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Tax IS taxing!

Chriscb

Full Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Posts
204
Location
Sutton Coldfield
First Name
Chris
Afternoon,

So, I ordered stuff from Penn State (not the first time!) - kept the cost to £108 ($140), thus being under the Customs Duty line and yet I'm stung for £27.48 from Royal Mail... for the first time. (VAT??)

Three previous orders from Penn State this year (total of 12 in 4 years) - no customs and no VAT before so why now?!

Ideas on a postcard please!

Thanks.

Chriscb.:vangry::vangry::vangry:
 

Bigblackdog

Registered
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
839
Location
Leeds
First Name
Mark
I think you have been lucky on all your previous orders. It has been a little while since I have had things shipped from the USA, but they always get checked. I can't remember the last time that one slipped through (from the USA), but it would be years ago.
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
The threshold for import duty is £120, but the threshold for import VAT is only £18. If you've slipped through the net on previous occasions, that is your good fortune Chris, but generally you will get a bill from Royal Mail, which includes a £12 fee for the privilege of sending it to you.
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
Having just checked it Chris, which is something I haven't done for a while, yes, you're right - £135 duty threshold now. That's a small improvement, but the flip side is that I see the VAT threshold is now only £15.

Yes, collection of taxes and VAT is the responsibility of the carrier.
 

silver

General dogsbody
Executive Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Posts
6,301
Location
Somewhere in Staffordshire,
First Name
Eamonn.
Is the collection of tax dependent on the carrier? Maybe my good fortune has finally run out!
Chriscb

Nope, it doesn't matter who the carrier is. Just simpler method of paying if you use other carriers rather than Royal mail. :rant:

With RM you won't get your goods until you have paid the VAT and handling fee. There are others out there that will deliver then send you the bill.

But if I were you and got away without paying I would get in touch with HMRC and let them know so you can pay it as soon as possible. :wink:
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Like the Sparrow in the mire pays to keep your head down MHO.Nonetheless it hurts. From my perspective sending from here to the UK is scary as for lesser amounts.

Peter.
 

Chriscb

Full Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Posts
204
Location
Sutton Coldfield
First Name
Chris
Nope, it doesn't matter who the carrier is. Just simpler method of paying if you use other carriers rather than Royal mail. :rant:

With RM you won't get your goods until you have paid the VAT and handling fee. There are others out there that will deliver then send you the bill.

But if I were you and got away without paying I would get in touch with HMRC and let them know so you can pay it as soon as possible. :wink:

Yeh right :funny::banana:
 
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