how to contest import duty and vat figures on a parcel
Discussion
I bought a motorcycle from a dealer over in the USA and had it imported.
After going through the paperwork I managed to trace this original owner and after much searching the internet I contacted him, he then told me that he still had a load of paperwork for the bike and a few bits and pieces for it and he said he would send them over to me as a gift as he wanted the bike looked after.
Fast forward to today and I get a letter from parcel force requesting -
customs duty - £23.56
import vat - £86.76
clearance fee - £ 8.00
Total - £118.32
These figures seem ludicrous and simply cant be correct, but how do I go about contesting this without loosing my parcel??
After going through the paperwork I managed to trace this original owner and after much searching the internet I contacted him, he then told me that he still had a load of paperwork for the bike and a few bits and pieces for it and he said he would send them over to me as a gift as he wanted the bike looked after.
Fast forward to today and I get a letter from parcel force requesting -
customs duty - £23.56
import vat - £86.76
clearance fee - £ 8.00
Total - £118.32
These figures seem ludicrous and simply cant be correct, but how do I go about contesting this without loosing my parcel??
j4ckos mate said:
Why is it unreasonable ?
Your like your streets lit and nhs hospitals, it's the price you pay
If your vat registered you can claim it back, Duty you can't.
Have a look at the customs tariff and make sure it's classified correctly
because its a gift and nothing of any real value.... not difficult to understand if you read the OP correctly ffs...Your like your streets lit and nhs hospitals, it's the price you pay
If your vat registered you can claim it back, Duty you can't.
Have a look at the customs tariff and make sure it's classified correctly
essayer said:
What parts were in the package you were sent?
You can't just stick 'gift' on a parcel and expect to get away with not paying duty.
I never said I expected to get away without paying duty...I said it was ludicrous in comparison to the actual lack of value of the imported items!You can't just stick 'gift' on a parcel and expect to get away with not paying duty.
original paperwork, brochures, a set of old clocks...thats about it!
k has that got to do with it??I don't understand why the replies are so unhelpful.
What was the declared value on the package? Usually it's based off that but if said $0 they may have opened it and decided on a value. Based on the VAT they have picked £434 as the value, which seems very high! Even if you paid nothing then possibly there is actually a small amount due based on its true value, which is likely not actually zero (ie. if you listed them on ebay what would they get?).
I don't know the form's name, but you can certainly request that the decision is looked at again, I know people who were mistakenly charged too much (the label was mis-read) and it was relatively painless to get a refund. DO keep the original packaging/labels and paperwork though, that is very important. If you call HMRC they can tell you what to do.
What was the declared value on the package? Usually it's based off that but if said $0 they may have opened it and decided on a value. Based on the VAT they have picked £434 as the value, which seems very high! Even if you paid nothing then possibly there is actually a small amount due based on its true value, which is likely not actually zero (ie. if you listed them on ebay what would they get?).
I don't know the form's name, but you can certainly request that the decision is looked at again, I know people who were mistakenly charged too much (the label was mis-read) and it was relatively painless to get a refund. DO keep the original packaging/labels and paperwork though, that is very important. If you call HMRC they can tell you what to do.
Edited by Gareth79 on Saturday 30th July 18:45
MyM2006 said:
A gift is still subject to VAT if it's value is over £35, I'm guessing that the seller either put an insurance value on it when shipping or customs have decided to attach a value to the items as they think seller undervalued it.
I am guessing that the sender filled in the paperwork incorrectly at his end, or HMRC have made an error, but will have to wait until tonight to find out what he put on the paperwork.Gareth79 said:
I don't understand why the replies are so unhelpful.
What was the declared value on the package? Usually it's based off that but if said $0 they may have opened it and decided on a value. Based on the VAT they have picked £434 as the value, which seems a little high!
I don't know the form's name, but you can certainly request that the decision is looked at again, I know people who were mistakenly charged too much (the label was mis-read) and it was relatively painless to get a refund. DO keep the original packaging/labels and paperwork though, that is very important. If you call HMRC they can tell you what to do.
thanks, I dont know whether he has just picked a value out of thin air or possibly based a value on the original purchase price of the clocks when new....either way its definately wrong.What was the declared value on the package? Usually it's based off that but if said $0 they may have opened it and decided on a value. Based on the VAT they have picked £434 as the value, which seems a little high!
I don't know the form's name, but you can certainly request that the decision is looked at again, I know people who were mistakenly charged too much (the label was mis-read) and it was relatively painless to get a refund. DO keep the original packaging/labels and paperwork though, that is very important. If you call HMRC they can tell you what to do.
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff