Import Tax from Japan, on a gift.. ?

[GC8]

Without reading much, because these threads are always full of whining and indignant nonsense:

'Gift' isn't a free pass, but it does have a higher threshold (goods £15, down from £18 & gifts £36 unchanged). HMC&E aren't compelled to accept the valuation on the declaration though, and may open the item and value it (when this happens you have really failed).

VAT is added over the threshold. Duty is added over a higher still amount with VAT added to the value including duty. Duty is more , but you aren't charged it if it's under £9 (extremely simplified as the duty reference book runs to several volumes!).

You are charged on the sum of the declared value of the item and the cost of postage. I have bought several cars from Japan where they have cost more to transport and ship than the cars cost, but Ive paid duty and tax on it all.

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-...

When you factor in the likely cost of EMS carriage from Japan, I suspect that they have accepted the dishonest valuation and simply charged you VAT on the combined cost of the declared value and carriage.

With regards to the £11 fee: what a fking bargain! Without it you would have to engage a customs agent (5x this fee at a minimum for a newcomer, maybe 10x) and pay HMC&E directly, then wait until they cleared the package before you could collect it.

I understand people wanting to avoid detection - I certainly do, but the endless whining like children when they have to pay (usually far less than it could have been) is foolish, and their resenting the £10-£20 charge is ridiculous. Couriers should have an opt-out box for people to tick. When they have to clear their own parcels through customs they will soon start accepting the couriers charge!