A complete disaster, i'm absolutely gutted to the core.

The wheels i had bought from a Passionford member arrived in the UK and i rang up to collect and they inform me that my Gifts have £320.00 import duty and VAT @ 17.5% on top making the total around £570.00 :x :x :x

- The items were packed 2 wheels per packet
- The box was labelled with an insurance sticker saying the replacement value was £1200.00
- And marked as GIFTS
- Customers inform me that items bought over the internet valued at more than £16.00 or £18.00 are changed and items sent via a friend or family member are charged after £32.00 (robbing f**king country)

I have spoken to the sender and he's completely spot on and has said let them return to sender and he'll send them back individually and priced at £15 each.

If anyone can let me know as much information as possible regarding ways of getting around this can you please comment, as both parties don't want the items bouncing around the postal services in 2 different countries

Many thanks

Chris.

 

an expensive set of wheels.

 

That's exactly right. They've based it on the insured value. Maximum free import value for gifts is about £36, after that you pay the chancellor hansomly.

 

I just brought an engine mount set from the states to the uk
£350 delivered ... but then had another £84 to pay this end in duty

Guess thats just the way it is lol

 

Doesn't matter what the declared value is, if HMRC think they are worth more they will give them a true value and tax accordingly.

If they apply duty you will have to pay the carrier this end 4 admin charges to collect the money from you.

Gifts have to sent between private addresses.

You'd have to send the 4 with at least a weeks delay between them all to avoid HMRC picking them up as a set.

Even with the £570 duty they must still have been cheaper than buying here.
.

 

Not really mate i was saving about £400 but not now.

 

Welcome to the real world, If I orderd that stuff I would have to declare its real value or for me as a company it becomes a real offence.

Mark

 

I'm trying to get hold of a family member who is self employeed to see if he'll take the receipt and give me the cash back at the end of the tax year, will this work or is their any issues not allowing it??

 

i worked for fedex import/duty etc etc

your fukked mate. they are spot on for charging you

its a risk game, the shipper should have marked gifts at 18 quid, and if they got lost thats max u wud have got, risk u take.

 

i think the same goes for everybody mark,vat/tax evasion is a trip to the big house,or massive fine.

 

What country are they getting sent from bud?

 

Yes for sure, but its amazing how many people try to do it.

Mark

 

North America mate

 

Shit not like you can get someone to bring them back over with them then.

 

From memery import duty is between 3 to 5% then plus vat but there is also a shippers fee for the paperwork.

Mark