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| FedEx VAT + Duty invoice. | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 7 2017, 08:38 PM (216 Views) | |
| Affa | Dec 7 2017, 08:38 PM Post #1 |
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Senior Member
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I recently ordered sports clothing from the USA online, and received the purchase. Two weeks later I get an invoice from FedEx UK for VAT @ 20%, Duty @ 10%, plus administration of 5% of the total cost of purchase (including £60 delivery charge). WTF? Has anyone else met this experience? Help is being sought. |
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| papasmurf | Dec 7 2017, 09:40 PM Post #2 |
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Senior Member
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You need to be VERY careful ordering from America. Such charges are common. |
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| Steve K | Dec 7 2017, 10:08 PM Post #3 |
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Once and future cynic
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Yep and not just from the USA. I got a surprise on goods from Oz many years ago and have paid duty on subsequent deliveries. There's a value (of product + delivery) below which they tend to just ignore it but I can't find it anymore. While the base principle seems sound, it does seem outrageous to levy the VAT on the transport cost and the original sales tax in country of origin |
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| ranger121 | Dec 7 2017, 10:18 PM Post #4 |
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Had to pay 'duty' on a lens I bought direct from Taiwan. It would have been cheaper to have flown out there and picked it up from the shop myself. |
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| Affa | Dec 7 2017, 10:19 PM Post #5 |
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The justification that is given is
That's BS. Edited by Affa, Dec 7 2017, 10:19 PM.
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| Steve K | Dec 7 2017, 10:21 PM Post #6 |
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Once and future cynic
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So if they are not more expensive in the EU why didn't you buy them from the inside the EU then? |
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| papasmurf | Dec 7 2017, 10:26 PM Post #7 |
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For the purposes of information:- https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty |
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| Affa | Dec 7 2017, 10:28 PM Post #8 |
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Senior Member
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The items are not available in the UK, or asfaik in the EU. Edited by Affa, Dec 7 2017, 10:30 PM.
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| Steve K | Dec 7 2017, 10:48 PM Post #9 |
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Once and future cynic
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And that's the issue. They aren't so available from inside the EU because it's not economic to do so. The duty is a means to try and change that. If we just let anyone import goods with no duty then it wouldn't be a trade bloc. You only get a personal goods exemption if you personally are travelling with them I just got £200 worth of Canadian stuff duty free into the UK - by buying it from France where presumably the importer there has paid the EU duty. |
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| papasmurf | Dec 8 2017, 09:41 AM Post #10 |
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Senior Member
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I buy a fair amount if things from India and China and as yet I have had to pay no duty on them. However the regulations I posted links to earlier are complex as to type of product and cost. (With exemptions.) |
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