Has PedalPCB looked into IOSS (VAT + declaration for goods sent to EU) ?

[pettert]

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Dearest PedalPCB,


Aliexpress, Ebay, Amazon, Etsy and some others are really neat buying stuff from, because I never have to handle paying fees before the package gets released to me. Maybe most importantly for the discussion, JLCPCB also does this.

Nowadays, Tayda, PedalPCB and a few others make me hesitant to buy from because on top of VAT i get struck with a handling fee every time (about 10$) because VAT was not paid beforehand. In a way, the problem is administrative because I can't deposit money for VAT ahead of the package reaching customs but it still makes me think about drawing the board myself instead of ordering it.

Any others here from EU feel the same way as me? Please chime in!

USPS FAQ:

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Import-One-Stop-Shop-IOSS

Maybe registering is a major pain in the ass, and not worth it. If that's the case, I respect that.

Thanks for listening!

 

[PedalPCB]

The last time I checked (which has been a few years) there was no unification whatsoever.

Each region had their own "one-stop-shop", orders would have had to been manually processed every month to submit VAT to each county/province/etc OSS individually.

I'll look into it again, it's been a while, maybe things have improved.

A pain in the ass might be worth it as long as it doesn't involve hiring a new team to handle it on a daily basis.

 

[fontoponto]

Nowadays, Tayda, PedalPCB and a few others make me hesitant to buy from because on top of VAT i get struck with a handling fee every time (about 10$) because VAT was not paid beforehand.

Convenient ways do exist:
I order from Tayda via Fedex and have a Fedex account mentioned in the address field. The credit card number isnjn my account so Fedex charges no handling fee. (Germany)

 

[pettert]

Convenient ways do exist:
I order from Tayda via Fedex and have a Fedex account mentioned in the address field. The credit card number isnjn my account so Fedex charges no handling fee. (Germany)

Thank you, that is great information!!

 

[fontoponto]

Thank you, that is great information!!

It seems that Incan‘t find this information on the Fedex website but here

UPS vs FedEx Package Customs: Fees, Speed & Clearance Guide

Compare UPS vs FedEx customs handling, fees, and delivery speed. Learn which carrier is better for international shipping and how to avoid surprise charges.

www.efulfillmentservice.com

FedEx tends to keep things simpler. Express international services come with brokerage included, similar to UPS. But for economy or ground options, FedEx usually charges a flat fee, often between $10 and $20, regardless of package value.

Here’s where it gets more appealing for frequent shippers: if you have a FedEx account and choose to bill duties to that account, they often waive the brokerage fee entirely. One user reported being charged $19.95 for a package to Canada, but that fee was removed because it was billed to a FedEx account.

FedEx also charges a disbursement fee when paying duties up front. In Canada, this might be around $10. Still, FedEx’s overall approach tends to feel more transparent. You know what you’re paying, and you’re less likely to get surprised by hidden fees.

I once complained about the fee then they gave it back. Another order was fine then they charged the fee again for another order. I opened a ticket again and they seemed to forgot the ticket. They payed all upfront but didn‘t charge my card. I want to pay but can‘t

 

[andare]

Every time I buy from the US I get charged about 25% of the total order to cover Poland's 23% VAT and import taxes. I pay that at the post office when I get my package. I don't think there's a way for the vendor to deal with that. It's not too much hassle for me besides the expense.

However I've never bought anything from Tayda because things might be different with items other than PCBs.
In 2025 I bought a pedal from the US and Polish customs held it for a while, sent me a paper letter requesting all kinds of documents. The vendor was very helpful but I had to send a detailed description of the item, in Polish, plus declarations of compliance with EU safety regulations for electronics. The whole process took almost a month on top of the two weeks it took for the item to reach Poland.
Then I had to return the item to the US for a small issue. When the vendor shipped it back to me, I got charged all over again despite the item being marked a return. The vendor covered all costs associated with the return because they're great. I would buy from them again but it is a lengthy and expensive process and another vendor may not be as gracious.

Really interested in what @fontoponto mentioned as I've been buying electronics from Europe so far but I wouldn't have an account with Fedex as I only buy components a couple of times a year.
EU stores are understocked at best, expensive, and no one offers UV printed enclosures. It's a big reason I stopped building pedals.

 

[pettert]

Every time I buy from the US I get charged about 25% of the total order to cover Poland's 23% VAT and import taxes. I pay that at the post office when I get my package. I don't think there's a way for the vendor to deal with that. It's not too much hassle for me besides the expense.

I don't mind the 25% VAT much, I'm whining about the $10 charge I get even if the stuff ordered from vendors in UK, US and Thailand is worth like $5-10. At the same time no problem with junk bought from Temu and Aliexpress (or Amazon and Ebay).