Custom fees in the UK when receive from US

[Vintageg2]

Hi guys,

Does anyone from the UK know how the import fees work here when I want to receive ponies from the US?
How much can you order (including shipping) without having to pay the fees?

Thanks in advance! X

[Whippycorn]

All the info should be here... https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty 

[Vintageg2]

All the info should be here... https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

Yes I read it but I don't understand it completely. Because you need to pay 20% VAT but is this on top of the normal price you pay for the items + shipping? And if not, can you just import up to 135 pounds without paying extra's?

[Whippycorn]

If I recall correctly, the last time I had a parcel from the US that was not marked as a gift, I had to pay the VAT on the value of the pony (as stated on the customs form) AND the postage. Which is partly why I rarely buy from there any more. I have however received a couple of things marked as gifts which I did not pay any VAT on.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will come along soon.

[icecreamgirl]

I have bought lots of ponies here on the arena and I have never had to pay any charges. I'm not sure if the senders have kindly put them down as a gift, I have never really taken any notice!

I have had to pay import charges when buying from the US on ebay and it is extortionate!

[Vintageg2]

Thanks for your help!

[hathorcat]

All the info should be here... https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

Yes I read it but I don't understand it completely. Because you need to pay 20% VAT but is this on top of the normal price you pay for the items + shipping? And if not, can you just import up to 135 pounds without paying extra's?

You cant import more than £15 without having to pay fees.

Its an import duty + admin charges. The import duty is the VAT. The theory is that because the UK treasury are missing out on the VAT they would get when the item was sold in the UK, they get it through the import duty.

[Vintageg2]

All the info should be here... https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

Yes I read it but I don't understand it completely. Because you need to pay 20% VAT but is this on top of the normal price you pay for the items + shipping? And if not, can you just import up to 135 pounds without paying extra's?

You cant import more than £15 without having to pay fees.

Its an import duty + admin charges. The import duty is the VAT. The theory is that because the UK treasury are missing out on the VAT they would get when the item was sold in the UK, they get it through the import duty.

Thanks, made it very clear!

[Tzan19]

Another thing to be mindful of is that the value they use to calculate includes the shipping costs not just the cost of the item you purchase 

Post Merge: October 17, 2015, 12:38:57 PM

Oops sorry, yeah you said that   

Post Merge: October 17, 2015, 12:44:08 PM

Oh and the "admin fee" is £8, so 20% vat plus the admin fee. So  you end up paying cost of item + shipping cost, plus 20% of cost of item and shipping, plus £8   

[Vintageg2]

Another thing to be mindful of is that the value they use to calculate includes the shipping costs not just the cost of the item you purchase 

Post Merge: October 17, 2015, 12:38:57 PM

Oops sorry, yeah you said that   

Post Merge: October 17, 2015, 12:44:08 PM

Oh and the "admin fee" is £8, so 20% vat plus the admin fee. So  you end up paying cost of item + shipping cost, plus 20% of cost of item and shipping, plus £8   

Alright thanks for the information.  It is not really different in the Netherlands. Stupid fees

[Ringlets]

Looks like you got all the info already  (thanks all! )  - its such a pain what we get charged here in the UK isn't it?