Package from U.S.

Surveyor · 11 Jan 2022 at 15:32

Feek said:
This sort of thing isn't rocket science.

This sort of thing being tax evasion it seems.

Edit: spelling

jpaul · 11 Jan 2022 at 15:45

X-ray machine/scanner is probably used to identify significant, electronic goods, tax abuses - must be a database of images
and perhaps a game of numbers on top of that with a random sample being opened.

Last time I bought some Haynes new T shirts from the usa - they were short of stock at last minute, so refunded those, but with the postage the remaining ones would have been cheaper from the UK.

Jean-F · 11 Jan 2022 at 17:36

Feek said:
I recently bought a Winkeyer from a US site that would only sell to US addresses. It was $139

It was sent to my friend in MD who opened it up, removed the invoice, sealed the package, put my address and a customs label on it with a valuation of $20 and posted it to me. Incidentally, this friend used to be a customs officer at both Dulles and Andrews.

It arrived less than a week later.

The seller was happy, they'd sold it to someone in the USA. My friend was happy to do me a favour and I was happy that I received my Winkeyer.

This sort of thing isn't rocket science.

Cool story Feek, now all I have to do is Google Winkmeyer!
So I’m a Luddite, sue me.

Surveyor said:
This sort of thing being tax evasion it seems.

Holds tongue.

englishpremier · 11 Jan 2022 at 20:24

Surveyor said:
No customs duty and if the OP was purchasing directly from the USA the seller should apply UK VAT.

If they are registered they may not be then what happens? It just gets sent back or destroyed?

I know in this case its not applicable since it's a friend sending the item, but plenty of US companies won't bother applying to register for UK VAT.

jpaul · 11 Jan 2022 at 20:59

It gets opened by customs/parcel carrier and you get a bill - the carrier can prove the vendor sent it, you have no recourse on your credit card - buyer beware.

arknor · 11 Jan 2022 at 21:07

Jean-F said:
better quality than one sold here but manufactured in Bangladesh.

are they really what is the item in question? a gucci belt?

Surveyor · 11 Jan 2022 at 21:15

englishpremier said:
If they are registered they may not be then what happens? It just gets sent back or destroyed?

I know in this case its not applicable since it's a friend sending the item, but plenty of US companies won't bother applying to register for UK VAT.

Failure to register

If you do not register with HMRC or pay import VAT to a parcel operator, you may find:

your parcels are delayed or stopped from entering the UK

the UK buyer may have to pay additional tax and fees

you have to pay a penalty of £1,000 per importation

You must still register if you sell zero-rated goods. Zero rated goods are still VAT-taxable but the rate of VAT charged is 0%

Sone · 11 Jan 2022 at 21:52

jpaul said:
X-ray machine/scanner is probably used to identify significant, electronic goods, tax abuses - must be a database of images
and perhaps a game of numbers on top of that with a random sample being opened.

Last time I bought some Haynes new T shirts from the usa - they were short of stock at last minute, so refunded those, but with the postage the remaining ones would have been cheaper from the UK.

I used to work deploying 3rd generation scanners.. I never saw anything but detection for weapons

Jean-F · 12 Jan 2022 at 00:01

arknor said:
are they really what is the item in question? a gucci belt?

He’s already got at least two Gucci belts, he’s not afraid to go out earn a few quid.
On a serious note, he slipped the reference to Bangladesh in, in actual fact he phoned Timberland in Allentown PA and inquired about a certain model of boots on their website.
They told him that they were only available in the U.S., he could get a similar model in U.K., but that the U.S. boots were marginally better, I guess that they would say that wouldn’t they.

Jean-F · 12 Jan 2022 at 00:12

jpaul said:
It gets opened by customs/parcel carrier and you get a bill - the carrier can prove the vendor sent it, you have no recourse on your credit card - buyer beware.

I’m not sure that that would work in this case, the vendor will have sent the item from Pennsylvania to New York, end of story.
A private citizen will then have mailed them from New York to London as a gift to me.
I appreciate that the IRS, U.S. and U.K. Customs, and/or HMRC can do what they wish, but are they really going to go to all that aggravation for a once in a lifetime mailing of a gift?

builder22 · 12 Jan 2022 at 00:25

have you considered a slightly hench Transatlantic Pigeon

The Running Man · 12 Jan 2022 at 07:50

Surveyor said:
This sort of thing being tax evasion it seems.

Edit: spelling

Tax evasion means concealing income or information from the HMRC and it's illegal. Tax avoidance means exploiting the system to find ways to reduce how much tax you owe. ... Crucially, tax avoidance may be deliberate, but it's not unlawful.

Evasion or avoidance?

Look into how many of our rich and elected officials pay to avoid as much tax as possible.

adam cool dude · 12 Jan 2022 at 09:08

We need a picture of the kids face when he opens the parcel only for it to say made in Bangladesh on the tag..

Pudney · 12 Jan 2022 at 12:33

The Running Man said:
Evasion or avoidance?

Look into how many of our rich and elected officials pay to avoid as much tax as possible.

It's evasion if you mis-declare it, e.g. by reducing the value or calling it a "gift".

D.P. · 12 Jan 2022 at 12:56

The Running Man said:
Evasion or avoidance?

Look into how many of our rich and elected officials pay to avoid as much tax as possible.

Tax Evasion, and fraud .

Since you are a criminal perhaps we can deport you

Jean-F · 12 Jan 2022 at 12:59

adam cool dude said:
We need a picture of the kids face when he opens the parcel only for it to say made in Bangladesh on the tag..

From the Sourcing Journal,
Timberland introduces a new Made in USA boot.

The buying and shipping saga rolls on, boots have been purchased by my friend in NYC, $150 + tax = $162.94, I’ve paid her via PayPal, plus the 2.9% + 0.30c PayPal surcharge.
Next step will be shipping via USPS, approx $89.00 + any Customs fees, I’m making a guesstimate of $300 all in, boots and shipping, give or take, or £220.00.
Colour me profligate, but I’ll do anything for my kids, if I’ve got spare dough I’ll spend it on them.
My old man used to say,
“If you’ve got it, spend it, you can’t take it with you, and you’re only here for seventy odd years.”

Blackjack Davy · 12 Jan 2022 at 13:03

D.P. said:
Tax Evasion, and fraud .

Since you are a criminal perhaps we can deport you

As my old mum used to say, two wrongs don't make a right!

Surveyor · 12 Jan 2022 at 15:31

The Running Man said:
Evasion or avoidance?

Look into how many of our rich and elected officials pay to avoid as much tax as possible.

You've already had a couple of replies so I'll ask you this; removing an incriminating document and significantly under declaring the value, does that indicate legal avoidance or illegal evasion?

The Running Man · 12 Jan 2022 at 17:05

Surveyor said:
You've already had a couple of replies so I'll ask you this; removing an incriminating document and significantly under declaring the value, does that indicate legal avoidance or illegal evasion?

How would you value a second hand t shirt?

Look on ebay second hand clothes are only worth a fraction of new.

jpaul · 12 Jan 2022 at 18:31

given large shipping cost, as a customs agent you'd think article must be of equal/greater value, making total greater than the £135 so might expect a full vat/customs declaration to accompany it, with total being £180, duty+vat would make that, yes £240 .... is it cheaper/legit to send boots individually ?
ironically which site uses trainers as an example 36% duty+vat
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-ri...ay-vat-import-and-handling-costs-ajPOC6A5brEA
seems unclear, on which site, what proof you'd need to provide if you were able to pay duty+vat upfront to avoid there handling charge.