Delivery bill for customs - who pays?

[Dinosaurhearmeroar]

Hi everyone,

I’ve just had a baby and my lovely uncle and cousin in America have sent over lots of baby things. Today I had a letter from parcel force saying that the package was in the UK but there was a customs charge of £105 to pay.

It feels very gauche to ask them to pay this fee as they have already spent a lot on the presents but equally I don’t think I should pay this? Nor do I rly have the means to as my maternity leave package is very basic.

what do you all think?!

😊

It's usually you. Or has been in my experience. But I'd message them saying thankyou but you can't afford the tax at customs so they might be returned to them.

Ooh very awkward. I don't envy you!

As I understood it if a package is a "gift" with the gift box ticked, there's nothing to pay? Or is that outdated information?

If you want the parcel, you pay.
If you decline the parcel, it will (hopefully) be returned to sender.

After they have spent money on the gifts I really don't see how you could ask them to pay the customs bill.

Can you check with customs if they can return the parcel and then let your aunt and uncle know? I'm sure they will be upset but if you don't have £100, I don't know what else to suggest.

Sadly not. You pay a bit less customs duty on gifts depending on threshold but you still have to pay something if they are over a certain value. And you pay VAT if the gift is more than £39.

The stuff must be worth about $500 with a bill like that!

If they've sent children's clothes then it should be exempt from VAT though? 🤔

Unfortunately the gift allowance is only £39 which is a ridiculously low amount.

Gah! My parents in law do this every year. Send us a load of old nonsense that sometimes costs us more than the actual presents we buy our own dc for Christmas.

It’s on the recipient to pay the tax. They should have warned you though and given you the option of having the gift. They could have ordered you something in your own country and avoided the tax. I’m not sure where you’d go from here if you can’t afford it

I think it’s a big breastfeeding cushion and some other baby equipment. I totally understand the points about me paying it but it is annoying that I have to pay for a present. It’s awkward 🤦‍♀️ Would any of you pay £105? Remember I am saving and unable to pay mortgage soon so partner will be doing it all.

thanks!

They have either declared the value too high or it’s hundreds of pounds of gifts. I’d probably let it get returned to sender and apologise that you can’t afford the £100 charge.

If the value of the gift exceeds £39, then Import duty and VAT, if applicable is due, on the cost of the item, the cost of shipping, and insurance if any.

I think in this situation it would be very ungracious not to suck it up and pay. Your relatives have bought you lovely gifts and it would look ungrateful not to just pay up and receive gifts.

I would pay, but be really annoyed about it forever more!!

I thought when sending parcels like this everyone under exaggerated the value to avoid a massive tax bill?

Yes but children's clothing is exempt from VAT so if the gift is made up of clothing then it should just be the customs duty.

And just customs duty would be much less than £100 as it's only 2.5% up to £600 or something. Of course this is all moot if the parcel isn't clothing!

I'd explain the situation to them. They may offer to cover it. If not, then it'd be going back in my case. Its a shame but what can you do?

I contact your uncle/cousin and ask him if he thinks it sounds right based on what is in the parcel. Whilst it was generous of them to send you a gift you really shouldn't be incurring any fees, that you were unaware of/didn't agree to, to receive it. I would imagine they didn't think about the charge your end and they definitely need to know in case they do it again.

and no, I wouldn't pay the £105 - especially if it made things tight and/or you wouldn't need to spend more than £105 on the items to buy them yourself (on the massive assumption that you really need these items).

Thanks @Courante I will do that.

will update and let you know how it goes - here’s hoping I don’t cause a family feud…

I'd act dumb, ring them to say you've had a request for customs fee, but think it's a scam. Hopefully they'll know a bit more about it and maybe offer to pay?!

This reminds me of when my aunty sent me a cheque for a fiver in the post but forgot the stamp - it cost me £4.50 to get to the post office on the bus and then I had to pay £1.50 for the missing postage!

Sorry not helpful, hope the conversation goes well. If it were me that sent the parcel I'd be mortified and absolutely wouldn't expect you to pay for it.

If you can't afford it just say it didn't arrive so you don't offend them. Hopefully it will get returned back!

I wouldn't pay it. I think it's really silly and unhelpful to knowingly send someone a present that they're going to have to pay for !