Import duty on documents?

[ebbnflow]

Hi,

I've been away a while! Basically emigrated again to Asia some years ago.

My question here regards Spanish customs charging a E40 levy/tax for receiving/releasing an A4 size envelope with less than ten pages inside of documentation for my Spanish lawyer. The envelope is still in transit, using EMS from Asia (sign-for post equivalent), at this time but what would this charge be for? I really cannot imagine such a duty on inward bound "post".

Neither consignee nor consignor were notified, it was only after the tracker had marked the envelope as "Held" for a week that enquiries were made, resulting in the charge. Only designated as "customs fees".

If anyone knows, please enlighten me.

(p.s. we've had a couple of other items refused and sent back by Aduanas Esp. One was an audio cassette (no magnetic items allowed) and another was a forgotten dental insert (no prosthesis allowed) ???!!!

[costakid]

Same as from UK. I sent a 2nd hand car key with DHL and had to pay 30 euros in import duty. If it’s important post I would just pay it. Or ignore and email the docs.

[ebbnflow]

Yes, already paid, asking after the fact as it had to be original documents with wet ink signatures.

I'm just wondering how they justify, to themselves at least, such a charge on post, seems very excessive to me with no actual "item" involved.

[peteroldracer]

They don't need to justify it, but I imagine someone is supposed to check that the contents match the description so there will be labour. Blame Brexit of course.