Is This Usual ?

[tamaris]

I sent off for a Serola back belt to Hatrick Sports USA through Amazon, cost £22.63 + £7.59 delivery, when I got home today from shopping there was a card through my door from Royal Mail saying they could not deliver as there was a customs charge of £12.52 with an £8 handling charge included to pay. I knew nothing about this or I would not have ordered it as I am a pensioner, and I could have got it cheaper some where else.

[sandyRoe]

I think it's right. I once ordered a t-shirt from America and I remember the charges came to more than the price of the shirt.

[tamaris]

Oh no

[inksplotter]

Yes, what happens is people forget the fill in the customs sticker when they post it. HM Revenue and Customs open it and tax on it.

[tamaris]

Sorry inkspotter I dont understand that

[Prudie]

I've also recently had to pay £27 import duty on a dress from abroad that I wasn't expecting. There was nothing about it on the seller's website but some googling confirmed it was standard with anything bought from abroad.

[tamaris]

I just purchased a book from the states and there was nothing on that

[ferlew]

Has that happen when I bought a Taiko drum for lad 2, HMCR held it hostage for about £70, never again will I order from USA.

[Prudie]

Yep ferlew, first I knew of it was when DHL said they would't deliver until I paid

[inksplotter]

They don't chose everything. If it's in an envelope they're less likely to.

[gingejbee]

Absolutely usual from anywhere outside the EU! See here....



http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/internet.htm

[Ratty2E]

Been stung a couple of times by this and you have to pay it if you want your goods. I read listings very carefully now and don't order from abroad if I can help it.

[heathfield]

Some items are exempt from duty, e.g. there's no duty on books. To add to your woes, the value of any item on which duty is charged is calculated as the cost of the item plus the postage cost.

[Buenchico]

How it's calculated:
First, Customs Duty is calculated, based upon the type of goods and their value. The rate charged varies widely depending upon the type of goods, with many electrical gods only carrying a rate of around 2½% but cotton clothing being charged at 12% (or 27% if it's from the USA as there's a penalty on US cotton imports because the USA is in breach of World Trade Organisation rules by subsidising cotton farmers).

However Customs Duty isn't charged if the value of the goods is less than £135 (so you got away with that bit!). Customs Duty is also waived if the total arrived at comes to less than £9.

Then VAT is calculated. VAT is charged on the goods, on the carriage charges and on the Customs Duty (if any, and yes that is a tax on a tax!). However VAT isn't charged if value of the goods is less than £15.

So it looks as if you were let off the VAT on the carriage charges, as you've only been charged 20% of £22.63 = £4.52 (when rounded down).

Lastly, there's a customs examination fee of £8 payable to Parcelforce Worldwide (who carry out routine customs examinations on behalf of HMRC). That fee is only waived if there's neither Customs Duty or VAT to pay.

So you ended up with a bill of £4.52 + £8 = £12.52.

As a summary, you can only avoid paying hefty fees when you buy from abroad if
(a) you buy from within the EU (in which case you won't be charged anything unless you're importing alcohol or tobacco products, which attract Excise Duty) ; OR
(b) you buy items which are valued at less than £15 (e.g.you can import a single CD without paying charges but you'll get hit if you buy lots of them together) ; OR
(c) you purchase items which don't carry VAT, such as books.

[tamaris]

Thank you Chris, for the excellent explanation x

[tamaris]

I will have to grin and bear it then

[jno]

I suppose this will happen to goods from Europe too when we leave the EU?

[hc4361]

Yes, jno. I can see Amazon building a huge warehouse in Jersey :D

[Old_Geezer]

Sometimes you can get lucky and it gets through, but most of us get caught at least once.

[Old_Geezer]

It's a good reason to negotiate a decent arrangement re import taxes to and from other countries. It's a poor reason to stay in the EU.