ParcelFarce and HMRC want how much?

[glasgowcyclist]

And most likely a fee for paying the duty and vat on your behalf at the point of clearance.

That's already accounted for in the standard £8 handling fee.

The OP's been overcharged and should get back on to Parcelforce right away for an explanation/refund.

GC

 

[4F]

That's already accounted for in the standard £8 handling fee.

The OP's been overcharged and should get back on to Parcelforce right away for an explanation/refund.

GC

I agree that the VAT fee the OP has been quoted is incorrect and feel that they have hidden something else in this figure.
I calculate the VAT to be £ 10.08 based on the above information.

 

[fossyant]

Good luck on getting the fee 'adjusted'.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I calculate the VAT to be £ 10.08 based on the above information.

Are you sure? 20% of £39.99 isn't £10.08.


GC

 

[MacB]

I'd question it Greg and make sure you get a full breakdown of the charges. One thing I do know is that they add it all together, cost, shipping import, etc and then they use that number to calculate VAT.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Form BOR286 downloaded and printed and partially completed pending delivery of the goods so I can get the details from the CN22/CN23

 

[mangaman]

Sounds like a plain old rip-off Greg

From HMRC website


Import VAT rate

The percentage charged is the same VAT rate that applies to similar goods that are sold in the UK.
The import VAT percentage rate is applied to the total value of the goods. In the case of goods brought in this is the sterling equivalent of the price paid abroad, as shown on the receipt. In the case of goods posted from outside the EU, it is the amount on the Customs Declaration, which includes the price paid for the goods, the cost of transport, postage and packing, insurance and any duty that may be payable.

Given £39.99 included P&P, there was no customs duty and the clearance fee is VAT exempt, the Import VAT should be 20% of £39.99 or about £8.

I would definitely complain

 

[4F]

Gregg, there is some useful stuff on the HMC&E site here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/paying-tax.htm and dealing with a reclaim. I would certainly start first with phoning the number at the Gatwick depot to query that figure.

 

[4F]

Are you sure? 20% of £39.99 isn't £10.08.
GC

Well as the above from PF states no import duty then not.

I had factored a duty rate in first which would than have needed to be added to the item cost, shipping cost and clearance cost before VAT could be calculated

 

[slowmotion]

One thing you have to do is to get the foreign seller to mark the cost of shipping on the customs forms. If you don't, HMRC plucks a notional (and grossly inflated) figure out of thin air and charges you VAT on their "estimate". Complete robbery.

 

[mangaman]

One thing you have to do is to get the foreign seller to mark the cost of shipping on the customs forms. If you don't, HMRC plucks a notional (and grossly inflated) figure out of thin air and charges you VAT on their "estimate". Complete robbery.

I assume Greg has a receipt from the company involved, which is all that is required - see my link above.

 

[ufkacbln]

I had this with DHL, who were charging some £38 on an item that cost me £18 in cost and postal changes.

Simply wrote back, informed them that I was not going to be paying the charges and asked them to return the item.

I was £6 out of pocket, but no way was I playing that game.

 

[StuAff]

As an employee of ParcelForce's sister organisation, I can only agree. The handling charge is a flat fee (fair enough), but what annoys me is getting charged VAT on the postage! I got a package from the Metallica fan club about eighteen months back- $64 paid, but with postage the declared value was $100. So that's what I got charged VAT on. Grr

 

[StuAff]

I disagree. The £8 fee for collecting a small amount of VAT is disproportionate. When you get a card to say the Royal Mail or ParcleForce have something back at base and you need to pay £13.44 of which £8.00 is a fee, and by the way you can log on to our website and pay that with a card, then they are charging £8.00 for what?

All I meant was, it's the same charge regardless of the amount HMRC have decided to levy. If it's an item worth thousands, it'll still be £8. Yes, it's disproportionate on lower-value items, but it still costs time and money to deal with.