, quite a long time ago the Ministry of Finance and tax office announced plans to accelerate this transition:
Following this, the Federal customs Service came up with an even more radical suggestion:
- completely abolish the duty-free threshold for purchases in foreign online stores (however, while reducing the amount of duties levied).
What decisions will be made in the end is not yet clear, Moneyinformer will follow the news.
Changes delayed:
From July 1, 2018 they not entered. While the upper limit remains the same - 1000 euros per month.
Why is it difficult to predict how the situation will develop?
- Russian Post, according to its head Nikolai Podguzov, is not yet ready to lower the duty-free threshold even to €200, while work is underway to introduce automatic duty collection technology when placing orders in online stores.
The National Association for Distance Selling (NADT) has its own claims to the draft law, here they say that it is necessary to remove the time limit (“within a month”), and consider each purchase separately, since otherwise the administration procedure becomes much more complicated.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade issued a reminder that the cost of administering the collection of duties is €10, and it may turn out that instead of additional income, the procedure for the state will work in the red.
According to the authoritative opinion of the leading foreign players in the industry, eBay and Amazon, the new rules will not only not increase budget revenues, but will also slow down the development of the domestic Russian online commerce market, leading to a sharp decline in consumer purchasing activity. On the contrary, representatives of Russian online retailers, in particular Wildberries, are unambiguously in favor of taxing foreign parcels, as this should lead to an increase in sales of domestic online retailers.
Important news
12.11.2018Fees will rise
From 01.01.2019, the threshold for duty-free importation of goods for personal use by land transport is reduced from €1,500 to €500. The permitted weight of such goods is also reduced - from 50 to 25 kg. Changes are coming sooner than originally planned.
These rules will simultaneously be introduced in other EAEU countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
02.07.2018Everything is the same with Internet parcels
According to official information from the Ministry of Finance, from July 1, 2018, the threshold for duty-free importation of parcels from foreign online stores into Russia will not be reduced and it will remain at the same level. Exact data on the timing of lowering the threshold - are expected.
11.02.2018Customs knows everything about you
Bad news appeared for those Russian travelers who planned to bring expensive items from abroad (with a total value of more than 10,000 euros), passing them off as their own used ones and not paying a 30% customs tax on them. These items are most often watches and jewelry.
The media report that the FCS has the opportunity to quickly receive information about expensive purchases of Russians abroad. Customs officers meet some of the arriving tourists with a list of their overseas purchases in hand. The source of such information is probably Tax Free systems and their foreign counterparts cooperating with Russian law enforcement officers. Dozens of our citizens have already been caught transporting undeclared goods, among whom were civil servants and respectable businessmen, including those who arrived in the country on private aviation aircraft - business jets. As you know, smuggling (namely, this is the import of undeclared items) can be punished up to a criminal one.
The head of the FCS Vladimir Bulavin did not deny this information and confirmed that the customs service is cooperating with foreign colleagues in this area.
Additional Information
Import to Russia of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, animals, alcohol and tobacco, cars...
How to submit a declaration and make a payment
How to declare. Green and red corridors
All goods transported across the customs border of Russia are subject to customs control.
In order to inform the customs authorities about goods, the import of which is associated with the payment of customs duties or in compliance with the restrictions established by law (importation of weapons, medicines, animals, antiques ...), it is necessary to fill out a special declaration form, which can be obtained from a customs officer.
If such items and in such quantities are transported, for which customs payments are not provided, then no forms are required to be filled out.
At most international airports, seaports and border crossings by car system implemented customs control"two corridors" - red and green. It greatly simplifies and makes the screening process faster:
If a citizen is carrying things that he wants to declare to customs officers, he goes to the red corridor.
If he is sure that he does not need to fill out a declaration, he goes through the green corridor.
It is important to keep in mind that passing through the green corridor is also a declaration - that you do not have items with you that the law requires you to declare. There is even a special name for this procedure: "implicit declaration". Customs officers also "examine" citizens passing through the green corridor, only with less attention, often only with the help of video surveillance cameras. But this does not mean that they may not need to conduct a full search.
How to pay, payment terms
Customs duties are paid by individuals when declaring goods in writing on the basis of a customs receipt order, one copy of which is handed over to the person who paid the customs payments.
The term of payment for import should not exceed 15 days from the date of presentation of goods in customs Department at the place of their arrival in the customs territory of the Russian Federation.
Rules for the transport of certain categories of goods
As part of this overview, Moneyinformer provides general information. Detailed, accurate and up-to-date information on this issue can be obtained from the official website of the FCS.
Goods for personal use moved across the customs border:
- with payment of customs duties, taxes
- with exemption
Alcohol
An individual has the right to import 3 liters of alcoholic beverages into Russia duty-free.
Another 2 liters can be imported by making a declaration and paying a fee for them:
10 euros per liter of beer and wine
22 euros per liter of spirits (vodka, whiskey, cognac...)
It is forbidden to bring more than 5 liters. On alcoholic products purchased from a Duty Free store, the same rules apply.
Tobacco
An individual has the right to import duty-free into Russia up to 200 cigarettes or up to 50 cigars or up to 250 grams of tobacco.
Products
Food products are allowed to be imported in factory-labeled packaging and in an amount not exceeding 5 kg per person, with the exception of certain types of products from certain countries that have fallen under the temporary restrictions of Rosselkhoznadzor. Seeds of food crops, as well as flowers, cannot be transported.
Cars
This category of items moved across the border by individuals stands apart. To import a car into the territory of the Russian Federation, you need to pay VAT, excise and customs duties. For a thorough consideration of this issue, there are numerous reference tables and calculators. Moneyinformer will only indicate what characteristics of the car will affect the final cost of its import and customs clearance: its cost, volume, power and type of engine, weight, year of manufacture. The more expensive, more powerful, more modern the car is, the more you will have to pay, and in a significant progression.
Motor boats
For machines of other types of machines, as well as yachts, boats and other watercraft, a single tariff rate in the amount of 30% of the cost of the transported goods (equipment).
Prohibited for import
Goods whose import into Russia is prohibited by the current rules:
- Printing, photo and video products with pornographic content; similar products that may be related to state secrets; and also which can be classified as promoting racism, terrorism, national or religious hatred;
- Endangered species of animals and plants;
- Narcotic substances;
- Vegetable and fruit crops that do not have phytosanitary permits;
- Weapons, their components and ammunition in the absence of a special permit (including pneumatic, edged and gas weapons of certain types);
- Human biomaterials.
Responsibility for violation of the rules
Customs offenses include failure to declare or false declaration of goods, failure to re-import goods, smuggling, and others. Some of them can become objects administrative offenses, and others criminal, and, accordingly, entail measures of administrative or criminal liability. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, the perpetrator may be given a warning, a fine with or without confiscation of the imported goods, or may be threatened with imprisonment.
Export rules
The customs rules for the export of goods and money across the border of Russia are almost completely identical to the rules and procedures for import.
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