New Regulations for Online Shopping from Abroad: Navigating the 27 Euro Limit
Recent adjustments to regulations governing overseas online shopping have brought significant changes to limits and taxes. Effective last August, a decision published in the Official Gazette dramatically altered the landscape for consumers purchasing goods from abroad. These changes include substantial tax increases, ranging from 66% to 100%, and a sharp reduction in the shopping limit from 150 euros down to 30 euros.
Revised Tax Rates Detailed
The updated regulations specify new tax rates for goods arriving via postal or express cargo services, intended for personal use and not commercial quantities, valued at 30 euros or less, and certain medications not exceeding 1500 euros in value. The tax structure is as follows:
a) For goods arriving directly from European Union countries: 30% tax.
b) For goods arriving from other countries: 60% tax.
c) An additional 20% tax will be levied on goods listed in list (IV) attached to the Special Consumption Tax Law No. 4760, dated 6/6/2002, on top of the rates mentioned above.
Alt text: Dramatic reduction in overseas online shopping limit to 30 euros impacting consumers and international e-commerce
What the New Amendment Entails
Further modifications have been introduced with a recent decision published in the Official Gazette, amending the Decision on the Implementation of Certain Articles of the Customs Law No. 4458.
This amendment adds a clause to the third paragraph of Article 63 of the Decision on the Implementation of Certain Articles of the Customs Law No. 4458. The new clause states: “For goods specified in the first, second, and third paragraphs of the same article, transportation costs to the port or place of entry in Turkey will be added to the value of the goods. The Ministry is authorized to determine the procedures and principles regarding the implementation of this paragraph.”
This new regulation will take effect 30 days after its publication.
Increased Costs Due to Added Services for Amounts Exceeding the Limit
With this regulatory change, shipping costs will now be included in the price of products ordered from overseas e-commerce sites. If the total value, including shipping, exceeds 30 euros, it will become necessary to engage customs consultancy services to manage the customs procedures. This will inevitably increase the overall cost for consumers.
For example, consider purchasing a pen valued at 29 euros from an overseas website, Site A. If the shipping cost to Turkey is 2 euros, the total declared value of the item will now be 31 euros under the new regulation. Consequently, as this exceeds the 30-euro shopping limit, customs consultancy services will be required. It’s important to remember that the overseas express cargo shopping limit was previously reduced from 150 euros to 30 euros last August.
Alt text: Example of how shipping costs now contribute to exceeding the 30 euro overseas purchase limit requiring customs procedures
Representation for Customs Procedures
According to the legal article, all customs procedures, including customs declarations, must be managed and finalized for non-commercial goods valued between 30 euros and 1500 euros. Postal administrations and express cargo companies meeting criteria set by the Ministry of Trade can be authorized as indirect representatives.
Express cargo companies utilizing this authorization employ customs consultants. The Ministry of Trade retains the authority to increase the quantity or value limits up to ten times for goods subject to export regulations.
The 30 Kilogram Rule
It is also crucial to note the 30-kilogram rule. If the purchased goods exceed 30 kilograms, they are then subject to commercial customs laws. For goods exceeding 30 kilograms, an additional 48% customs duty is applied in calculations.
Alt text: Navigating customs regulations for international online purchases requires understanding new limits and potential consultancy services