Have you ever paid duty on an imported item?

[MyCatShopsAtAldi]

I’m looking at buying a toy for our kids (Pikler triangle so over £135) and as far as I can tell, if it’s from outside the UK (now we’ve left the EU), it will be liable for import duty but I’m really struggling to wade through the gov.uk website and work out how much this would be. I was assuming equivalent to VAT but got the impression it might be higher? Does anyone know?

[ListeningQuietly]

@lifestooshort123

The previous poster is being VERY disingenous

The UK left the single market at the end of last year
VAT will be applied to ALL imports to the UK
regardless of the VAT status of the EU supplier

hence why UK shops are having problems getting supplies

[BiarritzCrackers]

I'm not intending to be disingenuous! I am a Remain/Rejoin as they come, FWIW.

But, I am just pointing out that it's not directly to do with the circumstances of Brexit in the way some appear to believe it is. It's also an issue affecting sellers from non EU countries; they don't want to ship to the UK any longer, because if they don't use an online marketplace, they have to register for VAT in the UK.

For example, Canadians shipping to the EU will also be affected from July onwards, when the measure is introduced there. It's a bigger issue than just Brexit.

I am negatively impacted by this; I will lose a lot of my EU sales, as I will not be competitive. I am so pissed off about it.

[ItStartedWithAKiss241]

I buy car parts from abroad for vintage cars and they are usually £100-£200 and approx £65 on top

[ListeningQuietly]

Biarritz
It is disingenous
because private parcels from France to the UK are now subject to VAT
same as private parcels from the USA
its not a trader problem
its a customs border problem

if you send a present to a friend on the other side of a customs border
it will get hit

[BiarritzCrackers]

Yes, I know all that. But what I am trying to point out, is that the UK could choose not to do this now; it is not part of the Brexit arrangements. It could choose to defer to July, like the rest of the EU. I think even with the EU, countries have had their own VAT thresholds for imports (happy to be corrected).

I am not disputing the practical impact.

[BiarritzCrackers]

I mean imports from outside the EU, in case that wasn't clear! Not goods exchanged within the EU.

[ListeningQuietly]

@BiarritzCrackers

Yes, I know all that. But what I am trying to point out, is that the UK could choose not to do this now; it is not part of the Brexit arrangements. It could choose to defer to July, like the rest of the EU. I think even with the EU, countries have had their own VAT thresholds for imports (happy to be corrected).

I am not disputing the practical impact.

No.
The UK is NOT PART of the EU deal or single market arrangement.

The UK, to comply with WTO rules, has to apply the same VAT principles to every country in the world.

What happens between France and Italy is utterly irrelevant to UK imports.

Import VAT is not linked to registration limits.

It does not even go on VAT returns
its the deferment system - totally separate

[amusedbush]

I ordered clothes from Modcloth, which is a US company. As with pp, I received a notification that my parcel was ready for delivery but I had to pay (£15, I think) to get it.

[Phwooooar]

I bought a veil off an Etsy seller in Ukraine. Cost of veil was around £27 plus £15 shipping. I had an import bill for £27 plus £12 handling. Ridiculous.

[ListeningQuietly]

Phw
Ukraine is non EU
You'd have had that bill Brexit or no Brexit.
Standard rules.

[BiarritzCrackers]

ListeningQuietly I know and agree with all those points - they are not the points I was making? I don't dispute them.

[RaininSummer]

I bought something for £44 from Aus. Postage was £12 and DHL whacked another £22 on top. I was a bit surprised as when I checked customs rules before ordering, it seemed to say that there was no duty on goods under £150. Suspect DHL are pulling a fast one.

[BiarritzCrackers]

No Duty at that level of goods worth £44, but VAT at 20% and then a handling charge from the courier. If HMRC had a calculator function, that would really help people buying here from abroad, so they can make informed choices about costs.

[RaininSummer]

Thank biarritz. I think the handling charge needs spelling out as that wasn't mentioned at all on the site. I just said to be aware that there may be a customs charge.

[ListeningQuietly]

@RaininSummer

Thank biarritz. I think the handling charge needs spelling out as that wasn't mentioned at all on the site. I just said to be aware that there may be a customs charge.

Those 50,000 Customs Agents that Gove keeps talking about recruiting do not work for free ...
Its a niche job that is comparatively well paid

[Blibbyblobby]

@RaininSummer

Thank biarritz. I think the handling charge needs spelling out as that wasn't mentioned at all on the site. I just said to be aware that there may be a customs charge.

IME retailers don't know about it. I was an early adopter for online shopping, often buying niche stuff from the US, and it used to make me FURIOUS that the shipping companies didn't include the customs handling charge in their quotes to the retailers where you could consider it in the overall order cost, then whacked it on in addition to the quoted cost and held your package to ransom til you paid it.

Usually the retailers had no idea their customers were being charged more by the courier on top of the postage already paid. The ones I told were horrified and embarrassed.

To be clear, it's not the duty and VAT I objected to, or even paying a handling fee, it's that an additional handling charge was added after the event even though it was entirely predictable and could have been built in and paid upfront.

Eventually couriers started offering quotes that already included the expected customs fees and handling charges, but it's not always the case.

[ListeningQuietly]

How could the seller quote for something over which they had no control
as it happened in any one of over 100 buyer countries

[LadyFlumpalot]

Yes. I bought a pair of boots from America for £290 (I have skinny calves and these were custom made) and paid £69 tax.

[BungleandGeorge]

Quite a few large US retailers allow you to more-pay customs charges, so you know how much it will be and you avoid the extra courier handling charge

[ListeningQuietly]

@BungleandGeorge

Quite a few large US retailers allow you to more-pay customs charges, so you know how much it will be and you avoid the extra courier handling charge

???
But the charge goes to the Government and clearance agent in the receiving country
and the clearance fee depends on who handles the C88

the supplier has no part in it

[Imiss2019]

DS1’s first school lunch box cost me £30 as i could only get an ice age one from america. Bloody PFB
Also paid a ridiculous amount for a Frank the combine harvester from Disney Cars once

[Blondiney]

@featheryfancy

I've just had to pay £92 on bag bought for £375. Didn't realise until it was too late

Ouch! That's a hefty extra, greedy bastards.

[BungleandGeorge]

They can work out the customs fee and pre-pay it. Although it’s difficult to find out yourself it is a set tariff and thus possible to calculate and pay in advance. The courier fee is a charge because they pay the money on your behalf, so it’s a fee for the advance and the admin. If you don’t believe you can do this look on Amazon.com amongst others! As I said may just be available from the US. Perhaps it’s a service offered by the courier rather than the supplier

[Iamneverfull]

I found a company im bershire on marketplace who make them for £90? I will try and get the details!

[Miljea]

My DS buys specialised model kits from Japan. They cost £40-50. We now always get hit with import duty of £25-30 on top....