High calculated VAT on parcel

mastercho

Hi all
I bought in November a jacket and sweater from China in total value £28.50.
They shipped by EMS which is handled by Parcelforce in UK.
As express supposed to come in max 15 days but takes them 2 months and a half only to get mail saying that i have to pay £10.22 import VAT and £11.25 clearance fee.
I think that's incorrectly calculated as my parcel value is £28.50 and according to HM Customs VAT is calculated if "gifts worth more than £39". Is there is a way to prove that my parcel is under £39 and avoid these taxes?

theonlywayisup

mastercho wrote: »

Hi all
I bought in November a jacket and sweater from China in total value £28.50.
They shipped by EMS which is handled by Parcelforce in UK.
As express supposed to come in max 15 days but takes them 2 months and a half only to get mail saying that i have to pay £10.22 import VAT and £11.25 clearance fee.
I think that's incorrectly calculated as my parcel value is £28.50 and according to HM Customs VAT is calculated if "gifts worth more than £39". Is there is a way to prove that my parcel is under £39 and avoid these taxes?

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad

£39 is in reference to gifts. As you bought them they aren't gifts and are subject to VAT (if more than £15 in value) and the fee the carrier charges. The parcel value usually includes postage, packaging and insurance too.

shaun_from_Africa

mastercho wrote: »

Hi all
I bought in November a jacket and sweater from China in total value £28.50.
"gifts worth more than £39". Is there is a way to prove that my parcel is under £39 and avoid these taxes?

But as you bought the jacket, it wasn't a gift.
As it cost more than £15. VAT is payable on the value of the item and also on the cost of the postage and packaging charges

mastercho

Chinese always mark them like a Gift, i thought maybe they would consider it as a gift

marliepanda

mastercho wrote: »

Chinese always mark them like a Gift, i thought maybe they would consider it as a gift

But its not so, two things may have happened:

1. They didn't mark it as a gift, as it is not.

2. They DID mark it as a gift but HMRC saw 'How odd that we get hundreds of gifts from this company a year, lets check. Oooh an invoice for £29? Bit odd on a gift'

Ames

mastercho wrote: »

Chinese always mark them like a Gift, i thought maybe they would consider it as a gift

Probably best not to mention to anyone official that you thought you'd be able to get away with fraudulently claiming a purchase is a gift.

George_Michael

mastercho wrote: »

Chinese always mark them like a Gift, i thought maybe they would consider it as a gift

I can just imagine your letter to HMRC.

"Dear Sir,
I am applying for a refund of the VAT charged on my recent purchase imported from China.
The reason that I feel I am due a refund is because everyone else breaks the law by falsely declaring imports so I feel it's unfair that I have been charged as I was not given the opportunity to falsify the declaration before duty was charged

regards

mastercho"

mastercho

Yeah, more likely number 2 has happened. Thanks

sheramber

It does stipulate that a gift must be form a person to a person so the name of the company as sender would negate it being a gift.