Tax on goods from EU surely not correct?

[floridapalmtree]

Husband has just had messages from DHL saying they will not deliver goods until £67 tax and import duty is paid. This is on clothing of £240. So 20% added. The items were ordered on 29 December so before Brexit exit.

Sister in law also ordered some goods from same company, also on 29 December, which were delivered yesterday but didn't have any tax to pay, think she may have spent less though.

AIBU that this is too much money? or is this just the way things are going to be post Brexit?

@QueenoftheAir

And this is only the beginning - there will be more and more "fuming" and "livid" posts from those that voted leave and only begin to realise the consequences when it hits their own pockets. This is nothing compared to what is to come. But, yeah - Blue Passport

Can we have a new rule? Before anyone can complain about their personal experience of the conseqences of the EU referendum, they have to say
a) whether they voted

and

b) whether they voted Leave or Remain.

If they voted Leave, they are automatically UNREASONABLE.

It is a fact of democracy that when a person casts a vote it is secret unless the person chooses to reveal it. It has been established that if the outcome of a democratic vote should prove to be unpopular/harmful/disastrous no-one will admit to having voted in favour. It is the classic "It wisny me-it was the big boys and they a' ran away"!

@HannibalHayes that is hilarious.

As some of us recall, no one voted for Thatcher. Mysteriously, she won three elections.

HannibalHayes
The Express also failed to mention their other favourite topic... the weather. Enjoy the cover with Diana AND the weather on!
You know it's serious when fishing pushes those two topics off the Express front page.

Friend got a €87 bill for a North Face Jacket ( we're in Ireland) before they'll deliver it from Uk website.
They just told her to return it and they will refund the entire amount.

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.

I’m in the EU and order a lot from British stores. Sad I can’t do that anymore, way too expensive now.

@Peregrina

As some of us recall, no one voted for Thatcher. Mysteriously, she won three elections.

It's interesting, this is the turning point that Brexit crowers become Brexit deniers.

I’m also in Europe and used to buy a lot from the U.K. - no more though, unfortunately

We will also have problems sending little gifts to my cousins daughter who enjoyed having ‘different’ toys and sweets, another little pleasure gone. But yes, fucking blue passports make it all worthwhile 🤬

It astounds me that a nation which regarded itself as a trading nation has done this. No, correct that, because it was driven by a bunch of ideologues who couldn't run a whelk stall, never mind conduct a business which made things to sell.

"It's the Will of the People".

Sorry OP -- your problem may at least prevent MN readers from doing same mistake, at least.

Is this quite a small company? I often order stuff from a number or large US retailers that incur tax, and they handle everything. I would suggest using these sort of companies in future, because courier companies offer send a bill for the tax and their administration charge (which is quite high)

OP, this is a mistake. The 20% would have to be applied in the case of a No Deal Brexit, but since we got a deal it is quite possible there is no VAT on mens clothing. I don't know what exactly you ordered, but this link is for mens suits for example:

www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commodities/6203110000#import

(hope it works). It clearly says 0 VAT if of EU origin (Tariff preference).

People here are ill informed. There won't be VAT, import duty or whatever for gifts from Europe and I am pretty sure most EU sellers can continue to ship to the UK without that additional cost. Depends of the type of good obviously, but VAT and import duty are typically nil.

@Costacoffeeplease

I’m also in Europe and used to buy a lot from the U.K. - no more though, unfortunately

We will also have problems sending little gifts to my cousins daughter who enjoyed having ‘different’ toys and sweets, another little pleasure gone. But yes, fucking blue passports make it all worthwhile 🤬

Utter rubbish. Stop spreading such rubbish.

It should really be a wash, because EU exporter exports VAT, then 20% vat is added on important.

As the EU vat (which you were previously paying) and the UK VAT are approx 20%, you should end up with the same result.

Maybe the exporter did not take EU vat off because they don't yet understand the system?

Totally off topic - sorry!

