Thread: Duty applied to razors imported to UK

Well this is what I just paid for having some razors imported from the US. What I find the most perplexing is how they charge me VAT and duty on the postage paid by the sender,
So be warned UK buyers, ask the seller for a lower value on the packet and hope for the best. Gift is not a way out of the DUTY trap or Second-hand. Even pleading that the goods were 100 years old makes no diff.

YOU HAVE TO PAY
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I would like to explain that all goods both new and second hand, sent from outside the European Community are liable to Customs Duty and VAT if the value of the goods is over £18. If the parcel contents are a gift from a private person abroad to another person in this country the limit is raised to £36.

Duty is charged as a percentage of the value of the goods. The percentage varies depending on the type of goods and the country of origin. Duty is charged on the price paid for the goods including any local Sales Tax plus postage, packing and insurance costs. Duty amounts of less than 10 Euros are not raised.

VAT is charged at the same rate that applies to similar goods sold in this country. The value of the goods for import VAT is based on the value for duty plus any duty charged.

The charges on your parcel were calculated based on the information provided on the Customs declaration completed by the sender as follows;
Goods straight razors
Country of Origin USA
Value $200 Rate of Exchange 1.961/£1
Postage and Insurance $20.55 Rate of Exchange 1.961/£1
Value for Import Duty £112.46
Duty £ 9.55
Value for VAT £ 122.01
VAT @ 17.5% £21.35

Total Customs Charge £30.90

The additional £8.00 is a Parcelforce Worldwide fee which is levied by them as a contribution towards the cost of presenting the parcel to Customs, paying the duty and VAT on your behalf and collecting it from you. It is entirely separate from the duty and VAT charged by HM Revenue and Customs and if you require further information you should contact Parcelforce Worldwide direct on 08708501150.

If the information supplied on the customs declaration is incorrect and you would like us to further investigate these charges would you please forward to this address the items indicated below: -

* The ORIGINAL Red and White Customs Charge Label. (You may have to cut this off the box)
* The ORIGINAL Customs declaration. (Which should be attached to the side of the parcel.)
* Evidence of the value of the goods including all shipping and postage costs i.e. an invoice/receipt.
* If the item was a gift, an original written declaration from the sender of the parcel confirming gift status, a description of each item, the value of each item and for whom each gift was intended for. If any of the items are clothing for children, please confirm the individual sizes of each garment.
* Goods purchased via the inter-net:

o A copy of the page that shows the final purchase price.
o E-mail account confirming the total postage, shipping and insurance costs.
o A copy of your credit card/paypal account to confirm point 1 and 2.
* Please confirm whether or not you are Vat registered. If so, please provide details of your Vat registration number.

Donna Routledge (Mrs)
Correspondence Team
HM Revenue & Customs
Coventry International Hub
Siskin Parkway West
Coventry
CV3 3HX
Tel; 02476 212860
Fax; 02476 212812
Email; [email protected]
Website; www.hmrc.gov.uk


So there you have it.


PuFF

Works out to be an effective charge of 30% on your purchase price (pre postage). Pretty steep, isn't it?

The first time I got stung buy this was a number of years ago when I ordered an MP3 player from the US as it wasn't available in the UK and I really wanted it. A month after I received it I was presented with an invoice from the shipper for customs charges...

Whilst it seems really unfair, for me it boils down to two questions.

Is the item available in the UK? If it isn't, I don't have a choice (assuming I do really want the item and can afford it).

Which purchase works out cheaper? If the item is available in the UK, it may be cheaper to buy from the US despite the customs charges due to pricing differences and exchange rates.

Simple math.

Still sucks, though.

You could ask an SRP member to re-mail it for you with a lower price declared. Takes a little trust, but I'm doing it for a couple folks now. Just a thought, but then I know little about customs... - John

Sheesh!
I knew the VAT was bad, but that's just crazy!

This is where you dress up like native-american indians, and go throw tea in the harbor!

C utz

International shipping is often an issue and likely why many shops just won't sell off shore.

Customers get charged duties and VAT for which the vendor is often taken to task for. I know I have a few times. Shipping costs are tough too. In order to ship with insurance overseas one must use either Global Express $35 to $50US or Airmail Parcel Post at $25-35 for a strop or set. That's a lot of money. Global Priority is less, maybe $14 to $20 depending on where it's going and that has a 4 pound weight limit and is uninsured. So, we save the customer money buy who pays if it gets lost?

None of these offers tracking either. You get delivery confirmation after it arrives but nothing in between so the package is basically "lost" until it lands somewhere.

I am often asked to claim a reduced of false value. This is illegal to do here in the US and for the most part voids any insurance too. If I say your $200 set is only worth $25 USPS will only pay the $25 even if I insure for $200. If course insuring fopr that $200 and claiming $25 in value will almost ensure it gets stopped at customs with the vendor paying the price for fraud.

I am always glad to ship anywhere in the world but juust wanted buyers to understand there is no free ride. Items I importy go through the same issues when I bring them in too and I am often surprised with a bill long after the items have arrived and been resold.

In my experience with international trade I expect the worst and am them often pleasantly surprised when it goes smoother than expected!

Tony

Originally Posted by C utz

Sheesh!
I knew the VAT was bad, but that's just crazy!

This is where you dress up like native-american indians, and go throw tea in the harbor!
C utz

Hell, it worked for US!

-whatever

-Lou

does shipping from the USA to Canada face any of the same complications?

Small declared values are usually fine, but I got nailed for about $15 in duties and CP brokerage fees when I ordered $24 of Chromium Oxide from Keith. One of two shipments from Tony also got nailed and it was a $75 DOVO Bismarck The razors I picked up for $10-20 a pop from various e-bay vendors in the US and overseas never got nailed by the CRA.

So what we are saying is I will expect the bill after delivery?

Mmmm that shiny new Norton is about to cost me again!

Damn you Brown! You tax my wage, you tax my fuel, you tax my food, you tax my clothes, you tax my 4x4, you tax my hobby then I get to go to the local electrical store watch the great unwashed spend £425 of it on a PS3 to entertain themselves whilst they refuse to work!!!

Right guys! I have the darjeeling ready....any particular harbour Sitting Bull???

Lol I just got home from overseas and saw this thread. Very timely as I have a letter here from Parcelforce (aka Parcelfarce in the UK) telling me they intercepted my parcel from Robert Williams.

Import Duty: £18.31
VAT: £40.92
Clearance Fee: £8.00

Total: £67.23!

Damn this razor better be worth it, though I'm sure it will be. I have to ring Parcelfarce asap and pay the charges so they'll come and deliver it - I can't wait.

Buying from the USA is a bit of a gamble but I do think in the long run it works out cheaper what with the exchange rate, even if you get stung occasionally.