Import Tax from Japan, on a gift.. ?

[DanielJames]

Evening gents,

I recently won a competition Speedhunters were doing to win a limited edition Casio G shock by Rays wheels in Japan.

Anyway, the watch arrived today. In order for Mr UPS man to give me the parcel though I had to give him £32 for charges.

I've got a receipt, and it is clearly marked at as a gift with a value of 5000YEN (about £25).

Now, how was I charged £32 for that?

On the receipt I've got - Import VAT - £21.56. Surely if there was any VAT to pay it would be 20%, but even on a gift?

and the other charge is a "Brokerage Surcharge" of £11, which seems to be kind of an admin fee?

Has anyone had this before, as I don't think it's all that fair!

Cheers
Dan

[DanielJames]

So the courier just decides to charge the end user and it's normal? On the back of the receipt it states the £11 charge was for Non Routine Customs Clearance.

There isn't anything on my receipt about how they came to the conclusion of £21.56 VAT

I'm happy to have the watch, and I would happily have paid £32 for it all day, but I do feel a bit ripped off by customs.

[DanielJames]

HorneyMX5 said:

I really wanted that watch, well done on your win.

It's excellent pal.

DSC_0224.jpg by DanielJames., on Flickr

[DanielJames]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I really don't understand this "that's the way it is and you must accept it" stance some of you have hinted.

HMRC are "wise" to people importing things without giving them monies, so they decide to guess the value of my watch, fking about my courier at the same time. I get it now.