I imagine you will end like here, it goes along these lines:
Comes in by standard post:
Quoted value on C22/3 is less than €300 (was €800?) - Post Office: Let most of them go through with no tax, it only creates work for them to collect it.
After a number of years the Post Office gets a bollixing from the Tax Man for not collecting VAT and Duty...
Quoted value on C22 is > €22 - Post Office: Collect tax on more packages than before, base value on stated value + €7 handling charge. If charged, Postman looks for money at the door, don't get receipt, and may or may not have any change.
Comes in by DHL, Fedex, UPS etc.
This is where is hurts big time.
Stated value is not believed, especially when comes from China. Value is what they 'think' it is worth. They first calculate the VAT and duty on this. Then they add in postage + VAT Using the rates they charge to send from Europe back to country of Origin , not what it originally cost from China. (Last year I had a long argument with them over this and got a total refund, probably just to get me off their case. ) Then they add in their commission, extra €16 to €25 + VAT (GST) on to the total. But at least they take credit cards and issue receipts and the better companies send you SMS messages and emails in advance, allowing payment online.
Just to add: If the item has 'free shipping' and you produce proof of this etc, they will still add in the cost of sending the parcel back to China 'the country of origin' from Europe into their calculations.