We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Will I have to pay customs charges?
Options

Rainlight
Posts: 21 Forumite
in Cutting tax
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.

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.
0
Comments
-
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.htmWe 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 Earth0 -
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 : £990 -
talkinpeace wrote: »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 likely0 -
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 Earth0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards