Customs Duty for importing therapeutic items

tiya1990 · 14 March 2018 at 10:54AM

Hello ,

I need some advice regarding Customs Duty please.

I have 11 year old autistic twins and I have paid £300 for some highly rated software + boardgame to help them with their Social and Emotional Issues ( called 'Secret Agent Society' from Brisbane - its not available in the UK ).

£70 out of the £300 was for postage ! :eek:

On Tracking , I found that it was dispatched from Australia on 5th March and received here at Coventry on 7th March .

Its still sitting there at Coventry a week later.

My question is - given that these items are for therapeutic use

a) Will I have to pay VAT ?

b) Will I have to pay additional customs duties ?

c) Should it be sitting in customs clearance for this long or are they worried that its called 'Secret Agent Society' ? !!

Look forward to your replies ,
Tiya

Thrugelmir · 14 March 2018 at 8:28PM

Can sometimes take a couple of weeks to clear customs. There's probably a letter on the way informing you of the charges you'll need to pay before they release it. The item will be passed to Parcelforce for payment and delivery.

alewin · 14 March 2018 at 8:34PM

I'm sure someone from the HM Revenue and Customs Department will be along shortly to answer your questions.

If someone kindly directs them to this message board first that is.

Cornucopia · 14 March 2018 at 8:39PM

There is information here on the various exemptions to Import Duty and Import VAT:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-trade-tariff-relief-from-customs-and-excise-duties-and-vat/uk-trade-tariff-relief-from-customs-and-excise-duties-and-vat

sheramber · 14 March 2018 at 10:39PM

goods exempt from VAT for disabled people

https://www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/vat-relief

tiya1990 · 19 March 2018 at 1:39PM

Thank You all for your replies - much appreciated.

I received a letter from Parcelforce asking for another £78.30 to be paid ie
£67.05 - import VAT
£11.25 - clearance fee.

Just paid this for fear they might send the parcel back to Australia. :mad:

I have been calling the imports relief line - which another poster sent me the link to above - on 0300 057 2100 - called 5 times so far over the last 4 hours - eternally engaged.

Would anyone have any idea if they have an email address or an alternative contact number ?

Is it possible to get the import VAT back if I can prove it is for therapeutic purposes ?

Many Thanks for your replies.

sheramber · 19 March 2018 at 1:52PM

Importing Goods for Disabled people free of Duty and VAT

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-371-importing-goods-for-disabled-people-free-of-duty-and-vat/notice-371-importing-goods-for-disabled-people-free-of-duty-and-vat

Customs Duty for importing therapeutic items

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