Shipping item from Italy to USA - What VAT or tax ID is needed for customs?

This is actually a common confusion with some European sellers who aren't familiar with shipping to the US. As a private individual in the US, you don't have a VAT number (Value Added Tax) because we don't use that system here. What's happening is the seller is trying to complete export documentation and they're used to dealing with business-to-business transactions within the EU where VAT numbers are exchanged. For personal imports to the US under $800 (de minimis value), you don't need to provide any tax ID. The seller needs to mark the package as a B2C (business-to-consumer) transaction on their customs form, not B2B. They should check the box for "gift" or "merchandise" and include a commercial invoice with the package that describes the item and states its value. They'll need to complete a CN22 or CN23 customs declaration form (depending on the size/weight). You could explain that the US uses an SSN system, not VAT, and personal purchases don't require tax ID exchange for customs purposes.

I ran into this exact same problem last year when ordering a leather bag from an Italian seller! It was so frustrating that I almost gave up. Then I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which has an international purchase analyzer tool. I uploaded screenshots of my conversation with the seller and it generated a perfect explanation document that I could forward. The tool explained that they were asking for something I don't need to provide as a US resident making a personal purchase. It even generated a simple template response in Italian explaining the correct export procedure they should follow! The seller finally understood and shipped my item without any tax ID. I've used it for two other international purchases since then. Super helpful for navigating these confusing international tax situations.

OK I'm genuinely surprised - I tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment. I was ordering a vintage camera from Germany and the seller was asking for similar tax info. The tool generated a perfect explanation document about the de minimis value exemption that applies to US buyers. The document even included references to the specific EU VAT Directive articles that exempt exports to non-EU countries from VAT. It also explained how the seller should properly complete their export documentation without needing my tax ID. I sent it to the seller and they immediately understood and processed my order. I'm not someone who normally posts about services, but this actually solved a super frustrating problem. Saved me hours of back-and-forth emails trying to explain US tax rules to someone who doesn't speak much English.

If you're still having trouble after trying the advice above, Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) has been a total game-changer for me when dealing with import/export issues. They specialize in getting you through to actual customs officials at the IRS who can explain these requirements. I had a nightmare situation with an Italian furniture purchase where the seller insisted they needed my tax ID for shipping. After days of back and forth, I used Claimyr to get connected with an IRS representative who explained exactly what documentation was needed. They got me through in about 10 minutes when I'd been trying to call for days! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent sent me an official email explaining that no tax ID was required for personal imports under $800, which I forwarded to the seller, and my problem was solved immediately.

I need to apologize for my skeptical comment. I actually tried Claimyr yesterday when I needed to sort out a similar issue with a package from France. I was 100% sure it wouldn't work but I was desperate after being on hold with regular customer service for hours. I got connected to a CBP (Customs) agent in less than 15 minutes who explained exactly what forms the seller needed to complete, and confirmed I don't need to provide any VAT or tax ID as a regular US consumer. They even sent me an official email stating this that I could forward to the seller. The agent explained that many European sellers are just unfamiliar with US import rules and mistakenly apply their EU business procedures to all shipments. Having that official explanation from a government representative resolved everything immediately. My package shipped the next day.

From my experience buying from EU sellers regularly, you can also try explaining to them that for exports leaving the EU, they're actually exempt from charging VAT. This is why they're confused and asking for your tax ID - they're trying to document why they're not collecting VAT. Tell them to look up "zero-rated exports" in their VAT guidelines. They need to keep proof that the goods left the EU (usually the shipping documentation) for their own tax records, but they don't need YOUR tax ID to do this for a personal purchase. Some smaller sellers aren't familiar with international shipping procedures and just need a little guidance. I usually send them links to their own country's customs websites that explain export procedures.

I wonder if the seller is actually trying to use a shipping service that primarily handles B2B shipments? Some logistics companies in Italy have forms that require a VAT/tax ID field to be filled and won't process without it. If that's the case, maybe suggest they use a different shipping service like regular postal mail (Poste Italiane) instead of a business courier for your small purchase? The Italian postal service is more accustomed to handling personal packages without requiring tax IDs.

I've dealt with this exact situation multiple times when buying from Italian sellers on eBay. The confusion usually stems from their internal shipping software or the courier service they're using, which has mandatory fields for VAT/tax IDs that they think need to be filled. Here's what has worked for me: Tell the seller to enter "EXEMPT - PERSONAL USE" or "US PRIVATE BUYER" in the VAT field, and explain that US individuals don't have VAT numbers since we use a different tax system. For the customs declaration, they should mark it as "Gift" or "Merchandise" with the actual purchase value. If they're still confused, you can also suggest they contact their local post office (Poste Italiane) or shipping provider for guidance on exporting to the US. Most Italian postal workers are familiar with shipping personal items internationally without requiring buyer tax IDs. The key is being patient and helpful - many smaller sellers genuinely don't know the export procedures and just need a little guidance. Once they understand, future shipments to the US will go much smoother for them.

