EORI Number

If you are a registered business and VAT registered in your own country, we need your Economic Operator Registration and Identification (“EORI”) number. Simply put, you need an EORI number to trade goods with countries outside of the EU. This number is unique to you, or your business, and is assigned by your country’s customs authority. The EORI system was introduced on 1st July 2009, replacing TURN.

Using your EORI number replaces the previous VAT process used when the UK was part of the EU. 

If you are VAT registered in your own country an EORI number is very quick and easy to obtain on-line if you don’t have one. If you are unsure speak to your accountant.

The below website link will take you to the Customs’ website in your own country for assistance.

Please enter your EORI on the Checkout page of our website. We are unable to ship to you without an EORI number if you are a business and it will cause delivery delays if we do not have it. The courier may also have to return the goods to Foldabox, which will incur further costs.

If you are VAT registered you can claim back the VAT payment using your normal VAT reclaim process.

If you are not VAT registered in your own country and are running a small business, you will be importing the goods as an individual, not a company. Please do not add a company name in your delivery address. We do not need an EORI number but you will be charged VAT upon import of the product to your country. If you are not VAT registered you will be unable to claim back this additional cost. Previously Foldabox would have charged you 20% VAT, now you pay the VAT to your own government at the % applicable to your own country. 

VAT / Sales Tax

Post-Brexit, couriers are required to collect and process your VAT payment at the time the goods are delivered. We use DHL for all our non-palletised international shipments because their processes, tracking, and costs are more reliable than the other couriers.

Before your goods are delivered, you will be contacted by DHL for your VAT payment based on the value of your goods. This will be the VAT rate applicable to your country. If you are VAT registered you can claim back the tax in the normal way you reclaim domestic VAT.

VAT is referred to as the below abbreviation in each country: 

Administration Cost

To manage the collection of VAT, DHL will charge you an administration charge. DHL calls it a ‘Disbursement Fee’, but other couriers may call it a Customs’ fee or Administration fee.  It varies from country to country but on average is €14.50 per consignment + VAT, or a percentage of the VAT value, whichever is higher. There are order examples below to help explain. This fee is paid directly to DHL, along with your VAT payment, at the time of delivery. DHL will contact you with details prior to delivery.

Please do not delay when DHL contacts you or the goods may be placed into storage awaiting payment and will incur additional fees. It is important to know that Foldabox has no control over these costs or processes.

Please note that VAT is charged on the goods value including the delivery cost and the administration cost but if you are VAT registered you can claim back the portion of VAT.

DHL’s administrative costs for your country can be found on the table below.

Example 1: Below the % Threshold

An order of £180.00 + courier cost of £55.00 for shipping to Ireland has a total order cost of £235.00 (which equates to approx. €266.30.) The Irish VAT rate is 23%, which equates to approx. €61.25 VAT (€266.30 x 23%.). VAT is charged on the Euro cost value including the delivery cost.

DHL’s administrative fee of 2.5% on €61.25 VAT (see the table above) equates to €1.53 (which is lower than €14.50), so DHL will collect €14.50 + VAT + €61.25 VAT on the goods value. DHL will contact you prior to delivery with instructions on how to pay them.

Example 2: Above the % Threshold

An order of £2,700.00 + courier cost of £300.00 for shipping to France has a total order cost of £3,000.00 (which equates to approx. €3,399.60.) The French VAT rate is 20%, which equates to approx. €679.92. VAT is charged on the Euro cost value including the delivery cost.

DHL’s administrative fee of 2.55% on €679.92 (see the table above) equates to €17.34 (which is higher than €14.60), so DHL will charge €17.34 + VAT, + €679.92 VAT on the goods value (called TVA in France.) DHL will contact you prior to delivery with instructions on how to pay them.

Notes:

• We use DHL for all our international non-palletised shipments because their processes and costs are better than other couriers.

• Please note we cannot pay the additional administration cost for you. This is a DHL shipping charge and is an additional cost to the cost of goods you purchase from Foldabox.

• Please do not delay in responding to DHL when they contact you for VAT payment. If they do not receive communication and payment within 3 days the goods can be put into storage and will attract additional costs. Ultimately the goods may not be delivered and will be returned to us.

• Please refer to DHL’s on-line invoice for a breakdown of costs. DHL charges an additional €5.00 if you request a printed invoice.

Duty

Our gift boxes, photo frames, mailing cartons and cupcake dividers are duty free when imported into the EU.

However, our separately supplied ribbons and decorative closures may have small amount of duty to pay. In order to check with your own Customs’ authority please double check the below tariff codes to confirm they are duty free in your country before you order. These are also called HS codes, and are universally recognised.

• Please note that any duty payable cannot be paid by Foldabox and will be added to the costs charged by DHL, payable at the same time as the disbursement fee and VAT. Duty charges cannot be reclaimed from your government. Only VAT can be reclaimed, if you are VAT registered. 

Gift Boxes:
HS Code 4819 2000 00

Ribbons (supplied separately):
HS Code - 5806 3210 00 = 7.5% duty

Decorative Closures:
HS Code - 9606 2100 00 = 3.7% duty

Mailing Cartons:
HS Code - 4819 1000 00

Cupcake Dividers:
HS Code - 4823 9085 80

Photo Frames:
HS Code - 4823 9085 80