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AIBU?

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Original poster

THANKS A LOT BREXITEERS (and good luck when you order items from abroad)!

538 replies

customchaos · 20/02/2021 21:21

I recently bought some art through an online website (think, a bit like Etsy, but not that one). So the item was £400, plus £140 delivery, which I did think it was a lot, but it was being shipped from Russia. Anyway, two weeks later, I get an email from the website company, to tell me the item is being held at the depot and I am required to contact Parcelforce to pay a customs tax. I phoned up and the tax is to the tune of £140. For an item costing £400! Apparently this is the new post-Brexit norm. Just to get what you have ordered over the border!

I’ve also ordered more art from Bulgaria which is apparently in its way now and I’m really worried as this was more expensive (just under £3000). Does this mean I going to be charged another ridiculous amount as customs tax?

I’ve been on to HMRC today and they are no help, beyond saying “yes this is because of Brexit,” “No we’re not sure if you’ve been charged the right amount or why,” and “You will need to pay first and them make a claim if you think you’ve been overcharged.”

So basically, is this the end of ordering from abroad? What madness is this?

OP posts:
HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee · 20/02/2021 21:24

That’s unfortunate,and a seemingly random amount
I am definitely reluctant to purchase for all reasons you cite

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 20/02/2021 21:28

Errr, as Russia is most certainly not in the EU, l fail to see what Brexit has got to do with you being charged tax on your art.

However poor you, must he awful.

Thunderpunt · 20/02/2021 21:33

Why are you shouting?

PreyingMantlepiece · 20/02/2021 21:34

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2

Errr, as Russia is most certainly not in the EU, l fail to see what Brexit has got to do with you being charged tax on your art.

However poor you, must he awful.

Bulgaria isn't part of Russia, and is one of the newer member states of the EU.
RuggeryBuggery · 20/02/2021 21:37

The first art from Russia:
Have you ordered before from Russia and not had to pay tax? As pp said, as they’re not in the EU I’m wondering what the situation was before? Like we always had the possibility of paying tax on things from the US.
Re Bulgaria... yes that will be interesting/concerning to see what you may be charged or if it gets stuck as the right paperwork will have to have been completed I assume.

RuggeryBuggery · 20/02/2021 21:38

@PreyingMantlepiece no one said Bulgaria was part of Russia.
I understood OP has ordered 2 pieces - 1 from Russia, 1 from Bulgaria

Sackofspuds · 20/02/2021 21:38

I presumed you were thanking us for vaccines.

Barbie222 · 20/02/2021 21:39

Presumably there is a carrier at an EU port transiting the artwork? Unless it arrived by plane, there will be a border to transit through.

NorbertMeubles · 20/02/2021 21:43

My heart bleeds for you OP and the potential additional costs you may incur get your £3k artwork. A problem we will no doubt all be able to relate to in due course. Thinking of you at this sad time.

Hazelnutlatteplease · 20/02/2021 21:44

I dont often have to buy £3400 of art... from anywhere.

What's wrong with art available from the uk? If youre so specific to be able to afford to import 3 and half grand of art, you can probably afford the import

PuntasticUsername · 20/02/2021 21:46

"Errr, as Russia is most certainly not in the EU, l fail to see what Brexit has got to do with you being charged tax on your art."

Well, we used to be in the EU and now we are not. So if Russia (and Bulgaria) has a free trade agreement with the EU (I have no idea and I cba googling, sorry), we no longer benefit from it.

FightingTheFoo · 20/02/2021 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst · 20/02/2021 21:48

Is this thread for real??
My £3k of "foreign art"
Ffs
I think as a nation we all have bigger fish to fry to be perfectly frank and everyone knew this would happen months ago so why order stuff if you are going to be unwilling to pay the additional charges???

Needahug72 · 20/02/2021 21:49

@Barbie222

Presumably there is a carrier at an EU port transiting the artwork? Unless it arrived by plane, there will be a border to transit through.
Even if it arrives by plane it crosses a border!!!

It is exactly the same as buying something from outside the EU before brexit you have to pay tax.

WeirdAndPissedOff · 20/02/2021 21:51

This has always been the case for countries outside of the EU (though occasionally it's possible to be lucky enough that a package sneaks through without attracting tax), but yes we will now have to do this for EU countries as well.

You can look up the rules on VAT and duty online, and there were so e pretty handy calculators. (Though some of them may be out of date due to Brexit).

I was pretty pissed off the first time I ordered online without realising I would have to pay additional costs (US, not EU), but it was my own fault so I had a whinge and now make sure to work out any extra costs beforehand.
Tbh I was more annoyed at Parcelforce's fee of £13.50 for paying it "on my behalf". Hmm

lioncitygirl · 20/02/2021 21:53

😂

Gubanc · 20/02/2021 21:54

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2

Errr, as Russia is most certainly not in the EU, l fail to see what Brexit has got to do with you being charged tax on your art.

However poor you, must he awful.

Exactly. Items from Russia have always been subject to customs.

Not going to comment on how incredibly upsetting it must be to pay extras for your £3000 artwork. 😯

Viviennemary · 20/02/2021 21:55

If you're rich enough to fork out thousands for art work you're rich enough to pay the tax. We were warned ages ago there might be import taxes. Support your local artists. Then you don't need to worry.

BMW6 · 20/02/2021 21:58

My God that sounds soooooo traumatic for you OP Hmm Biscuit

AnneWeber · 20/02/2021 21:59

This thread seems like something that would be created by the Daily Mail or similar to take the piss out of Remainers.

BMW6 · 20/02/2021 21:59

PS

YOU ARE VERY WELCOME Smile

bubs765 · 20/02/2021 22:01

1st world problem or what

arethereanyleftatall · 20/02/2021 22:01
Biscuit
jasjas1973 · 20/02/2021 22:02

@Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst

Is this thread for real?? My £3k of "foreign art" Ffs I think as a nation we all have bigger fish to fry to be perfectly frank and everyone knew this would happen months ago so why order stuff if you are going to be unwilling to pay the additional charges???
Fortunately, CV will be over soon, duties and non tariff barriers will last for an eternity.

Whilst it might be funny to mock those fortunate to be able to buy art for '000s, these people also pay the taxes we rely on and they also tend to be mobile.

So, my a former nr neighbour has moved to Portugal, buying a golden visa, his taxes which were very large, will now go elsewhere - pre brexit, he had no intention of moving, he also voted for Brexit.....

laidbacklife · 20/02/2021 22:03

Russia has trade agreements in place with the EU and when we were part of the EU we benefitted from those agreements (although you would still have paid a customs duty as it’s not a free-trade agreement). Now we are no longer part of the EU we are trading with Russia on nothing more than WTO terms and this is why you are seeing this increase in customs tax. It is annoying, yes.