Minimising cost of sending knitting to the Netherlands

Savvy_Sue

TLDR: is there a way of sending preloved knitting to the Netherlands without the recipient having to pay tax on arrival?

The details: I am about to become a Grandma. I am here in the UK, Baby is in Amsterdam.

I knit. I am already a Great Aunt, and some of the things I have knitted for my Great Niblings have been returned to me for the imminent arrival.

Obviously I'd like to jump on the train the minute Baby arrives, but I am going to show restraint and wait until I have checked it is OK to go (and until t'other Grandma has made it!) Meanwhile I have a very small baby blanket, preloved, which I'd like to get to Baby, because I don't know how long it will be useful for.

Is it pot luck, or are there ways of ensuring the recipients don't get a Customs demand?

And yes, I have given as much as was ready in person, but I've been given more since then.

Apologies if this has been asked before: the board is a bit daunting for someone new to it … and I couldn't find any recent threads on the subject.

Woodstok2000

Gifts under 45euro are exempt from fees and duty. You can provide details of value when you post it. Would it be worth more than that?

Savvy_Sue

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037601#Comment_82037601

Good grief no! And that's at both ends is it?

Apparently someone sent them some baby clothes from the UK and VAT was charged on arrival. Of course I don't know how much they were worth, and whether they were flagged as a gift (although I suspect they should have been).

Clearly I shall have to investigate further.

Woodstok2000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037603#Comment_82037603

Theres no export costs from thr UK, only import duties at the other end, which should be zero here.

Make sure you are clear on the customs declaration that its a gift of second hand baby clothes, under 45 euro, and you should be fine.

martindow

If you are using Royal Mail to send it, it is cheaper to do this online. You are asked for details and whether it is a gift and the customs declaration is completed and printed out with the postage label. As has been said, it should not be charged at all at NL customs for low value gifts.

https://send.royalmail.com/

Exodi

You will need to fill out a short CN22 form which is put on the box with the shipping label when you send something overseas. This can either be done online if you're pre-booking the postage, or in the post office. I'd recommend the former as you can ensure it's all filled out correctly.

It sounds daunting but the form is relatively simple, you can find details about here:

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/customs-forms/cn22-form-guide

https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2023-04/CN22A%20Jan%202021_0_0.pdf

All you need to provide (aside from the obvious like the address!) is a description, value and weight of the goods.

Assuming you mark the goods as a gift, and enter a reasonable value (under €45) they shouldn't incur import duties.