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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Help to avoid Customs charges from the USA

20 replies

PenguinBear · 26/10/2013 21:56

We have something coming from the USA around £500 in value. Customs and VAT is usually extortionate from the USA. Is there anything we can write on the shipping form to reduce the customs charge? Usually on something around this price it adds around £200, even when listed as a gift and we can't afford that in December.

Any tips or advice?

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 26/10/2013 21:57

Fraud

WowOoo · 26/10/2013 22:05

If you can't pay the VAT and handling charge, don't get it sent.

I've heard of someone who didn't declare full value of item being stung with a hefty fine. That was in the UK.

I've had many a lovely gift from the USA that I've had to fork out for. It sucks.

breatheslowly · 26/10/2013 22:15

As WowOoo said - if you want it then pay the taxes. If you can't afford that in December, have you considered waiting until Jan or Feb?

Elsiequadrille · 26/10/2013 22:35

Oh dear. I thought you could escape the charges if you had items sent as a gift (thinking friends and relatives).

I used to buy clothing and couldn't see how you could possibly escape the charges

mathanxiety · 27/10/2013 00:40

I have sent many things from the US including clothing and small jewellery items, and haven't heard of anyone paying anything on the other end. Normally the things I sent were to a niece and I would mix old and new clothing, and remove all pricetags from new items. If the item is being sent directly by a vendor then you may well be stuck with duties but if from a private party the shipping form can minimise the value and be vague about the description, and no insurance need be bought.

mathanxiety · 27/10/2013 00:43

I have sent items like perfume taken out of their original packaging and wrapped in used clothing like an old pair of jeans and described the package on the shipping form as 'items left behind after visit - perfume and clothing' with no-one in the Irish or US POs batting an eyelid.

1944girl · 27/10/2013 00:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gatekeeper · 27/10/2013 06:13

why on earth do you have to pay on presents?????

FernArable · 27/10/2013 06:40

You only have to pay customs duty if the gift is over £135. The sender has to write a declaration of what's inside and how much it's worth, unless it's alcohol or tobacco then excise duty is always required.

Once MIL sent home made cookies and didn't declare them as a gift and it cost DH about £20 to pick them up

I doubt there's anyway of getting around paying unfortunately especially with it being such an expensive item. Can you not get it from inside the EU?

More info:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm

FernArable · 27/10/2013 06:41

Link

FernArable · 27/10/2013 06:43

Sorry again forgot import VAT if it's over £36.

SarahPercyAndBill · 27/10/2013 07:56

Put in personal used items. I've left stuff behind and had to get it shipped. If it's coming from a relative with same surname, they never question it.

lunar1 · 27/10/2013 08:09

I've been charged loads of times. Now I ask the seller to sort the duty at their end first. That way you pay more at the time you buy but you don't end up with the added cost that Royal Mail add on too.

mathanxiety · 27/10/2013 20:43

That is my experience too SarahPercyAndBill.

wavinggoodbyetomyprinciples · 28/10/2013 10:54

You have to actually write "gift" if it's a gift (sorry if that seems obvious!). The label that's stuck on the outside does not have an option for this, only contents and value. I have been caught out with this and have had to pay customs duty on a (relatively modest) birthday present from my sister (both married so different names), but since she's been putting "gift" on the packet everything has got through fine (these are genuinely presents that we are talking about, not fraud!).

SarahPercyAndBill · 28/10/2013 12:30

gifts aren't exempt (whether you carry them with you on plane or they're sent by post.) i agree the the problem is the bloody royal mail charging you £8 and up so they hold your package ransom til you can find time to come down and pay them. Last time it was $15 children hair clips which the sender didn't describe as "childrens". The duties/vat were around £2-3. Royal Mail charged me another £10 so I could come and collect my package. Flat admin fee for their "trouble". Fuckers.

Original poster

PenguinBear · 28/10/2013 14:02

How do you do that lunar1?

OP posts:

WallyBantersJunkBox · 28/10/2013 19:43

Some companies sort the shipping and duty before the item is paid for so that it's one price. It's worth checking with their customer services first. Pottery Barn do this so that you pay one price when you order. They remove the US tax for me, and add the Swiss tax instead.

If you order online for someone else you can request to the company to mark the item as a gift.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 28/10/2013 19:51

I had a parcel from the states recently that was bounced to Germany before it got to me. Couldn't figure out why, was it something to do with tax?

mathanxiety · 29/10/2013 05:15

There are two different forms depending on the weight and dimensions of the package. Both have a little box to tick for 'gift' and other categories too. You also have to provide a detailed description (on one little line) of the contents and also provide the approximate value. The PO fills out the weight. In both, the return address on the package must correspond exactly with the sender's address on the customs declaration.

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