Advice on VAT & Customs - Purchasing from USA

chut

If this does happen its a huge pain. I ordered some clothes from the states a little while ago, about 80$ worth. I ordered on the 1st and they were dispatched same day without problem and according to the post marks reached the UK on the 4th.

I didn't end up getting the package though until the 18th as it had made its way around different sorting and post offices in london having different charges added onto it.

When it was delivered (or shoud I say, when I had to collect it) there was about a £9 charge on the item, the one that !!!!!! me off the most was a Royal Mail admin charge of £4. Effectivley they'd delayed my parcel about 14 days and charged me for the priviledge.

I wasn't too pleased!

richto

spender wrote:

Normally you are allowed about £150.00 before paying VAT and excise duty. I bought some apres ski boots from USA for the kids, no charges at all. If you are worried check on the Customs website.

Wrong the limit is £18, and the reason you got the boots free is that childrens clothing is exempt.

lester_p

I regularly import stuff from the US, generally motorbike accessories, but also other bits and pieces. The limit is £18, customs duties will be charged and VAT applied, then there is the courier handling fee (even the Post Office charge £13.50 handling for a package)

However, the important thing to note is that whatever the sender puts on the package - i.e. 'gift' or a low value etc. is irrelevant. YOU are the importer and as such are liable to all duties etc. and YOU would be held liable if the description / value of goods was found to be fraudulent.

If the link hasn't already been posted try here

mercurystar999

Nightmare! I had exactly the same problem with a tag heuer watch that i bought from the states, allthough i had it cheap the duty i paid was somewhere in the region of £150

Albert_32

Must say a big thank-you to everyone for their advice and experience over this question.

It's times like this when people take time to give their thoughts that makes this site invaluable.

I am more informed and i really appreciate that!!

Cheers,

Albert

dc

chut wrote:

If this does happen its a huge pain. I ordered some clothes from the states a little while ago, about 80$ worth. I ordered on the 1st and they were dispatched same day without problem and according to the post marks reached the UK on the 4th.

I didn't end up getting the package though until the 18th as it had made its way around different sorting and post offices in london having different charges added onto it.

When it was delivered (or shoud I say, when I had to collect it) there was about a £9 charge on the item, the one that !!!!!! me off the most was a Royal Mail admin charge of £4. Effectivley they'd delayed my parcel about 14 days and charged me for the priviledge.

I wasn't too pleased!

That was because customs were sitting on it whilst they worked out the charges so dont blame the Royal Mail.
A few years ago it would have taken a couple of months to get to you after havng arrived in UK. There was a joke about customs and Excise using packages from USA to improvise card playing tables in Birmingham.

dc

audiowiz

The Duty free limits for import are as follows:

Posted from a business to an individual £18 - anything over is liable for duty + VAT + handling charges.

Posted from an individual to an individual as a gift £36 - (this does not include from a company i.e. specifying gift option on Amazon.com which is based on the £18 level). The "gift" is supposed to be for an occasion - i.e. birthday or Christmas

Personal import - i.e. carried on the person through customs - £145.

So for $100 worth of clothing - you could get it delivered to your friend in the USA, and get them to send you two gifts - i.e. two packages which are both under £36 - one for Valentines day, and one for Easter if there are not any convenient birthdays around. That should be within the limits.

Audiowiz