Customs and charges on goods from US?

Buster_Danog

Has anyone bought goods online from a business in the US and been hit for customs charges when the goods were delivered?

I want to buy some skincare products from the US, but the company sells a few other nutritional supplements as well. I am thinking of ordering about five items, but am wondering if this increases my chances of being charged money?

The total value might be something like $35 at most. If I was charged, how much could customs charge me for buying this amount of stuff from abroad? The goods would be sent from a business and packed with business receipts inside.

Notmyrealname

For $35 you won't get charged as long as the declaration is filled in and stuck on the parcel.

soolin

Notmyrealname wrote: »

For $35 you won't get charged as long as the declaration is filled in and stuck on the parcel.

I thought the limit had been reduced to £15 now , even at £18 the $35 would still be in excess of the amount at which duty etc becomes payable.

I bring in quite a bit of stuff and sometimes I get to pay charges and sometimes I don't. On $30 of makeup, plus a few pounds for postage I was charged £11.50, most of which was the handling charge.

It all seems a bit random to me what gets charged and what does not.

shaun_from_Africa

Notmyrealname wrote: »

For $35 you won't get charged as long as the declaration is filled in and stuck on the parcel.

Why not?
$35 is about £23, which is in excess of the figure of £15 that is allowed to be imported without VAT being payable.
I'm not saying that there will definitely be anything to pay, but there may be if the package gets chosen.

RFW

I've recently been charged for what was a genuine gift from the US and the value was around $35.

Something that came up on another thread was to consider the amount in dollars to be what you will end up having paid in pounds after duty and handling, if that still sounds like a good deal, go ahead, then if you don't end up paying duty it's a really good deal!

If you're buying a few items, depending on the postage rates it may be worthwhile splitting the order. 5 individual $7 items will be unlikely to be charged duty, but obviously the postage will be a factor.

barmonkey

use this site to work it out

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/

Buster_Danog

soolin wrote: »

On $30 of makeup, plus a few pounds for postage I was charged £11.50, most of which was the handling charge.

So they charge a handling charge on top of the VAT?? :mad:

Using the link in the previous post I calculated about a £4.50 vat charge on $30 worth of goods, which is not the end of the world. However, the handling fee might make it less economical, and maybe the handling fee would vary in any case. We need to join NAFTA as well as the EU I think.

Obviously_the_best

On the link it would be £4.43 taxes, then RM charge an £8 handling fee. Other carriers may vary, please check with the selected carriers website.

song_of_calliope

My partner recently got charged duty for a book he had bought from the US, and the man at the post office said next time tell the sender to tick "gift" instead of "merchandise" on the customs form. He said that way we wouldn't get charged.

custardy

Sergeant_Troy wrote: »

So they charge a handling charge on top of the VAT?? :mad:

Using the link in the previous post I calculated about a £4.50 vat charge on $30 worth of goods, which is not the end of the world. However, the handling fee might make it less economical, and maybe the handling fee would vary in any case. We need to join NAFTA as well as the EU I think.

well do your own clearance

custardy

song_of_calliope wrote: »

My partner recently got charged duty for a book he had bought from the US, and the man at the post office said next time tell the sender to tick "gift" instead of "merchandise" on the customs form. He said that way we wouldn't get charged.

well the man at Royal mail is giving suspect advice.