Help Needed on a prize that I have won

sunshine111

Hi,

I received an email on Saturday to say I had won a book from Goodreads, I have though this morning received another email pretty much saying I may have to pay custom tax? It reads...

Note: while sending your package, the post office asked me the value of the book. I told them that it has a value of $15 US. Dollars. After leaving the post office, I was concerned that it might involve a custom tax. I keep blaming myself that it is my mistake I suppose to declare its value as $0. This is my first time sending a package out of the country. I don’t know how much the custom tax is in your country. However, I am willing to refund it. So please, feel free to email a copy of your receipt for the charge, I will send you a money order for the custom tax (if it applies).

What would you do I have never been in this position before, I am at work in the day so if the post man tries to deliver I will be out so he will have to leave a card...

Thanks in advance:o

bellrooster

I might be wrong, but I think that the value of the item has be to higher than $15. I bought a watch from the US a few years ago for $450 and I had to pay $30 to customs. The bill for that came after the watch arrived though.

So either you won't have anything to pay, or the book will just come through the post and you'll get your customs bill after (but I don't think it will cost anything)

I could be wrong though, but I hth

softpad

I personally think you will be OK as it is such a small value. I know someone else on here said that they were asked to pay and they told them to return it to sender and the person resent it as a gift or something of no value so they got around it. HTH

sunshine111

Thanks Guys

Savvybunny2009

I agree, I had a problem recently with a denim giveaway win regarding customs tax. You will not pay customs charge if the value is stated at $15, I think it has to be under $50 to not incur charges so your safe. My package was valued at $400 and the customs was £128.00 customs!! Luckily I managed to get them to pay it but thats a whole nother story

And, if there is a customs charge it will be held at the depot until its paid anyway, not that there will be a charge. But if you do get a red card thats a positive sign.

itsinthemail

:jwell done on your win, I'm pretty sure you wont have to pay any tax at that value :j

mjm3346

:TCongratulations:T


The duty/vat regs are here


http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document#P35_3251


(to save you reading it, there should be nothing to pay)