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Buying children's clothes from USA

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I've just ordered a couple of t shirts for my children from the USA - not something I'd normally do but these are one-off limited editions of something they're both big fans of. The value of the t shirts plus shipping comes to around £38. That should mean that I'll have to pay import VAT on them. I'm wondering though whether the fact that they're children's sizes will make them exempt so I don't have to pay anything. Also what will happen if there are charges payable, do I get something through the post from Royal Mail asking me to pay, and when I pay would the parcel then be sent straight on to my home address or would I have to collect it at a Royal Mail depot? I've never ordered from other countries before so I'm unsure about the process.

Comments

  • Westin
    Westin Posts: 6,316 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I think you might wish to repost your question in another forum.

    This is one is a rather old and now largely irrelevant thread on a failed currency exchange operation.
  • heatherw_01
    heatherw_01 Posts: 6,793 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hi, we move threads if we think they!!!8217;ll get more help elsewhere (please read the forum rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board. If you have any questions about this policy please email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Quick Grabbit, Freebies, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning and the UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards.
    If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.
    All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • quoia
    quoia Posts: 14,496 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    It's quite possible the Royal Mail will bring it to your door and ask you to pay the duty or VAT due on it before handing it over

    In addition to the duty or VAT liable, you will be charged a £8 handling fee by and for this service provided by the RM in collecting these monies due to Customs & Excise
    There are 10 types of people in the world. ‹(•¿•)›
    ‹(•¿•)› Those that understand binary and those that do not!


    Veni, Vidi, VISA ! ................. I came, I saw, I PURCHASED
    (11)A104.28S94.98O112.46N86.73D101.02(12)J130.63F126.76M134.38A200.98M156.30J95.56J102.85A175.93
    S LOWER CASE OMEGA;6.59 so far ..
  • quoia
    quoia Posts: 14,496 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    There are 10 types of people in the world. ‹(•¿•)›
    ‹(•¿•)› Those that understand binary and those that do not!


    Veni, Vidi, VISA ! ................. I came, I saw, I PURCHASED
    (11)A104.28S94.98O112.46N86.73D101.02(12)J130.63F126.76M134.38A200.98M156.30J95.56J102.85A175.93
    S LOWER CASE OMEGA;6.59 so far ..
  • robin58
    robin58 Posts: 2,802 Forumite
    edited 12 February 2018 at 1:31AM
    The more I live, the more I learn.
    The more I learn, the more I grow.
    The more I grow, the more I see.
    The more I see, the more I know.
    The more I know, the more I see,
    How little I know.!! ;)
  • Children's clothes 0% VAT but still import duty & (joys) postage charges
    "Youthwear" subject to VAT as well as import duties & (Still joys) postage charges.

    About the only upside of buying American is their sizing which is frankly generous.
  • Thanks everyone, will just have to see what happens (it's being dispatched at the end of this month so will find out in a few weeks). It's a one-off so if I pay some fees it's not the end of the world, but obviously the less it is the better.
  • Well I received the parcel straight to my door with no extra payments of any type required, and it only took two days to arrive from the States, great service! Sizes are ok as it had measurements on the website so I based it on the measurements of t shirts my children already have.
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