Import Duty Charge but Goods Already Arrived - Do I Pay?

born_again

Let me guess  that this is not Amazon, but Amazon Marketplace.

pbartlett

prowla said:

This has been the case for years - I remember long ago buying a couple of DVDs from the US and when they arrived, the duty & fees ended up take the price higher than if I'd bought them here on the High Street.

What's a DVD ?

prowla

Sandtree said:

prowla said:

This has been the case for years - I remember long ago buying a couple of DVDs from the US and when they arrived, the duty & fees ended up take the price higher than if I'd bought them here on the High Street.

Import duty was introduced in 1932... so for a few years and long before DVDs existed

I'm sure I've seen DVDs of the First World War!

visidigi

Singhbury said:

Hey All - This is my first forum post!

I have recently purchased an item on Amazon for £300 and it arrived in early June with no issues.

However I have received in the last week a letter from DHL stating that outstanding tax is due amounting to £74.

I did not realise that there was an import tax duty I needed to pay so I don't want to pay this charge.

Normally, the import tax duty invoice is sent to the buyer before the goods are delivered but in my case I've had the goods for a month and I want to return the item rather than keep it and pay the import duty however the 30 day return policy from the Amazon Seller is now expired.

So I am unsure on how to proceed? Please can someone help

You need to pay it. You bought the goods and agreed to the terms and conditions which outline this.

If you sent if back because of a change of mind to avoid taxes this would not work. You have opened and used the goods, which are not faulty, are not being temporarily exported for repair and therefore even if you could send it back you will still owe DHL the duties and taxes.

Singhbury

The Amazon Marketplace does not state that it comes from an overseas country so how am I meant to know that there is an import charge to be paid on the item?

Amazon were not clear on this so how am I liable?

sheramber

What does it say for 

'sold by'

'despatched by'

visidigi

Singhbury said:

The Amazon Marketplace does not state that it comes from an overseas country so how am I meant to know that there is an import charge to be paid on the item?

Amazon were not clear on this so how am I liable?

Whats the Item? All the market place items I've bought since BREXIT make the source, cost and liability very clear.

p3ncilsharpener

Singhbury said:

The Amazon Marketplace does not state that it comes from an overseas country so how am I meant to know that there is an import charge to be paid on the item?

Amazon were not clear on this so how am I liable?

Because the law says you, as the importer are liable.

You have a separate argument with Amazon (perhaps) because of their failure to identify the seller as an overseas one, but that doesn't override your legal obligations to pay any taxes due.

MattMattMattUK

Singhbury said:

The Amazon Marketplace does not state that it comes from an overseas country so how am I meant to know that there is an import charge to be paid on the item?

If you click on the Marketplace Seller's profile it will tell you where they are based.

Singhbury said:

Amazon were not clear on this so how am I liable?

UK Import legislation still applies, regardless of whether you are aware of it or not.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

To be fair, Amazon don't do much to show the shopper where the goods are located, having to click through to a seller profile (that hardly anyone looks at) or guess from the ETA isn't really acceptable and Amazon are probably misleading the consumer by omitting information that would affect the economic activity of the average consumer. 

Out of interest are there any cases of the couriers taking people to small claims over the import duty and winning?