Post wants lower fees – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

Today, parcels with a value of less than 350 are exempt from VAT and customs duties, but will expire from 2020.

The Post pays today 158 kroner to interpret the package for you. This right will be reduced when the so-called deficit of 350 crowns disappears, we will believe the post.

The fee of NOK 158 is to cover the costs of registering, reporting and physically handling the package. Today, the customer must pay these fees only if the package has a value between 350 and 3,000 kroner.

In 2017, NOK 88.5 million was paid for "simplified customs clearance".

Will make money for something that people want

"We do not want to pay for something that people do not want, we want to make money for what people really want," said Posten press officer John Eckhoff.

He says Posten is now working to find an easier way to interpret the packages.

Nevertheless, the law imposes a number of tasks on the post office and other companies that provide parcels. Therefore, it is not realistic to completely remove the fees.

"The price of simplified customs clearance will not be NOK 158 in 2020. We are looking for a cheaper solution, but it also depends on people other than Posten," Eckhoff said.

Having to pay anyway

Since it was learned that the government wanted to remove the 350 clean crowns, it was asked if it was possible to avoid paying customs fees when transporting something in the country. This is not it.

For example, you can interpret the goods privately, directly to the customs, but the distributor will always charge for the registration, handling and reporting.

Thus, you will have to pay a fee, even if you choose to pay the customs duties directly to Tollvesnet.

The post would wait for the EU

By 2021, the EU will implement a common international solution to pay VAT directly in online stores.

Posten believes that this online solution facilitates customs clearance and that it was wise to wait for 350 crowns to be withdrawn.

"Posten had to wait for the EU's common solution for VAT collection directly in the online store to be in place by 2021, but other players wanted a limit of 350 crowns on as quickly as possible, "said Eckhoff.