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boxes from USPS in Belgium post office
Sent several boxes of household goods/coats/toys via USPS to Brussels. Insured them at 'replacement' value. Received notices for excessive duties (17 Euro) for a poster tube with posters that probably didn't cost that much. Just got one for 200 Euro for a box of coats (worn, nothing fancy). Is there any way to negotiate or justify with the Belgium Post Office/Customs on what they charge? At these rates, the duties cost more than the goods. Lesson learned but would take advice.
You didn't receive notices for excessive duties, you received notices for the assessed duties due under Belgian law plus an examination fee for each separate parcel which was subjected to Custom's examination. You have to pay the latter charge even if there were no dutiable goods in the parcel.
You can import goods from any country within the European Economic Area (EU plus a few) and there will be no Custom's examination (nor consequent delays), but if you receive parcels of any sort, even gifts, from outside the EEA you are liable to pay. You can, if course, always refuse to accept the parcel.
Note that corresponding arrangements will apply in the opposite direction too. If you are buying goods for presents for people in the States, buy them from a US-based website and have them delivered direct to the recipients.
Unfortunately no.
As a small hope I would just say that a couple of years ago, I had a similar experience. Was sent a box a t-shirts from the US. I didn't need them, and certainly wasn't going to pay anything for receiving them. I just refused to pay and told them to return the box to the US. About 2 months later it was delivered to my house with no charges.
Basically you can import personal goods (i.e. if you're moving house), but only when it's done correctly via a removals firm. Otherwise, anything sent from outside the EU is liable for customs handling fees and duties.
I have come across this many times on eBay. For some reason, Americans seem to think the value on the CN22 is an insurance value and so put as much on there as they think they possible can.
The result is usually furious European customers hit with taxes and fees.
The value on the CN22 is for the benefit of the receiving country in order to help them assess duty and taxes. It has no other purpose.
I have had to collect and pay taxes on goods in Brussels before. You can argue your case there or just refuse the goods. They should eventually be returned to sender.
You say you indicated the replacement value, which is a mistake. Parcels as such are not subject to insurance, unless you add and pay for an insurance and add a value indication which is normally pointless with private household stuff.
You should have entered the actual value, which for used stuff is easily zero, especially for clothes. Also tick the "gift" box which indicates it is not for sale, but a gift you make to yourself. Call it "household goods", and it then will probably not even be checked by customs.
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