Why Am I Being Charged Customs Fees?

Customs fees are collected on behalf of the customs authorities in the destination country. When you make a purchase from another country, your package goes through a customs clearance process, which may result in the application of import duties and taxes.

In addition to customs fees, handling fees may also be charged by the carrier for customs clearance services.

There are several reasons why your past purchases may not have been subject to customs fees:

1. Import Duty Exemption Threshold
   Some countries have a threshold below which no import duties are applied. If your previous orders were below this threshold, they were exempt from fees.

2. Customs Exception
   In some cases, a package may pass through customs without thorough inspection, meaning no fees were applied. This can happen for various reasons, but it is not guaranteed to occur again.

3. Inspection Process and Digitalization of Invoices
   Before the digitalization of invoices (prior to 2010), authorities had to physically inspect certain parcels to determine if fees were applicable. Since not all shipments could be checked, many parcels passed through without being taxed. Today, procedures are stricter and more automated, making the application of fees more systematic.

The application of customs duties has always been a legal requirement. However, in the past, some parcels went unchecked for various reasons. Today, with improved control systems and stricter enforcement of customs regulations, your parcels are more likely to be subject to these fees.

All orders placed on our website are shipped from France (European Union).

For Deliveries Outside the EU:

• United Kingdom and Norway: GONG charges VAT for orders under 135 GBP (United Kingdom) or 3000 NOK (Norway). Beyond these thresholds, orders are billed excluding taxes (HT).

• Other Non-EU Countries, French Overseas Territories and Canary Islands: Orders are systematically billed excluding taxes (HT).

In all cases, any applicable customs duties and import taxes are determined by local authorities, collected by the carrier upon delivery, and transferred to the local administrations of the destination country. GONG has no control over these fees or customs clearance delays.