Importing drugs - VAT?

[So]

I've just bought some drugs from Australia - at great cost - and have been surprised to get a love letter from Parcelforce saying that I have to pay £25.92 import VAT plus £12 clearance fee.

Does anyone know if this is right please?

[And then she]

I'm no VAT specialist, but standard rating (20%) appears correct, on the basis that they're standalone drugs, not part of a VAT-exempt course of treatment, or via a zero-rated prescription.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/health-professionals-p...

[So]

Thank you. It’s a nasty expensive business buying abroad on a private script.

[j4ckos mate]

Yep duty and charges

[Paul Dishman]

If you're importing Prescription Only Medicines then you're also in breach of the Medicines Act. The MHRA can seize anything you import

[numtumfutunch]

Columbia jokes aside what did you buy that you couldnt get here?

Cheers

[Oakey]

Penile enlargement pills

[So]

Paul Dishman said:

If you're importing Prescription Only Medicines then you're also in breach of the Medicines Act. The MHRA can seize anything you import

Unless you have a prescription for drugs that aren't available in the UK, presumably.

The drugs are nothing exciting, but they treat a rare condition that the NHS cannot address.

They aren't penile enlargement pills, were that the case I would also have to obtain a commercial quantity of vaginal enlargement medicine for future partners.

[dundarach]

This is going to sound really passive aggressive and I don't want it to...

But how the hell are you in a position where you've researched enough to source drugs from abroad, without realising you'd have to pay import duty?

I remember getting stung a couple of times in the past importing region 1 dvd', before I switched to a company who marked everything as second hand, not sure that would work for drugs mind you...

[So]

dundarach said:

This is going to sound really passive aggressive and I don't want it to...

But how the hell are you in a position where you've researched enough to source drugs from abroad, without realising you'd have to pay import duty?

I remember getting stung a couple of times in the past importing region 1 dvd', before I switched to a company who marked everything as second hand, not sure that would work for drugs mind you...

Because consulting with a UK-qualified doctor doesn't usually involve a dialogue about matters relating to taxation. Having seen private surgeons in the UK a fair bit, they rarely know the cost of work to be carried out domestically or the cost of the necessary peripherals.

[Paul Dishman]

So said:

Unless you have a prescription for drugs that aren't available in the UK, presumably.

.

Nope, still illegal. Holding a prescription doesn't entitle you to possess. You can only possess if the prescription has been dispensed by a foreign pharmacy. But I doubt the MHRA would be interested if you'd only imported enough for personal use.

[So]

Paul Dishman said:

So said:

Unless you have a prescription for drugs that aren't available in the UK, presumably.

.

Nope, still illegal. Holding a prescription doesn't entitle you to possess. You can only possess if the prescription has been dispensed by a foreign pharmacy. But I doubt the MHRA would be interested if you'd only imported enough for personal use.

Well that's okay then, because this has been done in tandem with the Australian clinic who have issued a script.

[sherman]

Is £38 really worth caring about if your health dramatically improves?

You say the drugs were a great expense so is the £38 really that much more?

Its only the cost of 4 prescritions from the nhs so as long as its 6 months - 1 years supply thats not that bad a tax hit.

[s2sol]

AndrewJZA said:

There is such a thing. I am not sure about the % VAT rate, but I know for sure that it is mandatory to pay the tax.

I don't know how to break this to you, Andrew. The whole world has changed in the almost three years since this was first posted, and last replied to.