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FedEx VAT + Duty invoice.
Topic Started: Dec 7 2017, 08:38 PM (216 Views)
Affa
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
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
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Once and future cynic
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papasmurf
Dec 7 2017, 09:40 PM
You need to be VERY careful ordering from America. Such charges are common.
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
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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
Senior Member
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The justification that is given is
Quote:
 
Customs Duty is a tax charged on all products shipped from outside of the EU. Controlled by HM Revenue and Customs, the purpose of Duty is to bring the cost of imported goods up to the same cost as those produced within the EU to keep competition fair.

That's BS.
Edited by Affa, Dec 7 2017, 10:19 PM.
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Steve K
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Once and future cynic
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Affa
Dec 7 2017, 10:19 PM
The justification that is given is
Quote:
 
Customs Duty is a tax charged on all products shipped from outside of the EU. Controlled by HM Revenue and Customs, the purpose of Duty is to bring the cost of imported goods up to the same cost as those produced within the EU to keep competition fair.

That's BS.
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
Senior Member
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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
Senior Member
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Steve K
Dec 7 2017, 10:21 PM
Affa
Dec 7 2017, 10:19 PM
The justification that is given is
Quote:
 
Customs Duty is a tax charged on all products shipped from outside of the EU. Controlled by HM Revenue and Customs, the purpose of Duty is to bring the cost of imported goods up to the same cost as those produced within the EU to keep competition fair.

That's BS.
So if they are not more expensive in the EU why didn't you buy them from the inside the EU then?


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
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Affa
Dec 7 2017, 10:28 PM
Steve K
Dec 7 2017, 10:21 PM
Affa
Dec 7 2017, 10:19 PM
The justification that is given is

Quoting limited to 3 levels deep
So if they are not more expensive in the EU why didn't you buy them from the inside the EU then?


The items are not available in the UK, or asfaik in the EU.



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
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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