Mail Handling & VAT Charges at HWDC Border Force

[deeangeo]

A handling charge of £8.00 is now added by HWDC Border Force at the Heathrow mail handling centre.
So, my $22 + shipping, Total $34.83 item, (I fail to understand how $22 item attracted VAT @ 20% totalled £5.47) & Handling of £8.00 - Total Charged by Customs /RM = £13.47


Customs charges are applies to imports into the EU with a value over £15 for VAT (imports from the Channel Islands the value is £0). All items valued over £135 will attract import duty. Imported gifts valued over £40 sent between private individuals will also attract VAT. Reliefs do not extend to excise goods e,g tobacoo products& alcohol. Our website gives details about these charges - search "Notice 143". Queries in writing should be sent to the address above quoting the charge number & date.
Retain outer wrappings & documents, they may help to resolve your enquiry.
Queries about contents or handling fee should be referred to Royal Mail International Tel:08457 740 740

This Package Cannot Be Delivered Until The Charges Are Paid.

UK Border Agency
HWDC
Hurricane Way, Axis Park
Langley, Berkshire, SL3 8AQ
HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk

Customs/postal Charges

Import duty £0.00
Excise Duty £0.00
VAT £5.47
Other £0.00
Royal Mail
International
handling fee £8.00

TOTAL £13.47

 

[pilgrimmick]

The odd VAT charge, will just be based on the conversion rate used on the day, my worry there is that both RM and HMRC seem to be having the charges posted to same address?

A handling charge of £8.00 is now added by HWDC Border Force at the Heathrow mail handling centre.
So, my $22 + shipping, Total $34.83 item, (I fail to understand how $22 item attracted VAT @ 20% totalled £5.47) & Handling of £8.00 - Total Charged by Customs /RM = £13.47


Customs charges are applies to imports into the EU with a value over £15 for VAT (imports from the Channel Islands the value is £0). All items valued over £135 will attract import duty. Imported gifts valued over £40 sent between private individuals will also attract VAT. Reliefs do not extend to excise goods e,g tobacoo products& alcohol. Our website gives details about these charges - search "Notice 143". Queries in writing should be sent to the address above quoting the charge number & date.
Retain outer wrappings & documents, they may help to resolve your enquiry.
Queries about contents or handling fee should be referred to Royal Mail International Tel:08457 740 740

This Package Cannot Be Delivered Until The Charges Are Paid.

UK Border Agency
HWDC
Hurricane Way, Axis Park
Langley, Berkshire, SL3 8AQ
HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk

Customs/postal Charges

Import duty £0.00
Excise Duty £0.00
VAT £5.47
Other £0.00
Royal Mail
International
handling fee £8.00

TOTAL £13.47

 

[flying felix]

Might have something to do with the charge is on goods and services not just goods, so the cost of shipping is added before charges are calculated.

 

[Hornet 6]

The odd vat charge is easy, you are thinking logically and excluding the shipping from the value.
They don't do that, the 'value' is the item cost, plus shipping, plus any shipping ins charge.
Personally I think it's a bloody rip off, I have a small package in the system right now, arrived at Heathrow
on the 21st, then disappeared until the 28th when it re appeared in customs at Coventry, and today it is still sitting there waiting
when they finally get it all sorted lucky me gets to pay any duty/vat due, and then the handling fee, which is about 21% of the cost of the item.
Say what you will, eBays global shipping program is a far better way, but best of all is inviting that goods are sent from the USA using UPS, not USPS
UPS is direct to you door, a bill will be sent later after delivery of the item, and there is no handling charge, or customs delays.

Neil.

 

[JTO]

It's helpful if an invoice is stuck to the outside of the parcel with an incorrect(low) amount showing.
I had a $300 device delivered with the invoice showing $50.
It also helps if the goods are described so as not to attract the attentions of anti terrorist forces. Rifle sizing dies could be described as metal swaging tools. Rifle case concentricity gauges could be described as measuring devices.

Not sure what they thought when they opened the jar of mink lure addressed to me!

 

[Heym SR20]

Don't worry we will all get used to this as just about anything we will bring into the UK in the future will attract such tarriffs. We voted for it so don't whinge.

 

[enfieldspares]

To the OP. The charges are levied on what used to be called the FOB cost. Which is in truth a shipping term not a postage term. So it means all costs that the buyer incurs to get it delivered to him or her, from the point where it is received to be sent to them in the country it is departing from. So there's no tax on the cost of the sender taking in to the US Post Office, or the freight office, but the actual postage charges (or freight charges) are taxed as is any clearance or handling charge when it arrives in the UK up to where you (or your agent) picks it up. So if you sent a third party, a taxi driver for example, to collect it that wouldn't be taxed.

To Heym. Taking back control! But Boris will save us with his US/UK Free Trade...except that Mrs May is now threatening a trade war with the USA. Still musn't whinge...as it's what people voted for. LOL!

 

[Miki]

It's helpful if an invoice is stuck to the outside of the parcel with an incorrect(low) amount showing.
I had a $300 device delivered with the invoice showing $50.
<snip>!

That is illegal though and if you (the person who put the lower value on) get caught that is considered 'fraud' ... consequently it's almost impossible to get a retailer to do this (and wrong to ask in my opinion).
If however you have bought the items secondhand or it has at some point transfered ownership (sold to A who gives it to B who sends it to you) then this person/familly member may value it at whatever he/she feels fit and (if familly or friend) can send it you as a 'gift'.......

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

you are extremely lucky the VAT was not added on after the addition of the £8

Parcelforce use the same formula except they apply VAT to everything!

 

[JTO]

That is illegal though and if you (the person who put the lower value on) get caught that is considered 'fraud' ... consequently it's almost impossible to get a retailer to do this (and wrong to ask in my opinion).

I never knew anything about it until it turned up.

 

[deeangeo]

Might have something to do with the charge is on goods and services not just goods, so the cost of shipping is added before charges are calculated.

That particular sum doesn't work out either in respect of VAT, the amount chargeable would be greater.
I don't really buy the dollar/pound exchange rate variation either.
Frankly although the amount of 'extra' VAT taken is small, it's just wrong in principle!

Next time, I'll get stuff mailed to a good friend living in Maryland & get him to re-pack then mail on to me.
That way it/stuff will come in as a 'used' gift.

 

[Ferryman]

A friend in USA sent me a Buck Knife as present, clearly marked as gift and yes I got stung for VAT and the £8.00 handling fee

 

[deeangeo]

A friend in USA sent me a Buck Knife as present, clearly marked as gift and yes I got stung for VAT and the £8.00 handling fee

Aye, it's a bugger really, but if it comes in as 'used', no VAT applicable. A gift that's new, does attract VAT, but not duty. And of course if by mail, the £8 handling charge.