Customers ordering goods from non-EU countries (so-called third countries) after April 1st will face an important change: the Czech Post can represent them as their clearance agent (applies to individuals only).

Starting from the beginning of April, the Czech Post will act as clearance agent for its customers importing goods from third countries. The change has been introduced to meet legislative requirements of the European Union and to improve customs procedure in relation to importations from third countries.

On the arrival of the consignment, the customer will get a notice of arrival and authorisation form. By signing the completed form and mailing it back (hard copy or by email) the customer will authorise the Czech Post to act as the customer's clearance agent. This means that the Czech Post will deal with the customs officials in terms of all communication; pay the assessed duty, which will then be collected from the recipient on delivery of the consignment, including any administrative fees and the fee for clearance agent's services; act on behalf of the customer in customs-related remedial procedures (if any), such as appeals against customs decisions, renewed customs procedure, etc.

Customers who decide not to authorise the Czech Post can use other clearance agents or act in person, i.e. file customs declaration form for the consignment at the customs office.  

Quality is not free

Services of clearance agent are costly, especially in terms of human resources and technical facilities. The Czech Post will act as a business entity, without any state subsidies; like postal administrations in other developed European countries, it has to charge at least a minimum fee able to cover the costs of this service.

Consignments released without customs duty and VAT are subject to no fee for customs clearance.

Consignments, which cannot be cleared, either due to missing or incorrect details in the postal declaration form or due to the lack of necessary documents, will be deposited in an interim warehouse against a fee of CZK 96 (incl. VAT) to be paid by the customer for higher labour cost necessary to clear the consignment.

Consignments released with customs duty/VAT are subject to a fee of CZK 180 (incl. VAT).
Above-standard services (e.g. guaranteed clearance within 12 hrs required by the customer, interim warehousing of the goods, etc.) are subject to fees according to valid price list.

This novel service with a complete concept solution moves the Czech Post to the level of supra-national postal operators active on the Czech market, however, with one major exception: the fees the customer will have to pay for its services of clearance agent will be substantially lower.

Amended VAT Act to come in force, April 1st

Consignments made up of "goods of negligible value", sent from third countries, whose own value does not exceed EUR 150, are currently subject to relief from import duty.

Starting from April 1st, the amended VAT Act provides that relief from VAT applies "only to imported goods whose total value does not exceed EUR 22, with the exception of alcoholic beverages, perfumes, toilet water, tobacco and tobacco products, which are limited by volume, rather than value."

Growing interest in imports of goods

Over the last month, the volume of goods imported from third countries increased year-on-year by tens of percents, due to the amended VAT Act. A multiple increase (by up to ten times in case of letters) in the number of consignments requiring clearance is expected from April 1st.

Mgr. Marta Selicharová
Spokeswoman
Czech Post
selicharova.marta@cpost.cz