Not sure how much your purchase will cost in terms of duties and taxes when you shop online abroad? In this article you will find answers to some of the most important questions that you should know before shopping online in stores outside Norway.
1. What are the tax rules when importing to Norway?
In 2020, the authorities introduced two significant changes to the rules for making purchases in foreign online stores. After: 1. removal of the VAT exemption for goods up to NOK 350 and after: 2. new regulations on the import of food products.
The VAT exemption proved difficult to implement, so the authorities decided that the purchase of goods below NOK 350 would be duty-free during the transition period. This means you don't have to pay anything extra once you receive your item.
Posten has prepared a new customs clearance service that will be launched for goods worth less than NOK 350 when the authorities end the transition period.
2. How much do I have to pay in customs duties and taxes when I shop online abroad?
What you have to pay depends on a few different things, such as the value of the item and its type.
Please note that if you buy groceries abroad, you must pay VAT on food and beverages regardless of the value, even below NOK 350. In addition, some goods will be subject to customs and excise duties, e.g. sugar tax. Foodstuffs include, for example, food, sweets, non-alcoholic drinks, healthy food or other dietary supplements, protein supplements, spices or tea.
Are you going to buy something from abroad and wonder how much you will have to pay? The customs calculator is a great tool to use .
Another factor that determines fees is whether the online store/marketplace is registered with VOEC.
Shipments from online stores authorized by VOEC are not subject to customs clearance
3. What is VOEC?
VOEC stands for "VAT on e-commerce" (Mva på e-commerce). This is the VAT register run by the Norwegian Tax Agency, where international online stores can register. By being registered with VOEC, the online store is authorized by the Norwegian authorities to collect taxes. Also reporting VAT directly to the Norwegian tax authorities.
For you as a customer, this means that the online store must collect VAT on goods to Norway at the time of ordering, so that you can pay directly to the online store. This applies to commercial goods with a unit value of up to NOK 3000 per item.
This means you can buy as many items as you want and send them in the same shipment, as long as each item is worth less than NOK 3000 and is intended for private use.
Shipments from VOEC-authorized online stores are not subject to customs clearance, new taxes or customs duties once the goods arrive in Norway.
Read more about VOEC at the Norwegian Customs Service.
4. Can I shop for any type of goods in a VOEC-registered store?
No, you can not. The following goods are not covered by the program:
- food products (e.g. food, drinks, dietary supplements, vitamins),
- restricted goods (e.g. medicines, weapons, alcohol, tobacco)
- goods subject to excise duty (e.g. sugar, beverage packaging, lubricating oils, household appliances containing greenhouse gases)
If you buy such goods, they will still be cleared in the usual way and you will have to pay normal import duty, regardless of the value of the shipment. You will also need to pay customs duties to the carrier.
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Posten digitizes and streamlines customs clearance processes
5. What goods do I have to pay taxes on?
For shipments where the online store has not previously collected taxes (via VOEC), Posten must clear customs and collect import taxes from you. Posten digitizes and streamlines customs clearance processes so that the customer receives his goods as quickly, cheaply and easily as possible, in accordance with government regulations.
For all goods valued above NOK 3000, as well as for the import of food, excise and/or restricted goods - regardless of value, Posten will clear your goods through customs.
This is what customs clearance looks like:
- Goods worth up to NOK 3000 including VAT, where VAT is paid in a foreign online store (VOEC scheme): No customs clearance.
- Foodstuffs, excise goods and goods subject to restrictions regardless of value, as well as goods worth over NOK 3000: Full customs clearance for NOK 299.
- Other goods worth up to NOK 350: during the transition period, Posten will not collect customs duties on such goods. This means you don't have to pay anything extra once you receive your item. Posten has prepared a new customs clearance service that will be launched for goods worth less than NOK 350 when the authorities end the transition period.
- Other goods valued from NOK 350 to NOK 3000: Simplified customs clearance up to NOK 149.
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Source: Posten
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