Import Tax Query

[FrankAbagnale]

I managed to leave my work laptop at a hotel in France, and they kindly posted it back to me this week.

Before I am allowed to receive the laptop, I have an import tax bill of nearly £200 to pay!

I can’t find where I can quickly resolve this by letting someone know that it is already my laptop, not one a have bought/imported.

Any ideas welcome! I think it’s a HMrC issue not the delivery partner?

[DavePanda]

Problem you have is the hotel have likely declared the full value of the laptop on the customs invoice, hence the import charges.

I'm not sure how you're going to sort it. The courier will be collecting the charges on behalf of HMRC, they won't be able to waive the charges. It may be a case of paying the charges and producing proof of ownership and evidence from the hotel that it was left behind to HMRC in order to get a refund of the charges.

[FrankAbagnale]

Thank you! I thought that may be the case - I think I’ll likely have to pay it and then waive goodbye to the tax!