Customs charges on US order

gentleorange

I paid over $44 in postage when I ordered a small item from an American ebay seller, but today I got a customs letter charging me £22.03 in import vat and fees before they will release the item to me!

I assumed the big postage cost would include whatever it takes to get my item through customs. Is the seller at fault?

csnann

The seller is not responsible for Customs charges, you are.

shaun_from_Africa

Is the seller at fault?

No.
Postage costs are just that. The price for getting the item from the seller to you.
VAT of 20% is due on anything over £15 in value and import duty on goods over £135 that is imported from outside of the EU and on top of these there will be a handling and administration fee on top (somewhere between £8 and about £16 depending on the courier).

Import duties and fees are down to the importer (buyer) and nothing to do with the seller.

gentleorange

OK thanks.

techspec

Every seller i have used as marked them as a gift - so no duty to pay.

Think customs are getting wise to this now though - so fewer sellers do it.

custardy

techspec wrote: »

Every seller i have used as marked them as a gift - so no duty to pay.

Think customs are getting wise to this now though - so fewer sellers do it.

gift does not equate no duty