V.A.T From America.

OwtForNowt

Hi there.

I thought this was the best place to post this.

I received a letter from Parcel Force today saying they have a package for me, from America, and delivery of the parcel is subject to payment of charges raised by HM Revenue & Customs.

The charge is £15.11 (Plus of cause £8 Parcel Force Clearance fee)

Now, I am not expecting o receive anything from America, so I have no Idea what this is. Is the £15.11 17.5% of the Item(s) in the box value or are there set prices?

Thanks.

Crowqueen

Could it be a gift from a friend or relation over there? Customs duty and VAT are still charged on gifts brought in from overseas if the items are high enough value.

I'm not 100% sure what the breakdown of the charges actually is though.

OwtForNowt

Crowqueen wrote: »

Could it be a gift from a friend or relation over there? Customs duty and VAT are still charged on gifts brought in from overseas if the items are high enough value.

I'm not 100% sure what the breakdown of the charges actually is though.

No, none of my family or friends have been over there for a while, so I'm pretty sure its nothing like that.

I feel like its a lucky dip at a school fair, where the tickets are £23 :rotfl:

macfly

The answer is yes, 17.5% of the value.

thelawnet

Crowqueen wrote: »

Could it be a gift from a friend or relation over there? Customs duty and VAT are still charged on gifts brought in from overseas if the items are high enough value.

I'm not 100% sure what the breakdown of the charges actually is though.

see here

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

Customs duty is only payable if the item is worth over £135, so it won't be that. The £15.11 will be VAT on an item therefore worth £15.11/.175 = £86.34

chris1

OwtForNowt wrote: »

Now, I am not expecting o receive anything from America, so I have no Idea what this is.

If you're absolutely sure you're not expecting anything - make sure it's not a scam before paying out. There was something just like this on The Real Hustle (TV programme) a while back...

martindow

thelawnet wrote: »

see here

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

Customs duty is only payable if the item is worth over £135, so it won't be that. The £15.11 will be VAT on an item therefore worth £15.11/.175 = £86.34

VAT is charged on the declared value and the carriage charge so the item value will be less than 86.34

JaneRN

I've had a card posted through my door today asking for £11.90. I have ordered from the US but both parcels are below the threashold of £135 so I'm really confused. I'll be ringing the sorting office tomorrow, fortunatley I have reciepts for the goods for $59 & $70, so can't understand why they are doing this.

macfly

That's the customs duty threshold, not VAT. Above £18 is vatable - if there is such a word.

RFW

JaneRN wrote: »

I've had a card posted through my door today asking for £11.90. I have ordered from the US but both parcels are below the threashold of £135 so I'm really confused. I'll be ringing the sorting office tomorrow, fortunatley I have reciepts for the goods for $59 & $70, so can't understand why they are doing this.

The £135 low limit applies to duty and not VAT, depending on the goods you can still be liable to VAT.

JaneRN

RFW wrote: »

The £135 low limit applies to duty and not VAT, depending on the goods you can still be liable to VAT.

Thanks for the reply. I have ordered sewing patterns and some fabric and can't find either of these on the HM Revenue & Customs site. I've often ordered similar before and never been charged before, very frustrating.