[FAQ] Customs and Import Duties - Page 33

Guest 24319 · 01-03-2009, 11:41

Yes, HM will write to you to confirm that they will refund you due to the incorrect charge. Send this letter to RM to say that the charge was incorrect and they will refund the handling charge. In my experience, it will take around three weeks to get the letter from HM. So, within two months, you should have both cheques.

Budge · 01-03-2009, 13:02

Thanks for your help guys, appreciated...

cjanderson · 07-03-2009, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by HugoMorse

Budge, the last few times I have used Amazon US, they only show the GBP price as a guide. It is just to make it easier for Joe Pub. When you get to the final checkout stage, in the top right box (where it shows the pricing and delivery charges, etc) there is the option to change currency.

You need to know the exact cost of the item and shipping in USD to determine if the charge is incorrect. The GBP guide price is meaningless (customs use the rate when they inspect the parcel, not when it was shipped). So, just taking a guess, even if the shipping price was marked separately, the cost of the item purchased is still over �18. Looking at the HM Revenue & Customs rates from 11/02/09 $1.4545 = �1, so �18 VAT free limit (before P&P costs) = $26.18, so, assuming the �1.21 shipping is correct, P&P = $0.83, deduct that from $28.03 = $27.20, which is $1.02 over the limit.

As mentioned, you need to know the exact cost of the item and shipping in USD to work it out for definate. Check the Order Confirmation on your Amazon account and change the currency. If the item price is $26.18 or less by itself, print off the order confirmations and send it to HM to get a refund. Once they send you confirmation, send their letter to Royal Mail to get a refund on the handling fee.

Let us know the USD breakdown.

how often does the exchange rate change>

I want a battery off ebay US, which is $24.95 for buy it now. so currently below the limit. but if the rate changes each week it could easily go over. or does it change every month? quarter?

*the postage is another �15 so the customs would be on both costs plus handling charge, hence makes a big difference.

but the item is �50 from the Uk

Guest 51903 · 07-03-2009, 11:27

as per the first post

Another important factor is the value of the goods. If the value is not declared in GBP, HMC&E will use their own monthly rates to convert the value to GBP. The monthly rates are checked once a week and changes made if they differ by more than 5% from the last published rate and amended from midnight on Tuesday/ Wednesday of the following week. (Source - http://www.hmce.gov.uk/business/rates/rates.htm ).

cjanderson · 07-03-2009, 11:29

so i am probably best to wait until 11/3 (1 month after last time) and then i know i am probably okay for the following 30 days.

Guest 51903 · 07-03-2009, 11:33

link above doesn't work

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...id=ERATES_2009

Bapapapa · 07-03-2009, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjanderson

so i am probably best to wait until 11/3 (1 month after last time) and then i know i am probably okay for the following 30 days.

Just ask the seller if he can mark the value as $20..

Guest 45362 · 07-03-2009, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjanderson

how often does the exchange rate change>

I want a battery off ebay US, which is $24.95 for buy it now. so currently below the limit. but if the rate changes each week it could easily go over. or does it change every month? quarter?

*the postage is another �15 so the customs would be on both costs plus handling charge, hence makes a big difference.

but the item is �50 from the Uk

Customs and Revenue determine the exchange rate once per month: in the last week of the month, they set the rate which will be used for the next calendar month from the prevailing international exchange rate.

However, each week the rates are reviewed and can be amended if they have varied by more than 5% in either direction.

This is actually very rare between major currencies but it did actually happen when the pound was in freefall a while ago.

It;s obviously quite common when you're looking at things like the Zimbabwean Dollar.

Do remember that Customs will use the exchange rate of the month when they process your articles when they enter the UK processing centre - not the rate at the time of purchase.

So even if you're careful and calculate the values using the appropriate rate, if your stuff takes a long time coming and the rates change during....

With something so close I;d suggest using some priority delivery method, to ensure that it all happens during a month. The rate for Match is just over $1.41/�1...

Guest 22574 · 03-04-2009, 18:29

so with Gordon saying to G20 something like taxes which promote protectionism of markets being bad will our �18 limit be removed or at least raised?

Nom · 06-04-2009, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjm

so with Gordon saying to G20 something like taxes which promote protectionism of markets being bad will our �18 limit be removed or at least raised?

