Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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166. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to repeated difficulties being reported in cases in which goods purchased by Irish consumers from vendors outside the EU are being returned to senders by An Post in instances in which the correct customs information is being provided by sellers on packages and that responsibility for the returns are being passed between An Post and the Customs Service; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that consumers and overseas sellers are reporting that the scale of such returns is unprecedented internationally and appears to be only a matter for goods shipped through An Post and not through other freight companies; if there has been any communications between his Department and An Post and the Customs Service regarding the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44429/21]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Revenue, as Ireland’s Tax and Customs administration, is responsible for controlling the importation and exportation of goods in accordance with the Union Customs Code and relevant national legislation and this includes goods being imported through the postal system. Ireland’s membership of the EU means that we have obligations to ensure that the requirements of membership are fully observed. I am advised by Revenue that electronic customs import declarations are now required for all parcels / packages coming from non-EU countries through the postal system regardless of the value of the goods being sent. This includes parcels / packages coming from the UK.

Revenue, in accordance with the confidentiality provisions of Section 851A Of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, is precluded from commenting on the tax and customs affairs of any specific business. However, I am advised by Revenue that postal operators or courier businesses delivering imported goods are required to complete the relevant customs import declarations on behalf of the importer and to account for any customs duty or VAT that arise on the importation of these goods. These declarations are generally submitted based on the information supplied by the exporting party. However, the importer may also provide information to the postal operator or courier business. Where the postal operator or courier business does not have the necessary information to complete the Customs import declaration then, it may contact the exporter or importer in order to gather the necessary information. The postal operator or courier business may also choose to re-export the goods to the country of origin if they do not have sufficient information to ensure the completion of the import declaration. It is a matter for the relevant postal operator or courier business to determine, based on its business model, how it will deal with instances where the data needed to complete the necessary customs formalities is not available.

I am aware that Revenue provides information and assistance to all importers, including postal operators and courier businesses, to ensure that they are aware of their obligations in relation to customs.