I've had success with Italian sellers by explaining that the US doesn't have a VAT system like Europe does. What worked for me was telling them to simply put "N/A - US CONSUMER" or "EXEMPT" in whatever tax ID field their system requires. You can also mention that under US customs regulations, personal purchases under $800 don't require any special documentation from the buyer. The seller just needs to complete a proper customs declaration form (CN22 or CN23) with an accurate description and value of the item. If they're still confused, you might suggest they check with their local post office about export procedures for personal items to the United States. Italian postal workers are usually familiar with these requirements and can guide them through the proper process. Don't worry - this is a very common issue and once they understand the difference between EU and US tax systems, the shipment should go through without any problems!

I work in international trade compliance and see this confusion all the time. The Italian seller is likely using shipping software that has mandatory VAT/tax ID fields designed for B2B transactions within the EU. Here's what's happening: In Italy, businesses are required to collect VAT identification for certain transactions, but exports to non-EU countries like the US are VAT-exempt. The seller probably doesn't realize they can leave that field blank or enter "EXEMPT" for personal exports. You can tell them that as a US private individual, you don't have a VAT number because the US doesn't use the European VAT system. For their customs documentation, they should mark the shipment as "B2C export" (business-to-consumer) and complete form CN22 with the item description and value. If their system absolutely requires something in the tax ID field, they can enter "US PRIVATE BUYER" or "N/A - PERSONAL USE". This satisfies their software requirements while being technically accurate. The $65 value is well under the US de minimis threshold, so no additional documentation is needed on your end. The seller just needs to properly declare it as a personal item export.

I've been through this exact same frustrating situation multiple times when buying from European sellers! The issue is that many Italian sellers use shipping software or courier services that are designed primarily for business transactions within the EU, where VAT numbers are routinely exchanged. As a US consumer, you absolutely do NOT need to provide any VAT or tax ID number. The US doesn't use the VAT system - we have a completely different tax structure. For personal purchases under $800 (which yours definitely is), no special tax documentation is required from you. Here's what I usually tell sellers in this situation: "Please enter 'US PRIVATE BUYER' or 'EXEMPT - PERSONAL USE' in the VAT field of your shipping system. As a US individual consumer, I don't have a VAT number since the United States uses a different tax system. For customs purposes, please mark this as a personal item export and complete the standard CN22 customs form with the item description and $65 value." Most sellers understand once you explain that you're not a business and the US doesn't have VAT numbers for individuals. If they're still confused, suggest they contact their local post office (Poste Italiane) for guidance on shipping personal items to the US - postal workers deal with this regularly and can walk them through the correct export procedures. Don't worry, your purchase won't be cancelled! This is just a knowledge gap that's easily resolved once the seller understands the difference between EU and US tax systems.

This is such a common issue when buying from Italian sellers! I went through the same thing last year with a leather jacket purchase from Florence. The seller kept insisting they needed my "codice fiscale" (Italian tax code) to ship to the US. What worked for me was explaining that the US doesn't have VAT numbers for individual consumers - that's strictly a European business concept. I told them to enter "US CONSUMER - NO VAT" in their shipping software's tax ID field, since their system probably won't let them leave it blank. For the customs declaration, they just need to fill out a CN22 form (since your item is under $65, it qualifies for the simpler form) marking it as "merchandise" with the actual purchase value. No tax ID from you is required on the US customs side for personal purchases under $800. I also found it helpful to mention that as an export leaving Italy to a non-EU country, their transaction is actually VAT-exempt anyway - they don't need to collect VAT on shipments to the US, which is probably why their system is asking for documentation they think they need but actually don't. Most Italian sellers are just unfamiliar with US import procedures and need a gentle explanation of the differences between EU and US tax systems. Once they understand, the shipment usually goes through without any further issues!

I've encountered this exact same frustrating situation when ordering vintage items from Italian sellers on eBay! The confusion usually happens because many Italian sellers use shipping software or courier services that have mandatory VAT/tax ID fields designed for business-to-business transactions within the EU. Here's what you need to know: As a US individual making a personal purchase, you absolutely do NOT need to provide any VAT or tax identification number. The United States doesn't use the European VAT system - we have a completely different tax structure. What I've found works best is to explain to the seller: "Please enter 'US PRIVATE CONSUMER' or 'EXEMPT - PERSONAL USE' in the VAT field of your shipping system. As a United States individual, I don't have a VAT number because the US uses a different tax system than the EU. For customs documentation, please mark this as a personal merchandise export and complete form CN22 with the item description and $65 value." You can also mention that exports from Italy to non-EU countries like the US are VAT-exempt anyway, so they don't need to collect any tax identification from you. The $65 value is well under the US de minimis threshold of $800, so no special documentation is required on the US customs side. If they're still confused, suggest they contact their local Poste Italiane office for guidance on shipping personal items to the United States - postal workers handle this type of export regularly and can walk them through the correct procedures. Don't worry about your purchase being cancelled! This is just a knowledge gap that gets resolved once the seller understands the difference between EU business procedures and US personal import requirements. Most sellers are cooperative once they realize they can proceed without your tax ID.

