What to do if you get taxed on Shein and Shopee purchases – 04/18/2023 – Market

Purchases made in stores or with sellers located in other countries may be taxed by the Federal Revenue upon arrival in Brazil.

For values ​​below US$ 3,000 (approximately R$ 14.9 thousand), the order is subject to the simplified taxation regime, whereby a 60% rate is charged on the total purchase value, which considers, in addition to of the price of the product, freight and insurance, if any.

Currently, the best-known platforms for international purchases are those of Asian origin, such as Aliexpress, Shopee and Shein, but the rule affects all imports, from China to the United States.

The first sign that there will be a tax charge comes from tracking the order on the Correios website or application. There, you can see when the purchase went to “customs inspection”.

If the product is among those benefiting from the exemption or is, for example, a gift of up to US$ 50 (about R$ 248), the tendency is for it to be released without charging the tax.

The current rule for simplified taxation provides for tax exemption for magazines, books, medications of up to US$ 10,000 and for shipments of up to US$ 50 made from one individual to another.

The Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) government considered ending the benefit for remittances between individuals, but backed down due to the bad repercussions.

However, if a shipment subject to the benefit of the exemption is taxed, on the Correios website, on the Minha Importações page, there is the possibility for the buyer to request a review of the tax. In this case, he must prove the origin, the type of product (if it is a book, for example) and the amount paid for the good.

If it is a product actually subject to import taxation, the options are limited. He can pay the amount established by the Tax Authorities, dispute or give up the order. From the date the order is released by the Federal Revenue Service, the buyer has up to 30 consecutive days to pay the tax.

For those who decide to contest the tax amount, the ideal is to do the math first. If the tax does not exceed 60% of the purchase price, the chances of review will be remote.

The outcome, both for the buyer who decides to give up the order, and for the one who decides to pay the import tax, will depend on the platform used for the purchase.

Some, like Shein, refund half of what the customer spent on taxes. It is necessary to save proof of the charge made by the Federal Revenue and also of the payment made by the buyer and send these receipts through the company’s website or application.

In the case of withdrawal, the consumer needs to be aware of the policies of each site or platform, as taxation of the purchase is not always among the requirements for returning the purchase and refunding the full amount. Shein is one of those that accepts the refusal of the order and refunds the total purchase amount.

In other marketplaces, the buyer can negotiate directly with the seller or with the company that sold the product for a refund of the amount once the product has been returned.