No, why would it ?
You're only paying exactly the same VAT as you would if you'd bought the product from within the UK.

I'm not actually sure why there is an �18 grace at all ?

Guest 45362 · 06-04-2009, 20:24

It is there because under a certain limit it costs more to administer the small imports than the tax revenue raised. Of course, the �18 is hopelessly out of date, undoubtedly Revenue make a loss on these small fry. A realistic amount would be at least �50. Unfortunately, as it is a VAT matter and involves the single market (our Customs border is also all border to all other EU countries) it cannot be changed without EU level agreement.

It is certainly nothing to do with the taxman giving a nice break to anyone!

Guest 68242 · 21-04-2009, 19:34

Just had a little card from Royal Mail advising that there's a �12.29 customs charge on my DVDs ordered from the US of A thru Amazon.....

DVDs at $19.99 (15.45 Euro, 13.63 GBP)
Postage $14.95 (11.55 Euro, 10.20 GBP)

As I read the Customs and Excise notes, import VAT is chargeable on anything valued above 22 euro, or 18 pounds, so it's below this for the item value.

Customs duty is only chargeable above 150 euro, 120 GBP, so well below this.

Even if they're trying to charge VAT on the full amount incl postage, 23.83 GBP, 15% of that still only comes to 3.57 GBP .....

Do I pay up to get my discs, and challenge it later with C&E and RM, or try and dispute it first?

The Bear · 21-04-2009, 19:40

I'd imagine you'd pay up then challenge it with C&E. I think that's what most people have done before.

Why is the postage so expensive?

Guest 68242 · 21-04-2009, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bear

I'd imagine you'd pay up then challenge it with C&E. I think that's what most people have done before.

Why is the postage so expensive?

How cheap would you expect it to be....?

Nom · 23-04-2009, 08:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTD

Just had a little card from Royal Mail advising that there's a �12.29 customs charge on my DVDs ordered from the US of A thru Amazon.....

DVDs at $19.99 (15.45 Euro, 13.63 GBP)
Postage $14.95 (11.55 Euro, 10.20 GBP)

As I read the Customs and Excise notes, import VAT is chargeable on anything valued above 22 euro, or 18 pounds, so it's below this for the item value.

Customs duty is only chargeable above 150 euro, 120 GBP, so well below this.

Even if they're trying to charge VAT on the full amount incl postage, 23.83 GBP, 15% of that still only comes to 3.57 GBP .....

Do I pay up to get my discs, and challenge it later with C&E and RM, or try and dispute it first?

DVDs ? Discs ?
If you've ordered more than one, at �13.63 each, you're quite clearly over the �18 limit...

Guest 243 · 23-04-2009, 13:08

If the total value of the items in the package (excluding post) is more than �18 (according the the prevailing HMCE exchange rate) you are liable to get charged VAT on the total amount including post. Royal Mail then add an extra �8 for admin, and general arse burgling.

If you only bought that one dvd, you wouldn't be liable for VAT on it. You would pay up then get HMCE to agree it was incorrectly charged and then subsequently you'd have to go to Royal Mail for your �8 back.

Guest 33006 · 18-06-2009, 11:36

Just got hit on some Threadless stuff, of course on something I need for tomorrow for a gift!. It was going to be over the limit but I used a voucher that brought me under the threshold, as I've been hit I'm guessing Threadless declared the value before the voucher, am I still due a refund as the price I actually paid was under?

Tastydirt · 18-06-2009, 11:51

Need to argue with Threadless on that one if they've incorrectly declared the value, I know they've been known for that in the past (such as adding the postage to the total goods value).

Guest 243 · 18-06-2009, 11:56

If you can demonstrate the price you paid to RM and C&E (and it's less than �18 according to their rates) you should get a refund of the tax and RM's extortionate fee. Threadless aren't likely to refund anything based on you getting charged even if it is technically their fault.

Pay the RM to release the goods. Keep the packaging, including the postage charge label and follow it up with C&E. Once you've got agreement from C&E that a refund is due, take that confirmation to RM to request a refund of their charge.

bigman · 18-06-2009, 12:09

Isn't there a chance that they will claim that the "price" was actually above the limit -the fact that some of the cost was paid for via a voucher may not interest them?

I'd be angry about it too and have expected them to declare only the amount you actually paid but I wouldn't be surprised if C&E didn't agree.