I've been through this exact situation when buying handmade ceramics from a seller in Bologna! The key thing to understand is that this is purely a software/system issue on their end, not an actual legal requirement. What's happening is their shipping platform (likely used for EU business transactions) has a mandatory VAT field that won't let them proceed without entering something. As a US consumer, you don't have and don't need any European tax identification. Here's the simple solution that worked for me: Tell them to enter "US INDIVIDUAL BUYER" or "N/A - PERSONAL EXPORT" in their VAT field. This satisfies their system requirements while being completely accurate. Also mention that for US customs, they just need to complete a CN22 customs form (since your $65 purchase is under the €300 threshold) marking it as "merchandise" with the actual value. No tax documentation from you is required for personal imports under $800. Most Italian sellers are just unfamiliar with shipping to non-EU countries and need this quick clarification. Once they understand they can put something generic in that field, your item will ship without any issues!

I've dealt with this exact issue several times when ordering from Italian eBay sellers! You're absolutely right to be confused - as a US individual, you don't have and don't need a VAT number. The problem is that many Italian sellers use shipping software designed for EU business transactions, which has mandatory tax ID fields. Here's what has consistently worked for me: Tell your seller to enter "US PRIVATE BUYER" or "EXEMPT - PERSONAL USE" in whatever VAT/tax ID field their system requires. Explain that the United States doesn't use the European VAT system for individual consumers. For the customs documentation, they should: - Mark it as "merchandise" or "gift" - Use form CN22 (since it's under $65) - Include the actual purchase value ($65) - No tax ID from you is needed You can also mention that exports from Italy to non-EU countries are actually VAT-exempt, so they don't need to collect any tax information from US buyers anyway. If they're still confused, suggest they ask their local post office (Poste Italiane) about shipping personal items to the US - postal workers handle this regularly and can guide them through the correct export procedures. Don't worry about your purchase being cancelled! This is super common and gets resolved once sellers understand the difference between EU business rules and US personal imports. Most are very cooperative once they realize they can proceed without your tax ID.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now with a vintage leather wallet I bought from a seller in Milan. They've been asking for my "codice fiscale" for almost two weeks and I was starting to think I'd have to cancel my order. After reading all these responses, I now understand this is just their shipping software requiring a field that doesn't actually apply to US consumers. I'm going to try the "US PRIVATE BUYER" approach that several people have mentioned - it seems like the perfect solution that satisfies their system while being completely accurate. I really appreciate everyone explaining the difference between EU business procedures and US personal import requirements. As someone new to international purchases, I had no idea that exports to non-EU countries are VAT-exempt anyway, which explains why they're asking for documentation they don't actually need. Going to contact my seller today with this information. Fingers crossed my wallet finally ships! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for solving these confusing international shopping situations.

This is such a common and frustrating issue! I've been buying from European sellers for years and this VAT/tax ID confusion happens all the time, especially with Italian sellers who primarily deal with EU customers. The bottom line is simple: as a US individual making a personal purchase, you absolutely do NOT need to provide any VAT number, tax ID, or codice fiscale. The US doesn't use the European VAT system for consumers. Here's exactly what to tell your seller: "Please enter 'US PRIVATE CONSUMER' or 'EXEMPT - PERSONAL USE' in your shipping system's VAT field. As a United States individual, I don't have a VAT number because the US uses a different tax system. For customs, please complete form CN22 marking this as personal merchandise with the $65 value." You can also explain that exports from Italy to non-EU countries like the US are actually VAT-exempt anyway, so they don't need any tax documentation from you. Your $65 purchase is well under the US de minimis threshold, so no special paperwork is required on our end either. If they're still confused, suggest they contact their local Poste Italiane office - postal workers handle US exports regularly and can guide them through the correct procedures. This is purely a knowledge gap, not a real requirement, and it gets resolved once sellers understand the system differences. Your item will ship!

I've run into this same frustrating situation multiple times when buying from Italian sellers! The issue is that their shipping software often has mandatory VAT/tax ID fields designed for EU business transactions, but as a US consumer, you don't have and don't need a VAT number. Here's what has worked for me every time: Tell your seller to enter "US PRIVATE BUYER" or "N/A - PERSONAL USE" in whatever tax ID field their system requires. Explain that the United States doesn't use the European VAT system for individual consumers - we have a completely different tax structure. For the customs documentation, they just need to complete a CN22 form (since your $65 purchase qualifies for the simpler form) marking it as "merchandise" with the actual purchase value. No tax documentation from you is required for personal imports under $800. You can also mention that exports from Italy to non-EU countries are actually VAT-exempt anyway, so they don't need to collect any tax information from US buyers. If they're still confused, suggest they contact their local Poste Italiane office - postal workers handle US exports regularly and can guide them through the correct procedures. Don't worry about your purchase being cancelled! This is super common and gets resolved once sellers understand they can put something generic in that mandatory field. Most are very cooperative once they realize the system difference between EU business rules and US personal imports.