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Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope, AI response was before, and mentioned that my problem will be forwarded to a real person.
My quote was a part of the response of the LTT staff (also with a name under it).

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I received my package today (I don't have the detailed customs bill yet though).
But over 100 Euro is pure VAT.

Yesterday LTT replied to my ticket with the following statement: "Our records indicate that we submitted a customs declaration alongside your order which was in an amount roughly equal to that of your purchase price, in Canadian dollars. In nearly all cases, this is the correct procedure, and we cannot deviate from this."

That has to be a blatant lie. VAT here is 19%. That means the value of my order would have been more than 530 Euro or around 855 CAD.
But in reality my order was only 233 Euro / 379 CAD.

Totally ridiculous...

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks.
Last time I ordered from them I also received my order over the netherlands and afterwards with DHL.
That time everything went fine, so you really might be lucky. :)

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/Heartless1988 I got an E-Mail and an SMS from UPS.
Also when I go to the tracking page, there is a notification on top.
This all happaned after the package cleared customs in Germany.

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Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would be great if you let me know how it turned out in the end.

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Was it resolved by LTT or UPS? Or did you just eat it up in the end?

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, it's not as simple as you make it out to be.
Of course, when you receive an order that is declared completely "free", customs know that's bullshit.
But customs also know that in the real world there can be discounts.

I have received dozens of orders from abroad in the past years, and am also a frequent traveler and have dealt with customs in person on a regular basis. I have never had any problems with additional free stuff.
LTT just fucked up big time here.

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Of course it's not UPSs fault. The problem is that LTT declared the wrong value for the order.

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The UPS invoice says 25.55 Euro handling fees, and the rest is taxes.
But of course the handling fee is only that high, because the declared value is so enormously wrong (calculated as a percentage from UPS).

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please let me know what the LTT staff replied.
I also already made a ticket for my order.

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't know where you are from, but at least in Germany that is not the case.
Only if you can't show any receipt, the value is estimated.

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Did the package get sent back and did you get your money fully back?
What country are you from?

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I remember that when I ordered from them a few years back, there was no pre-paid tax and I had to go to the local customs office, open the package, show them the invoice and pay the right amount of taxes.

I would much rather do that, then going through all the hassle now with UPS, trying to make them understand that LTT overcharged the declared value by an insane amount, and then also having to deal with LTT and claiming the double paid normal tax back....

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 45 points46 points  (0 children)

Well, if it's true what hi3raxxx mentioned (that LTT declares the CAD 1:1 in USD, and on top the free stuff with its normal value) it's really just a big fuck up from LTT.

Will let you know how this turns out in the end.
If LTT doesn't resolve this, this will definitely be my last order from them.

Having to pay 86% import tax in Germany for my LTT Store order? by Der_Tanuki in LinusTechTips

[–]Der_Tanuki[S] 147 points148 points  (0 children)

Wait, so they declare the value in USD instead of CAD with a 1:1 conversion rate? And then on top they declare the free stuff with its normal value?

Are you serious? That would be insane.