@HannibalHayes I was crazy about Pete as a teen and had a large poster of him on my bedroom wall. So sad!

I'm in the EU and will continue to buy from the UK. Its often cheaper even with extra delivery and more choice. Probably with VAT many of my orders will work out basically the same price. Last month I spent a geeky amount of time compiling the exact same order on Amazon UK and Amazon in my country, and Amazon UK was £20 whereas the other one was €35 for the same products...

@Twatalert

OP, this is a mistake. The 20% would have to be applied in the case of a No Deal Brexit, but since we got a deal it is quite possible there is no VAT on mens clothing. I don't know what exactly you ordered, but this link is for mens suits for example:

www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commodities/6203110000#import

(hope it works). It clearly says 0 VAT if of EU origin (Tariff preference).

People here are ill informed. There won't be VAT, import duty or whatever for gifts from Europe and I am pretty sure most EU sellers can continue to ship to the UK without that additional cost. Depends of the type of good obviously, but VAT and import duty are typically nil.

Sorry VAT will be due, but no duty.

However, I expect that most businesses will need time to get used to it and eventually process VAT themselves/via an agent.

For good from the US, what is usually due is import duty AND VAT, which makes shipping much more expensive.

It seems you were unlucky with the timing of your order, but VAT isn't new - we always paid VAT on EU goods one way or another.

Looks like a teething glitch. If buying from EU the seller should sell excluding local sales taxes, and then buyer pays UK import taxes. Final price paid will be loosely similar. Here, buyer has paid EU sales tax and UK import tax - double charge. Buyer should contact seller and ask for VAT refund.

@GoldfishParade

I'm in the EU and will continue to buy from the UK. Its often cheaper even with extra delivery and more choice. Probably with VAT many of my orders will work out basically the same price. Last month I spent a geeky amount of time compiling the exact same order on Amazon UK and Amazon in my country, and Amazon UK was £20 whereas the other one was €35 for the same products...

Amazon.de is often cheaper than uk. The main reason I usually used the UK one was speed and free postage. I'll check options but I expect .de will work out cheaper

Ignore me just saw twatalert answer re Brexit deal

@rainyskylight

Looks like a teething glitch. If buying from EU the seller should sell excluding local sales taxes, and then buyer pays UK import taxes. Final price paid will be loosely similar. Here, buyer has paid EU sales tax and UK import tax - double charge. Buyer should contact seller and ask for VAT refund.

As far as I'm aware, there is no requirement on the seller to remove the local tax.

I've been living in the EU for quite some time now. When we first moved here there wasn't much you could buy from the UK. Amazon delivered and M&S but not much else. Then when the financial crisis hit and firms were struggling to keep afloat we saw a massive expansion into selling stuff online to the EU. The last few years have been expat heaven. Cadburys, Lakeland, Next, George etc all began international delivery. Even Poundland! I wonder what all these companies will now when their EU customers dry up? I don't know anyone who plans to continue buying from the UK now they'll have to pay customs charges on top.

@OchonAgusOchonO

Oooh thanks for the tip I will check out .de!

@Twatalert

OP, this is a mistake. The 20% would have to be applied in the case of a No Deal Brexit, but since we got a deal it is quite possible there is no VAT on mens clothing. I don't know what exactly you ordered, but this link is for mens suits for example:

www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commodities/6203110000#import

(hope it works). It clearly says 0 VAT if of EU origin (Tariff preference).

People here are ill informed. There won't be VAT, import duty or whatever for gifts from Europe and I am pretty sure most EU sellers can continue to ship to the UK without that additional cost. Depends of the type of good obviously, but VAT and import duty are typically nil.

The trade deal means no tariffs but there is always going to be import VAT at the UK rates. They are two different things

And VAT on imports was payable before as well, by the importer if a business, or the UK consumer at checkout (either EU supplier VAT or UK VAT). Goods from the EU weren't VAT free.