How does custom charge work?

[Blackpanda]

Ordered a cap from Japan and today got ParcelForce letter for paying Custom charges
Import Duty
Excise Duty
V.A.T £11.56
Other
Parcelforce Clearance Fee £13.50

Total £25.06

just for Cap? that kinda rediculous is the charges base on the weight or price?

[the_icks]

i'd let them keep it!!

the 13.50 handling charge! ridiculous

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by Blackpanda

Ordered a cap from Japan and today got ParcelForce letter for paying Custom charges
Import Duty
Excise Duty
V.A.T £11.56
Other
Parcelforce Clearance Fee £13.50

Total £25.06

just for Cap? that kinda rediculous is the charges base on the weight or price?

Thats so skanky!
How much was the cap?

[Blackpanda]

the cap is about 8000yen which i paid £61 with the custom fees lol, it was elmo cap from new era which was limited only in japan

[grabrail]

Anything over £7 is liable to customs import duty, and the amount you pay is based on the value of the item.

The parcelforce fee is them robbing you blind

From the HMRC website

2.2 Do I have to pay import duties and/or import VAT on goods sent to me?

Most goods arriving in the UK from outside the EU are liable to any or all of the following taxes:

* customs duty
* excise duty
* import VAT

and must be paid whether:

* you purchase the goods or receive them as a gift;
* the goods are new or used (including antiques)
* the goods are for your private use or for sale

2.3 Are import duties and import VAT always payable?

No. Customs duty is waived if the amount of duty is less than £7.

Import VAT is not payable on:

* commercial consignments eg goods purchased over the internet with an intrinsic value not exceeding £18, but this does not include alcohol, tobacco products, perfume or toilet waters
* gifts, excluding alcohol, tobacco, perfumes and toilet waters, with a value not exceeding £36 and which comply with the rules shown in paragraph 2.4.

There are a number of other circumstances where relief from some or all customs charges may be available. If you think your goods may be eligible for a relief you should contact the National Advice Service for further information.
top ^
2.4 Gifts

Goods sent as a gift are not free of import duties and import VAT. However, customs duty will not be collected if the amount is less than £7, and import VAT is not chargeable if:

* the value of the gift does not exceed £36
* the customs declaration is completed correctly
* the gift has been sent from a private person outside the EU to a private person(s) in this country
* the gift is for the use of either yourself or your family
* there is no commercial or trade element and the gift has not been paid for either directly or indirectly
* the gift is of an occasional nature only eg for a birthday or anniversary.

Please note the purchase of goods from outside the EU to give as a gift to a relative or friend, whether or not addressed to that person, is treated as a ‘commercial consignment’ for which the import VAT relief threshold is £18 (paragraph 2.3 refers).

[Blazer]

Originally Posted by Blackpanda

the cap is about 8000yen which i paid £61 with the custom fees lol, it was elmo cap from new era which was limited only in japan

You should have told parcelforce to stick it! If I were you I would write a serious complaint.

[Tippy]

I remember buying some Xena/Hercules Memorabilia from USA and i got changed £80 custom charges.

I was really pi**ed off.

Never again!

Tippy

[Blackpanda]

The problem is my grammer is poo and kinda difficult i'll have to stick with it since these cap are no where to be found, took several month to find one especially elmo. Sorry to hear that Tippy makes me want give up on importing with that kind of fee

[the_icks]

my wifes wedding dress had a big import fee... but that may have been bcause of the volume!

[fosking]

Originally Posted by the_icks

my wifes wedding dress had a big import fee... but that may have been bcause of the volume!