UPS billing me VAT on a parcel I refused and returned

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82018569#Comment_82018569

The law makes you as the receiver of the goods liable for the taxes due on them.

There is a process to challenge the declared value of the goods received that allows it to be adjusted if the declaration form was incorrect. This is obviously intended for someone making a decision to buy something and an error occurring in the process than your nefarious individual but in principle it could be used.

The cost of posting a box full of rocks internationally isnt going to be cheap so you are much more likely looking at a scorned ex than a random nefarious individual.

The law also allows the courier, who has to pay the taxes in advance, to charge a fee to you for clearing customs. We've had many cases on here from people receiving token value parcels from well meaning relatives overseas with the taxes and fees well exceeding the value of the goods in the parcel. In the UK these are fairly middle of the road, in some countries they are much higher and in others they can't add fees.

sheramber

When buying from abroad you become the importer and as such are liable for any customs charges,

Either a courier pays these charges or you arrange with the sender that you will go and deal with customs yourself. In that case the sender has to mark the package accordingly.

In your case the courier paid to release the package and charges an admin charge for doing so.

it is not up to the courier to recover any customs charges because you refused/ sent the oarcel back.

It is up tp you to pay the courier for the service they provided and contact HM customs about recovering the charges.