UPS Charging Import VAT on goods valued under 10 USD

adam78

I have a shipment that has recently come from outside the EU with a declared value of 10 USD. UPS are asking for import VAT and duties before they will release the shipment. Their break down is as follows:
Import VAT 11.45
Duties: 1.31
Brokerage Charges: 11.50
Total: 24.26

When I've challenged them that there is no import VAT and duties on goods valued under £15 they keep giving me ambiguous explanation such as it gone through border force and so they charged this fee??? What does that even mean.  Why are they charging brokerage fees?
Ironically another identical shipment from the same sender cleared by UPS on the same day without charges. When I challenged the agent he said it might be one that got through but I should be paying the taxes...the cheeky !!!!!!.  

Why do I need to pay these charges when the following article clearly states the thresholds upon which Duties are liable
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-143-a-guide-for-international-post-users/notice-143-a-guide-for-international-post-users

Is there something I'm missing.
 
He said I'll get a more clear answer as my query is being investigated but he thinks I'll have to pay.

any advise...tips to get my shipment released without paying these charges.

Browntoa

Is it actually worth more than £10 and purely labelled as below the threshold

adam78

No, they are samples worth below £15

visidigi

Samples of what? Not everything has a threshold

Flight3287462

The breakdown of charges is very specific and postage and packing needs to be included in the total cost.

What you will need to do is pay the bill receive your goods and then take it up with HMRC.

Aylesbury_Duck

As above, you owe UPS because they've paid on your behalf.  Then challenge HMRC to see if you can recover the money.

adam78

On the invoice sent by UPS the goods are declared as 10 USD in black and white. There is no import VAT or duties on goods valued below £15 - refer to the HMRC article. The exchange rate for USD brings the total price to just under £8. 
Sounds more like the people giving advice on here either work for HMRC or UPS when they suppose to be  giving advice on how to save money!!!
This is a HMRC and UPS con as far as I'm concerned.

adam78

Also note I can recover the VAT as I'm VAT registered...its the UPS brokerage fee that's extortionate - on one hand on their website they say UPS brokerage fees are provided at no extra cost and then they slap it on like this with no explanation.
https://www.ups.com/gb/en/shipping/zones-and-rates/additional.page#:~:text=UPS Brokerage services are provided,crucial to on-time delivery.

Aylesbury_Duck

adam78 said:

On the invoice sent by UPS the goods are declared as 10 USD in black and white. There is no import VAT or duties on goods valued below £15 - refer to the HMRC article. The exchange rate for USD brings the total price to just under £8. 
Sounds more like the people giving advice on here either work for HMRC or UPS when they suppose to be  giving advice on how to save money!!!
This is a HMRC and UPS con as far as I'm concerned.

Ah, the tired old toys-out-of-the-pram response when you don't get the answer you wanted.  It's a classic.

[Deleted User]

Aylesbury_Duck said:

adam78 said:

On the invoice sent by UPS the goods are declared as 10 USD in black and white. There is no import VAT or duties on goods valued below £15 - refer to the HMRC article. The exchange rate for USD brings the total price to just under £8. 
Sounds more like the people giving advice on here either work for HMRC or UPS when they suppose to be  giving advice on how to save money!!!
This is a HMRC and UPS con as far as I'm concerned.

Ah, the tired old toys-out-of-the-pram response when you don't get the answer you wanted.  It's a classic.

OP has just confirmed they are a troll. At least it saves anyone else bothering to try and offer advice.

powerful_Rogue

adam78 said:

On the invoice sent by UPS the goods are declared as 10 USD in black and white. There is no import VAT or duties on goods valued below £15 - refer to the HMRC article. The exchange rate for USD brings the total price to just under £8. 
Sounds more like the people giving advice on here either work for HMRC or UPS when they suppose to be  giving advice on how to save money!!!
This is a HMRC and UPS con as far as I'm concerned.

Makes no difference what the declared value is. If Border Force inspected the item and declared it's value as being higher, then that is the figure used. Otherwise everyone would import items worth $$$$ and have it declared as $10.

You still haven't answered what the samples were, I find that quite telling. Espeically as there are different rules for importing samples.

If you wan't to save money in future, arrange your own customs clearance. Although when I say save money, depends how much you value your own time.