Just forced to pay VAT on a gift from USA?

Horseunderwater

Are you giving it as a gift? If yes and value over £40 ($65.00?approx), then completing a CN22 will mean that recipient may have to pay customs duties + USA Collection fee?
You must declare the correct value on it (CN22) because if you do not and they do investigate the package (open it) they will charge full retail value of a new item over and above the £40 limit, regardless of whether you paid less for it 2nd hand. Write on the CN22 its weight in KG, it's value not including postage (what it cost you to buy) and 2nd hand used electrical item. Suggest that you do not put Nintendo DSi on it as that may make it a target for thieves.
Use the gift tick box in first scenario.
If however, it has been bought from you by someone in the US, then this is a commercial transaction and when completing CN22, declare value and weight and tick "other" box - it is not a commercial product sample, so it should go under other. Or that is how my PO chap advised me.
If the declared value 2nd hand is more than £18, then buyer at other end will more than likely need to pay custom duties over the £18 limit + release fee. However, the parcel will in 80% of cases just sail through and not get stopped and will go to recipient at other end with no extra charges payable. I find that writing it all correctly on the form seems to get my stuff there with no problems whatever.
Good luck.

dzug1

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Are you giving it as a gift? If yes and value over £40 ($65.00?approx), then completing a CN22 will mean that recipient may have to pay customs duties + USA Collection fee?
You must declare the correct value on it (CN22) because if you do not and they do investigate the package (open it) they will charge full retail value of a new item over and above the £40 limit, regardless of whether you paid less for it 2nd hand. Write on the CN22 its weight in KG, it's value not including postage (what it cost you to buy) and 2nd hand used electrical item. Suggest that you do not put Nintendo DSi on it as that may make it a target for thieves.
Use the gift tick box in first scenario.
If however, it has been bought from you by someone in the US, then this is a commercial transaction and when completing CN22, declare value and weight and tick "other" box - it is not a commercial product sample, so it should go under other. Or that is how my PO chap advised me.
If the declared value 2nd hand is more than £18, then buyer at other end will more than likely need to pay custom duties over the £18 limit + release fee. However, the parcel will in 80% of cases just sail through and not get stopped and will go to recipient at other end with no extra charges payable. I find that writing it all correctly on the form seems to get my stuff there with no problems whatever.
Good luck.

You've got that back to front - the £18 is for import INTO the UK. US customs have different rules and limits


I think the limit there is $100 for gifts and $200 for purchases - ie gifts have a LOWER limit.

Horseunderwater

dzug1 wrote: »

You've got that back to front - the £18 is for import INTO the UK. US customs have different rules and limits


I think the limit there is $100 for gifts and $200 for purchases - ie gifts have a LOWER limit.

I was going by what my PO chap advised me when sending stuff over to USA - if rates limits are incorrect the principal is still the same regardless of the actual figures involved. I failed to find the limits immediately, so will go with the figures you mention unless I can verify further.