Import costs from UNITED STATES

[gothic_hobbit]

This is yet another case of rip off Britain.

Australia's import limit is $1000.

 

[delta0]

This is yet another case of rip off Britain.

Australia's import limit is $1000.

There is a high import allowance just not through post.

 

[arknor]

This is yet another case of rip off Britain.

Australia's import limit is $1000.

I don't know why they care.

what was amazon 4 billion revenue/profit whatever it was in the UK
2.4mil taxes?

always the small people that get raped in this country

 

['Harry]

I bought a pair of trainers from the US once @60squid (mid 2000s). Got an invoice for 16 quid tax a few days later. Never paid it. Not heard anything about it since.

inb4: sarcastic eyes from do-gooders.

 

[Broken Hope]

I just ordered some stuff from the US but the total value of the goods was $20.

I shouldn't get hit with an import charge, should I?

If that's $20 including posting then no, in fact if the value of the goods before postage is £15 or less you won't have to pay customs duty.

 

[BeanBandit]

so you agree with the handling fee? I know it's not exactly the same as postage but it's still BS.

RM/PF have a monopoly on it as well? never had anyone else collect my goods from customs

The "handling" fee is there for the carrier to pay your customs bill up front. Otherwise HMRC would have to get involved and it would delay you getting your goods.

All the courier companies charge a fee as well, from memory fedex was £10 last time I used them and I think UPS was the same. If your shopping at Amazon.com you can pay your customs upfront, they have a deal with the courier where the handling fee is waived as the customs are paid already.

 

[Guest2]

20% + £8 handling fee

(unless its marked as a gift for about £5 - but that voids all insurance)

 

[BeanBandit]

20% + £8 handling fee

(unless its marked as a gift for about £5 - but that voids all insurance)

Can't be marked as a gift from a company.

 

[Lopéz]

so you agree with the handling fee? I know it's not exactly the same as postage but it's still BS.

Yes I do.

RM/PF have a monopoly on it as well? never had anyone else collect my goods from customs

No they don't, courier packages are handled by various couriers. Only certain stuff comes through RM or Parcelforce.

 

[spoffle]

Let's not accept the handling fee at face value as something customs adds on.

RM/PF add the handling fee even though the postage is already paid by the sender.

I do not agree with it which is why I am being so pedantic, I didn't mean it as some kind of attack on you, I just wanted to get it out there

The best thing to do in this situation is when at the depot, ask to inspect the parcel. Once you have it in your hands, offer to reimburse them for the VAT ONLY and state you're not willing to pay their handling fee as it's a service you never requested.

I've done this a number of times, and every time the depot has refused to take any payment unless it came with the handling fee, so they got nothing every time.

 

[spoffle]

Last time I had something from the states I got an email invoice to pay the duty before it was released. Saves looking for cash on the door.

It doesn't, because they wouldn't take cash at the door anyway.

 

[BeanBandit]

It doesn't, because they wouldn't take cash at the door anyway.

They used to ask for the money at the door. Had to pay the postie a few times before he handed over the parcel. But this has now changed as you've mentioned.

 

[spoffle]

A long long time ago now though.

 

[Guest2]

Can't be marked as a gift from a company.

Says who?

I've had about 5 items marked as gifts in the past

 

[Lopéz]

Says who?

I've had about 5 items marked as gifts in the past

Says HMRC

2.4 Gifts

Goods sent as a gift that are over £40* in value are liable to import VAT Customs duty also becomes payable if the value of the goods is over £135 but is waived if the amount of duty calculated is less than £9.

*Please note this limit will reduce to £36 with effect from 1 January 2013.

To qualify as a gift:

the customs declaration must be completed correctly
the gift must be sent from a private person outside the EU to a private person(s) in this country
there is no commercial or trade element and the gift has not been paid for either directly or indirectly by anyone in the UK
the gift is of an occasional nature only, for example, for a birthday or anniversary

Note: if you purchase something from outside the EU to give as a gift to a relative or friend, whether or not addressed to that person, it is treated as a ‘commercial consignment’ for which the import VAT relief threshold in paragraph 2.3 applies.

 

[spoffle]

Says who?

I've had about 5 items marked as gifts in the past

He means shouldn't be according to the law. It happens a lot though, and there isn't really much they can do about it as it'd be very hard to prove.

 

[arknor]

He means shouldn't be according to the law. It happens a lot though, and there isn't really much they can do about it as it'd be very hard to prove.

recipient is responsible for how it's declared I believe? (I guess UK customs can't prosecute people in other countries )

 

[BeanBandit]

A long long time ago now though.

Probably. Most of my importing involves couriers.

Says who?

I've had about 5 items marked as gifts in the past

Says HMRC.

To qualify as a gift:

the customs declaration must be completed correctly
the gift must be sent from a private person outside the EU to a private person(s) in this country
there is no commercial or trade element and the gift has not been paid for either directly or indirectly by anyone in the UK
the gift is of an occasional nature only, for example, for a birthday or anniversary

Oops, beaten to it

 

[tom_e]

recipient is responsible for how it's declared I believe? (I guess UK customs can't prosecute people in other countries )

Yep so if they were feeling particularly mean it would be you they would prosecute even if the sender had lied off their own back.

 

[Guest2]

So I'm breaking the law if I receive something from a company that has been marked as a gift? (presumably to save them/me money)

All the times I never asked for it to be marked as a gift, it just came that way. Twice from New Zealand, once from USA and twice from China