Charged vat

[lucie333]

I went toy shop with my son, & they added £8 vat on top of my total. I've never paid vat separately it's always included in the price of the items already. Do some shops charge separately?

You have to pay import VAT on anything you bring in from outside the UK unless it's a gift worth less than £39.

It's a Brexit dividend.

Brexit. There's loads of import charges that didn't apply to purchases from the EU before it.

I've had a look. There's a lot of variation, but over £135 worth of toys are generally charged a 20% customs charge that is completely separate to the VAT rate in the UK. There may also be a third country charge of 4% depending on what exactly the toys are.
You're getting off lightly. Some items are charged the 20% customs charge AND the 20% VAT rate.

If you are charged import VAT and you disagree you can challenge and claim it back

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-customs-dutyimport-vat-relating-to-imports-by-post-bor286

BUT - To do so you must first pay it
If you choose not to pay then your item may be destroyed or returned. The seller is not obliged to refund you - they won’t if it is confiscated, they may refund for a return but are likely to keep the postage and charge a restocking fee, giving you a partial refund

As importer you are responsible for the import
(the sender completes the customs declaration but you as importer are responsible for what is on the declaration)

As an aside, kids toys are standard rated for VAT.
Books (any printed books) are zero rated
Kids clothes up to around age 12 are zero rated