How to claim Import Duty and VAT back on refund goods?

[25th QV]

I have recently imported goods with a value of circa £300.

I am a private individual, not a businesses, nor a regulr, registered importer or freight forwarded-just a regular guy ho ordered off a European website.

The goods need to be returned for refund.

As they good were over £135, I was charged import duty, VAT and a handling fee by Parcel Force who delivered the goods on behalf of DHL who exported from Germany.

I'm confused by the results I'm finding online as they suggest I need to complete a CHIEF or CDS based form (C285 or C&E1179) to reclaim the duty, but deeper diving implies I have to be registered as an importer, business or freight forwarder to follow this process and use these forms.

I'm really struggling to find how, as a private individual, how I claim the duty back.

Of course there are companies willing todo this for a commission, but out of principal I'd like to do this myself and wondered if anyone has been through this process post Brexit who can advise?

Thanks in advance.

[sunbeam alpine]

Are you sure you were charged duty? Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement you shouldn't have to pay duty on imports. You will have paid VAT in the UK - but the EU seller should have charged you the price without VAT. I don't know how you can go about trying to get that back as I'm VAT registered so I claim it back automatically in our monthly returns.

I fear you'll struggle to get anything back - and it may be better for your sanity to accept that.

This is one of the minor irritations of Brexit. Most of the big things have been (or are getting) addressed; but things like this fall through the gaps.

[25th QV]

Yeah, paid the seller the base price and once in the UK I received a letter from Parcel Force asking for:

£33 Customs Duty
£48 Import Duty
£12 Clearance fee (I know I won't get this back)

Feels deliberately complex to dissuade. Which just makes me even more determined on principal.

[ZedLeg]

You’ll need to claim directly from hmrc but you should get most of your duties back.

[sunbeam alpine]

ZedLeg said:

You’ll need to claim directly from hmrc but you should get most of your duties back.

I absolutely agree - in theory - but in practice the system just doesn't work.

I import weekly (sometimes several times a week) for our business and the system works fine.

I've given up trying to import stuff (mostly car parts) for myself as it's just too much of a headache if/when something goes wrong.

ETA: The biggest problem hasn't been caused by Brexit but by changes in the tax rules to stop websites like Wish flooding the market with cheap un-taxed crap. The systems just aren't in place to handle refunds.

Edited by sunbeam alpine on Wednesday 28th June 21:16

[25th QV]

ZedLeg said:

You’ll need to claim directly from hmrc but you should get most of your duties back.

I expect so, but am struggling to find out how.

can always call them tomorrow, but just wondered if there was a known, published and tried & tested method I could crack on with?

[25th QV]

For anyone who has found this thread in a similar position, having spoke to HMRC, the form that needs completing in this scenario where Parcel Force/Royal Mal collected the duty, is form BOR 286.