Do you really know the Customs Rules ?
In the current digital world where Internet generates edifying transactions, you need to protect yourself in order not to do any old thing, no matter how, with the wrong people…
Since the e-commerce boom, the customs administration became very vigilant and now wants to make people respect the law. The corrections are "so severe" that they do not justify risk-taking behaviors. Some of our customers confide us some annoying situations they had to face : company tax investigation and/or personal tax investigation, customs controls, recovery measures with heavy penalties, goods seized …
Obviously, ordering from Starnet is the guarantee of a total safety. Nevertheless, it is convenient for us to inform you about fiscal and customs legislation.
Without considering these indications as a bill, Starnet wants to let you know specifically about the import legal procedures that make the Starnet customers be in accordance with the French and European legislations. As a Starnet customer you are sure that the whole customs and fiscal rules are already carried out and settled. This is the assurance not to take any risk and not to face the aforementioned problems.
When a European company imports goods from a non-member country of the EU, it is subject to several taxes and responsibilities in order to make legal its distribution within its country or within other EU members. It is what happens when Starnet imports the luxurious Leg Avenue lingerie from the United States. Since the purchase from the manufacturer until the delivery on the French frontier, a legal, compulsory and complex process is respected.
Certificate of origin for goods : this statement, endorsed by Leg Avenue Inc. USA and the competent American authorities, allows shipment from the American territory. It also corroborates the conformity of the exported textile goods to the French customs.
If this certificate was not displayed when goods arrive in France, the exit of the customs warehouse would be forbidden. Goods would be forwarded (after some deadline) to the initial shipper at the importer’s expenses. Also, the non-presentation of this document in case of a later control of the administration would be punished even more seriously !
Import Declaration IM4 : This compulsory document is delivered by the French customs after controlling goods. It allows, among others, to calculate customs expenses due by the importer (payable immediately !). This declaration also guarantees the importer that goods are complying with the French and international laws, i.e, that products are not imitated. As most of the worldwide leading brands, Leg Avenue is also concerned by the fake issue. For this reason, a digital security code is affixed on all Leg avenue packaging.
VAT Payment : Any purchase of goods from a non-member country of the EU is subjected to the VAT (19.6 % in France). The VAT must be paid at the same time that customs expenses. Its nonpayment would lead to heavy penalties : in addition of the complete repayment of this tax, penalties for delay would be necessarily calculated.
In addition, one might know that the disregard of only one of these rules exposes the offender not only to pay taxes and very heavy fines, but also to face a customs control - over current and past dealings – and a tax investigation. Moreover, customs and fiscal services will consider that goods were brought illegally in the European Union and that they are probably wrong. This suspicion would lead to the seizure and the destruction of goods, and/or the offender would also face very heavy penalties.
As an example, if you decide to import legally goods from a country which is not member of the European Union, you will have to pay for customs expenses around 12 % of the amount of the value of goods, plus an 19.6 % VAT - if you are in France –, and naturally very high shipping costs as they represent from 20 % to 25 % of the total value of goods. The final bill increases about 35 % (without VAT).
Please click on the following link for more information : http://www.douane.gouv.fr/menu.asp?id=498
To conclude, not everyone can act as an importer ! This business is subjected to strict obligations that Starnet respects literally, with professionalism and rigor.
Therefore, the Starnet customers enjoy the following advantages and guarantees :
- All expenses and taxes are already paid and would never be claimed from the tax administration or customs.
- Goods can travel freely within the European Union and are certified.
- Orders are quickly delivered as they are stored in France.
- Shipping and packaging costs are low, and their price rates are clearly shown.
- Any product with a possible manufacturing fault is immediately exchanged (after reception and control at the Starnet office)
- Our customer support service is available in French, English, Spanish, and Italian.
Order from Starnet makes you feel totally secure !
© Starnet SAS 2010