How do HMRC justify it?

dowie said:
I don't think the cost of the wedding pictures has anything to do with it, that was a service they paid for in NZ presumably(so nothing to do with HMRC) and would have cost more like a grand.

I mean if this USB stick got lost then the photographer could just send another, its value is simply the value of the stick itself - they've already paid for the rights to have copies of the photographs.

edit - OK they didn't even pay for them to be taken... so almost certainly OP has been overcharged for VAT
Click to expand...
We can only guess because we don't know what's been declared on the commercial invoice
 
dowie said:
that doesn't make any sense, it is a usb stick

in this instance the photos were free anyway
Click to expand...

In order to import/export goods you need covering documentation, including an invoice. Included on that invoice will be the value of the goods shipped. If the value of the goods declared does not include freight costs there will be a standard freight charge added to the value of the goods to calculate the VAT charges.
 
Tell him to make am account here and post the pics here.
You can just view them online through ocuk forums whenever.
We want the honeymoon video too.
 
dowie said:
that doesn't make any sense, it is a usb stick

in this instance the photos were free anyway
Click to expand...

But what did the invoice say?

It matters not that the photos were free, what matters is what is on the commercial invoice supplied by the sender.

Also bear in mind that if HMRC or the exporting courier feel the value on the invoice is fraudulent or inaccurate they can and will apply their own value....
 
It wasn't a commercial anything though, it's family who have taken photos at our wedding, no charge, no contracts, nothing, just their photos that they took at our wedding on a USB stick so that i can edit them myself.
 
Regardless, to send something from a Non EU country to an EU country that is not a document, the sender has to provide an invoice - be that commercial, proforma or just a declaration of value. On that invoice there has to be some form of value declared. Everything is worth *something* even if it's a gift.
 
Pics or it didn't happen.

Have you tried calling them to find out why and what the charges are for? As others have said maybe get them sent via the web instead.
 
Whats the value of the item as stated on the customs declaration? Doesn't matter what you think its worth its whats stated on the declaration that matters. If its below a certain amount its duty free. For a bunch of photos on a stick it should be free unless the guy is charging you for the stick and a rather expensive stick at that.
 
Did you get stung with some bs courier custom handling fee too?

I recently got done more in fees than the value of the stupid bits of plastic shipped from China.

Grinds my gears
 
I'm amazed that things like drop box aren't used for this, much less hassle for the photographer too as they don't have to buy a USB stick then faff about posting it.

What the invoice says is key though and if customs adjusted the value for some reason, you can challenge the charge, but as said, after you've paid it or they'll just return it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom