- Thread starter Anguz
- Start date
Rannsachair
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 4,277
- Location
- Lochgilphead, Argyll, Republic of Scotland
I got a tyre changing tool from Estonia last week, thought I would have to pay tax on it, when it arrived I assumed no tax as had not been asked for anything, will wait and see if a bill comes retrospectively.
AKN
Master of Disaster
- Messages
- 460
- Location
- Derby GB
Double check with the courier company using contact numbers from your original paperwork, there are a lot of scams out there demanding money for imported packages. Everything I’ve got from abroad recently has had a customs label on it stating what is due for payment and I’ve never been able to get the package until what is owed is paid.
hotponyshoes
Member
- Messages
- 7,509
- Location
- Somerset. Uk
Some carriers (DHL & maybe fedex?) are still delivering the items and then billing import duty afterwards.
Johnnybravo
Member
- Messages
- 3,692
- Location
- Northiam
Exactly this ^
Had both of them bill me in the last year or so.
Migmac
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 8,622
- Location
- Kintyre. Scotland
Son had this when he bought a pair of boots from Germany
Pigeon_Droppings2
Member
- Messages
- 6,468
- Location
- london
I'm still waiting for the VAT request for my Paton MIG wire feeder...me thinks I've gotten away with that one (or maybe ebay handled it directly)
julianf
Member
- Messages
- 8,598
- Location
- devon, uk
The postal services act used to have a line in it that forbid "retention by virtue of lien"
This was removed, maybe a decade ago, allowing couriers to hold the package. I mean they couldn't before but still did.
What I dont understand, however, is how the clearance charge comes under contract law. I mean if I provide an advertising service for parcel force by telling all my mates how good it is, and maybe putting up a notice in the window as well, and then invoicing for it, they wouldnt even take the time to say "no".
So, why, legally, is it assumed that the customs clearance is a contracted service? Surely if anyone contacts, its the sender, not the recipient.
I'm dubious as to how legal it all is.
This was removed, maybe a decade ago, allowing couriers to hold the package. I mean they couldn't before but still did.
What I dont understand, however, is how the clearance charge comes under contract law. I mean if I provide an advertising service for parcel force by telling all my mates how good it is, and maybe putting up a notice in the window as well, and then invoicing for it, they wouldnt even take the time to say "no".
So, why, legally, is it assumed that the customs clearance is a contracted service? Surely if anyone contacts, its the sender, not the recipient.
I'm dubious as to how legal it all is.
Dr.Al
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 2,533
- Location
- Gloucestershire, UK
I don't know much about this, but the one thing I'll add is that there's a £135-ish pre-tax threshold for VAT on imported stuff. If it's below that value, the seller can (or maybe has to?) charge VAT and then the only charges you should pay on import are any customs duties that may apply (plus the exorbitant handling fees the couriers charge 
). The UK-EU trade agreement means that there isn't much in the way of customs for a lot of things. Above that value, the seller can't take the VAT themselves and hence the courier will collect VAT (with their handling fee of course ).
As a result, anything over £136+VAT is pretty much guaranteed to have an extra fee (for the courier's "handling" of the tax bill), regardless of whether customs charges are due. Thanks Boris.
). The UK-EU trade agreement means that there isn't much in the way of customs for a lot of things. Above that value, the seller can't take the VAT themselves and hence the courier will collect VAT (with their handling fee of course ).As a result, anything over £136+VAT is pretty much guaranteed to have an extra fee (for the courier's "handling" of the tax bill), regardless of whether customs charges are due. Thanks Boris.
2 Years ago I ordered a special tool from USA for a job on a Harley about £100, When the tool arrived in the UK I had a note saying before it could be delivered I had to pay import duties plus VAT etc to the post office. Since then I do not buy anything from the EU or the USA Direct anymore .. In future I will make what I want or buy the product from here England.
julianf
Member
- Messages
- 8,598
- Location
- devon, uk
I don't know much about this, but the one thing I'll add is that there's a £135-ish pre-tax threshold for VAT on imported stuff. If it's below that value, the seller can (or maybe has to?) charge VAT and then the only charges you should pay on import are any customs duties that may apply (plus the exorbitant handling fees the couriers charge
As a result, anything over £136+VAT is pretty much guaranteed to have an extra fee (for the courier's "handling" of the tax bill), regardless of whether customs charges are due. Thanks Boris.
As of January last year, there is no threshold for vat on imported goods.
You have a, I think, £15 grace on gifts, but not on goods.
The higher limit you are talking about is either duty or the IOSS (or whatever the UK equivalent is called) limit.
The limits and thresholds are all on a government webpage somwhere. I don't have it to hand, but it's not too buried if anyone wants to look.
Dr.Al
Forum Supporter
- Messages
- 2,533
- Location
- Gloucestershire, UK
The threshold I mentioned wasn't the one for whether VAT is charged, it's the threshold for who is responsible for charging the VAT - i.e. whether the supplier charges the VAT or whether VAT is payable at the point of import. If it's payable at the point of import, then the courier will charge you and also add their fee on top.
from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-and-overseas-goods-sold-directly-to-customers-in-the-uk
AVI_8
Member
- Messages
- 1,495
- Location
- Prestwick
Interesting topic,
Anytime I buy car parts from the US, (usually shipped by FedEx) I get a bill after it’s been delivered, doesn’t matter how small the part, even second hand brake callipers don’t escape friggin HMRC.
My wife has an online business, she gets fabric materials shipped from China, I’m not talking small packages here it’s large boxes, many many times larger and heavier than my packages from the US.
She‘s never had to pay a penny on import taxes or VAT, not once.
Anytime I buy car parts from the US, (usually shipped by FedEx) I get a bill after it’s been delivered, doesn’t matter how small the part, even second hand brake callipers don’t escape friggin HMRC.
My wife has an online business, she gets fabric materials shipped from China, I’m not talking small packages here it’s large boxes, many many times larger and heavier than my packages from the US.
She‘s never had to pay a penny on import taxes or VAT, not once.
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
- Messages
- 7,769
- Location
- Cumbria
There's a reason for this but I'm blowed if I can understand it. On paper china imports are subject to the same duty. But in practice it's usually been cheaper or duty free. Maybe it's the cheap cost of manufacture to start with...
julianf
Member
- Messages
- 8,598
- Location
- devon, uk
For some reason, theyve always been way more on the ball with stuff from the states than from china.
Technically, anything over GBP 15 marked on the CN2(whatever it is) form is subject to vat. Maybe the Chinese retailers just mark it down as a £5 gift?
Or...
If youre buying from ali express etc. they are set up for UK vat collection now, so everything just comes through without additional fees.
8ob
Member
- Messages
- 14,382
- Location
- Nescient in the vale
I also wondered about this, I came to the conclusion that there must be a way that Chinese goods are getting to the Uk drop shippers at extremely good rates, I will leave that there.
Bob
