In some cases, you may be asked to pay VAT and import charges again, even though you already paid them when placing your order. 

Some webshops collect these charges upfront. However, they must also send this information electronically for verification to customs. If the information is missing, incomplete or incorrect, customs cannot verify that the charges have already been paid. 

As a result, VAT and import costs may be charged again when your parcel arrives in Belgium. 

Important: It is not enough for this information to be written on the parcel or shared afterwards. Customs must receive it in the correct digital format before the parcel is imported. 

What can you do? 

You have 2 options: 

1. Refuse the parcel
   • Refuse the parcel via the My bpost app or Track & Trace. 
   • Then contact the seller and request a full refund. 
2. Pay the charges and request a refund
   • Pay the charges so your parcel can be delivered. 
   • Then contact the seller and ask for a refund of the VAT and import costs that were charged incorrectly. 

When a parcel from outside the European Union arrives in Belgium, it is handed over to the bpost customs clearance service, which prepares it for customs clearance. The process is as follows:

1. Clearance of the parcel

If VAT on your parcel has been paid in advance via the webshop, it will be immediately handed over to customs. If not, it will be cleared through customs first. This includes the calculation of customs duties, VAT and any other fees (like anti-dumping duties and environmental duties).

As the recipient, you must pay these import costs in advance via the My bpost app or via Track & Trace. You will receive an email, text message or letter with a payment invitation.

2. Security check

Customs performs a security check on all goods arriving in Belgium from outside the European Union. Customs checks whether the goods can be imported to Belgium. If not (e.g. counterfeit goods, weapons or medicine), customs blocks your parcel.

If your shipment is subject to inspection, please allow for an additional 3 to 7 days.

3. Delivery of the parcel

As soon as customs clears the goods, bpost takes care of delivery. Bear in mind that the whole process can take several days. You can track the status of your parcel via Track & Trace. You will be notified if any further formalities need to be completed.

 

This depends on where your parcel was sent.

My parcel comes from inside the European Union

Customs is authorised to check all shipments from inside the European Union. That usually involves suspect shipments from EU member states and shipments with excisable goods inside the European Community. Your parcel doesn't usually experience extra delays.

My parcel comes from outside the European Union

These parcels undergo an import procedure by default. The handling period depends on the following two factors:

• whether your parcel has enough information, such as the value and nature of the goods. (If that is not the case, you will receive a letter a few days later. In that case, the handling period is extended until you send the additional information). The customs clearance service of bpost checks whether VAT, customs fees or other duties have to be paid on your parcel. 
• whether customs or other official authorities have to check your parcel. That is the case for medicine, plants and food, weapons, suspected counterfeit goods, etc. You can follow the status of your parcel online with Track & Trace and the My bpost app.

Once the import costs are calculated, you will find a detailed overview of the costs in Track & Trace and in the My bpost app. You will receive a request to pay the import costs. This can be by email, text message or notification if you have installed the My bpost app. If the sender did not send us the data digitally, you will receive a letter with a payment request.

You can make the payment securely via the My bpost app or by signing in via Track & Trace. You can pay via Bancontact, Mastercard, Visa or mobile banking. Also from abroad. PayPal and bank transfers are not possible.

Exceptionally, you can pay your import costs in another way.

Watch out for fake messages and phishing; bpost will never ask you to pay by bank transfer or provide a bank account number. Read all about it on our phishing page.

In certain cases, a parcel received from outside the EU can be exempt from import costs. We then speak of a gift. Your parcel must meet the following conditions:

• The sender is a private person (e.g. family member, friend, acquaintance). A parcel from an online shop is never considered a gift (even if it says gift on the package).
• The contents of the parcel are for personal use. If the parcel contains alcoholic products, tea, coffee, perfume, eau de toilette, tobacco or tobacco products, the excise duty-free quantity is not exceeded. More detailed information can be found in the related Royal Decree.
• The value of the shipment does not exceed €45. If the total value of your shipment exceeds €45 and consists of several goods, you can get a partial exemption for the goods that (on their own or together) are worth max €45. (See table)
• As the recipient, you have not paid for the parcel.

It is important that the sender declares the shipment as a gift on the customs form (CN22 or CN23).

Please note: if your parcel meets all the requirements and you are still charged import costs, you can dispute these costs and apply for an exemption.