parcel force clearance fee

soolin wrote: »

The 'do I have to pay this import charge' is probably the most asked question on MSE as it is usually on several boards at the same time. I wonder if we could use some of the pertinent links that have been usually provided on this thread to make up a sticky thread.

I was quite friendly with the person on the desk at a central Parcelforce depot. They get it continuously day in and day out, some people get quite aggressive with them too.

tremault wrote: »

I already found a UK definition. Chattels. And as I already said, it doesnt change anything.
The package wasn't my property until I accepted it.

The vat was due before delivery could be made therefore the vat was due before it became my property. After it became my property, no vat was due.

This is music to my ears!

I'm going to John Lewis this afternoon. I can't wait to tell them that I won't be paying VAT on my new TV because I they are forcing me to pay the VAT it incurrs BEFORE it becomes my property.

I guess that will probably work in Tesco too... in fact all the thousands places where they give you full title to the item BEFORE you pay the VAT the item commands. :money:

The only thing they could do is refuse to give me the item if I refuse to pay them the VAT, but then I would effectively have to walk away without paying and and relinquish my claim to the item... but what are the odds of that ever happening?

Oh wow, I'm glad this thread did take a turn to sanity eventually.

Mcleansc wrote: »

Holy thread bump batman!

I've just been done by this, ended up pushing my import fees to 52% of the value of the item. After paying for expensive shipping.

I've imported quite a few things (from the same person) and this is the first I've been forced to pay clearance fees. Is there any way of avoiding them? I've filled out a HMRC form before for a rather expensive purchase, but I did nothing to arrange that, it just appeared in the mail. I'm happy pay the import fees and VAT obviously, but when the 'clearance fee' is more expensive than in it's a bit frustrating.

The only way to avoid them on items that incur import VAT / customs fees is to buy from a seller who is registered with HMRC and who charges you appropriately so they can then account for the fees to HMRC.

Alternatively, Amazon's global shipping programme estimates the fees outright (will refund the difference if they're less, will absorb the loss if they're more), I'm not sure about eBay's but it seems to indicate it does too.

Or just buy under the threshold for items from outside the EU (difficult), or only buy from within the EU - both of which will likely soon not be options unless there is a decent Brexit deal, although there are plans to do away with the low value threshold regardless (I don't know when though, and haven't been able to find out from HMRC, probably because even they don't know yet).