UPS storage fees

Splitzafrenic

I recently (15/1/ 21) bought an item from a French business (and paid tax).Today I got an import duty demand from ups that also has a storage fee of £52 on the invoice.
Neither the sender or I have asked for storage of the parcel at any time.The parcel was held up (I can only guess at point of import due to covid and Brexit),can Ups hold me responsible and charge me for these delays?
Also is it correct I'm being taxed in both countries?

MattMattMattUK

Splitzafrenic said:

I recently (15/1/ 21) bought an item from a French business (and paid tax).Today I got an import duty demand from ups that also has a storage fee of £52 on the invoice.
Neither the sender or I have asked for storage of the parcel at any time.The parcel was held up (I can only guess at point of import due to covid and Brexit),can Ups hold me responsible and charge me for these delays?
Also is it correct I'm being taxed in both countries?

The issue is likely that the seller did not supply the correct paperwork which meant that the item was stored whilst that was resolved. If there is double taxation that is also let due to incorrect documentation as if tax duties and taxes were paid to HMRC by the seller, and documented, they would not have been charged again. As the documentation did not show that UK duties and taxes had been paid then they were charged on import.

Batesy1976

MattMattMattUK said:

Splitzafrenic said:

I recently (15/1/ 21) bought an item from a French business (and paid tax).Today I got an import duty demand from ups that also has a storage fee of £52 on the invoice.
Neither the sender or I have asked for storage of the parcel at any time.The parcel was held up (I can only guess at point of import due to covid and Brexit),can Ups hold me responsible and charge me for these delays?
Also is it correct I'm being taxed in both countries?

The issue is likely that the seller did not supply the correct paperwork which meant that the item was stored whilst that was resolved. If there is double taxation that is also let due to incorrect documentation as if tax duties and taxes were paid to HMRC by the seller, and documented, they would not have been charged again. As the documentation did not show that UK duties and taxes had been paid then they were charged on import.

I think the issue is that they paid French and UK tax, not that they paid UK tax twice.

There's not much you can do about paying tax in the other country other than complaining to the seller and see if you can get it refunded.  VAT doesn't need to be paid on exported goods but many EU companies still seem to act as if the UK is in the EU (and levy local VAT).

Splitzafrenic

MattMattMattUK said:

The issue is likely that the seller did not supply the correct paperwork which meant that the item was stored whilst that was resolved. If there is double taxation that is also let due to incorrect documentation as if tax duties and taxes were paid to HMRC by the seller, and documented, they would not have been charged again. As the documentation did not show that UK duties and taxes had been paid then they were charged on import.

All correct paperwork was supplied at the time of collection by UPS.UPS were 3 days late delivering the package and are trying to charge me for their poor supply chain management. 

Manxman_in_exile

Splitzafrenic said:

MattMattMattUK said:

The issue is likely that the seller did not supply the correct paperwork which meant that the item was stored whilst that was resolved. If there is double taxation that is also let due to incorrect documentation as if tax duties and taxes were paid to HMRC by the seller, and documented, they would not have been charged again. As the documentation did not show that UK duties and taxes had been paid then they were charged on import.

All correct paperwork was supplied at the time of collection by UPS.UPS were 3 days late delivering the package and are trying to charge me for their poor supply chain management. 

And did they dispute this when you put it to them?