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Will I have to pay customs charges?

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First of all I'm not sure if it's in right section this but if it is then hooray me :)

Ok I want to know if I'm going to have to pay ANY fee for an item I might get sent by a friend soon from America.

The item is a small plush tiger toy, doesn't weigh hardly anything, and she received it as a gift herself and she wants to send it to me as a gift.

I can't find anything remotely clear about this and don't entirely understand customs things and this would be my first ever overseas item I've received.

Am I going to have to pay a fee for it from customs if she sends it? A gift is something someone willingly gives you for free out of goodwill, and if I had to pay some kind of charges it's hardly a gift is it?

I need to know ASAP because it's an important thing to me.

Comments

  • thenudeone
    thenudeone Posts: 4,462 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Depends on the value written by the sender on the customs declaration form.

    If the value is below £15, there will be nothing to pay http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm#3

    Otherwise, if HMRC check the parcel, Royal Mail will ask you to pay any Customs Duty and VAT (plus a handling charge) before delivering the goods. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/paying-tax.htm
    We need the earth for food, water, and shelter.
    The earth needs us for nothing.
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  • If it is genuinely a person to person gift, and its value is non material,
    make sure she puts that on the customs sticker and you should be fine.
    Counting the beans : £1
    Knowing which beans to count : £99
  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If it is genuinely a person to person gift, and its value is non material,
    make sure she puts that on the customs sticker and you should be fine.

    not quite. thats down to customs if they deem it so
    however in the OPs case. it would be highly likely
  • thenudeone
    thenudeone Posts: 4,462 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just as an aside, read this story about how someone turned the tables on an ebay scammer by declaring an incorrect value on the Customs declaration form:
    http://www.zug.com/pranks/powerbook/
    We need the earth for food, water, and shelter.
    The earth needs us for nothing.
    The earth does not belong to us.
    We belong to the Earth
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