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

[customchaos]

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?

You would have had to pay customs charges on an item from Russia anyway, regardless of Brexit. Here, have my first

I would love to know what art from BG costs 3k, you can buy houses there for less than that.

As usual, the envy brigade is out to mock OP because she can afford £3k worth of art. Yes OP’s knowledge is a bit off when it comes to knowing that Russia is not an EU member state, but the fact that she afford £3k art has nothing to do with it.
On a more serious note, it’s always the low paid who suffer when prices rise. So think of everything else that will get more expensive because it is more expensive to import.

I don't think anyone cares about your artwork sadly !

Yanbu about import taxes. I have closed my amazon & ebay accounts.
I think many business from the UK will have to relocate.
JD sports and others have seen a decrease in profit from import taxes they're considering relocating to the EU.
Businesses in the UK will find it hard to return stock to European markets, businesses ordering from the UK have big delays.
The delays in shipments are a nightmare.

People are getting charged for tax on far more ordinary items though so the OP is not wrong on that front. The fact that this is expensive art is a bit of a red herring. I've had to ditch one of my favourite yarn shops because they are in Denmark.

I hadn't thought about the tax implications on ordering from abroad until it came up here (I voted remain though).

Do you genuinely believe anyone and I mean anyone gives a f**k?

I'm not sure why posters here don't understand that this is because we are not in the EU, regardless of where Russia is. And a bit of jealously over the art worth 3k, the principle is the same no matter the value of what you are buying, Brexit is costing us and businesses more to trade overseas and that sucks

@SoupDragon

People are getting charged for tax on far more ordinary items though so the OP is not wrong on that front. The fact that this is expensive art is a bit of a red herring. I've had to ditch one of my favourite yarn shops because they are in Denmark.

I hadn't thought about the tax implications on ordering from abroad until it came up here (I voted remain though).

Yes, there was someone on the radio paying an extra £75 for a delivery of leather

Its not the fact that he had to pay it, it was just pre brexit it was £13.50

You - and people like you - are the reason that I - and people like me - voted Brexit.

Waa!!!! boohoo!!!!! my art costs more now!!!!

Lol,the competitive ordinariness from people who’d probably otherwise be bragging about their knowledge of art or six figure salary dp
But hey, stick to the mn rules. Stealth announce your prosperity accompanied by the thrifty mn chicken dinner dialogue
Don’t just pile in and announce buying art. That’ll get folk going

@FightingTheFoo

LOL you are so dumb. Russia is not part of the EU. You've always had to pay customs on items from Russia.

And you think Brexiteers are stupid

Yes but presumably Russia had a customs arrangement with The EU which no longer applies to us

@Goldieloxx

I'm not sure why posters here don't understand that this is because we are not in the EU, regardless of where Russia is. And a bit of jealously over the art worth 3k, the principle is the same no matter the value of what you are buying, Brexit is costing us and businesses more to trade overseas and that sucks

Stupidity? Less trade means less jobs, less taxes paid, less reason for business to be here.... less taxes, less jobs...

I was just about to say that this has always been the case. Then I realised that I never order anything from the EU, but have always ordered lots from the US...so I’m used to customs charges.

@Viviennemary

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.

This!

And if anyone is interested in how this affects people who can’t afford expensive art a friend of mine who lives in Spain has been ordering a certain item from The UK for several years around twice a year. In January for the first time he was charged an extra 30 Euros (on a £100 item) in import duty

We have always had to pay import tax on goods from non European countries. So you would have had to pay it from Russia, even if we were still in the EU. However the second item coming from Bulgaria, will carry a customs tax because we're no longer in Europe. Its calculated on a set percent on the value paid.

You are very welcome :)

@NorbertMeubles

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.

Oh dear. The stupidity and collective self harm
that people are willing to endure just so that the rich can be punished is astonishing. Whatever your views on Brexit, the fact that the rich pay more means that the poor will be even harder hit. Inflation always hurts the low paid more than the rich.
But hey if it makes you feel better about it because how dare OP afford expensive art, then you are beyond help already. Good luck.

What the heck is going on? I thought MN liked wealthy people, OP might be an art dealer.
The name calling and nah nah nah no one cares is very immature.
I'd be pissed off too OP and it is a huge concern crippling many businesses.

Russia isn't in the eu so you would always of paid duty and vat on import
Buying goods abroad you should look at these costs before hand now
Its normal for all the rest of world really , except now you need to take eu into account as well but we all knew this .
All though I thought was tariff free ?

Lol I assume this is a brexiter taking the piss

Yes but presumably Russia had a customs arrangement with The EU which no longer applies to us

Can anyone provide a link describing or confirming a customs arrangement between Russia and the EU? I can’t find anything.

You - and people like you - are the reason that I - and people like me - voted Brexit
Really? Rich people who can buy was your reason. 🤐