FedEx parcel unexpected bilk

visidigi

Phantom151 said:

jon81uk said:

Haggoj723 said:

It was declared as Scale Modelling Supplies as that's his company's business.  It probably wasn't far off €20!

I don't have a commercial invoice as it was a gift.

Its possible HMRC opened the box and valued it because what is contained within wasn't what the label stated it was.

The amount of tax till doesn't look correct, but you would have to pay excise duty on wine even received as a gift.
Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad: Tax and duty - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You may need to pay FedEx and then reclaim the overpaid duty from HMRC.

HMRC wouldn't be anywhere near the shipment and if Fedex had decided to check then there would be a duty charge as well as the VAT charge.

If HMRC don't like the data provided by FedEx to them they can request an inspection - FedEx doesn't do that inspection - its performed by HMRC in the clearance facility so HMRC can, and do, get very close to packages.

'cheap plonk' is still alcohol - which carries higher tariffs - suspect there is a decimal point in the wrong place on this one.

I would advise the shipper to contact FedEx to address the issue - they are the ones that declared the recipient to pay any taxes and they are also the ones who defined the content of the paperwork.

mattyprice4004

Yup, it sounds like a colossal mess-up on all sides - wine isn't machine parts, machine parts are rarely if ever a gift and FedEx seem to have fudged the numbers too. 
Add in Brexit and you have the perfect storm! 

I'd get in touch with FedEx to dispute the value, but you're going to have fun trying to explain why a box of machine parts is full of cheese and wine.