Discussion
Today I found out what happens if someone in the US sends a parcel without a customs declaration.
Customs don't open it but just stick a £42 charge on it, regardless of content or value. So I told the chap he could take it away again. If I do nothing it will be returned to the sender - but it's cheaper to let him re-send with a declaration as the postage is only $24.
I don't see why the fecking Govt should get another £42 for doing
all. And a small box travels three times across the Atlantic...
NB The driver said he now gets 2-3 refused charges a day: it's about time Govt stopped this restrictive practice and allowed free trade, what with the internet, eBay, global village etc.
>>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 16th November 11:07
Customs don't open it but just stick a £42 charge on it, regardless of content or value. So I told the chap he could take it away again. If I do nothing it will be returned to the sender - but it's cheaper to let him re-send with a declaration as the postage is only $24.
I don't see why the fecking Govt should get another £42 for doing
all. And a small box travels three times across the Atlantic... NB The driver said he now gets 2-3 refused charges a day: it's about time Govt stopped this restrictive practice and allowed free trade, what with the internet, eBay, global village etc.
>>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 16th November 11:07
Having now started to deal regularly with importing a few items each week. You will have had a brokerage fee added to the VAT and Duties, that really bumps up the costs.
If your doing it regularly an account with a carrier would reduce the costs, but you'll get stung for duty and VAT everytime.
If your doing it regularly an account with a carrier would reduce the costs, but you'll get stung for duty and VAT everytime.
Eric Mc said:
That's what import duties are all about and they've been around at least 400 years.
Ah, George III and the colonies...
Customs Duty £7.50
VAT £32.58 (how did they calculate this?)
Clearance fee £8 (Parcelforce)
Well it's high time it was scrapped as anti-competitive. Still, they gave me a number to call: 02476 121860, which is an odd one.
Eric Mc said:
If you are running a VAT registered business, you can claim the VAT back. If it's any consolation, virtually every other country has Customs charges too.
That's true! I *am* VAT registered - but as it was a second-hand lens from eBay, I just didn't think of it as a business/VAT thing... well it is now! EricMc, just now you are a genius and I am an idiot
That just leaves me £15.50 to pay, which I shall put through the business money mangler and claw 23% back from.
simpo two said:
That's what import duties are all about and they've been around at least 400 years.
Ah, George III and the colonies...
Customs Duty £7.50
VAT £32.58 (how did they calculate this?)
Clearance fee £8 (Parcelforce)
Well it's high time it was scrapped as anti-competitive. Still, they gave me a number to call: 02476 121860, which is an odd one.
Thats a coventry number, Parcelforce have their national and international hubs at Coventry Airport, or they did the last time I had any dealings with them.
thepeoplespal said:
Thats a coventry number, Parcelforce have their national and international hubs at Coventry Airport, or they did the last time I had any dealings with them.
Their bit of paper said that's Customs; for Parcelforce they gave me my local depot number. However that wasn't answered so I ended up with an 0870 from their website. Their voice recognition system is quite good - I've fixed re-delivery for tomorrow. Then I can set about claiming it back...
Just some further info which might be of benefit to others:
On the side of the box - which is now here so I can examine it - it says: 'Please note that all goods entering the EU with a value exceeding £18, or £36 in the case of gifts, are generally subject to Customs charges. Normally charges are calculated on declared value plus postage.'
There was an empty clear plastic wallet attached to the box, about A5 size, which may have had a declaration in it. Whilst the sender assures me he sent it as a gift, perhaps he declared the value as well... doh!
Anyway, on a brighter note, no income tax to pay this year (only 47 - or is it 56 - stealth taxes instead)
On the side of the box - which is now here so I can examine it - it says: 'Please note that all goods entering the EU with a value exceeding £18, or £36 in the case of gifts, are generally subject to Customs charges. Normally charges are calculated on declared value plus postage.'
There was an empty clear plastic wallet attached to the box, about A5 size, which may have had a declaration in it. Whilst the sender assures me he sent it as a gift, perhaps he declared the value as well... doh!
Anyway, on a brighter note, no income tax to pay this year (only 47 - or is it 56 - stealth taxes instead)
Whoever thought that Income Tax was the only tax anyway?
Most taxes in Britain are older in concept than Income Tax and many older forms of tax have long been abolished Window Tax, Chimney Tax, Church Tithes etc).
There are supposedly 66 forms of tax other than Income Tax - but 40 years ago you would have found almost as many.
Most taxes in Britain are older in concept than Income Tax and many older forms of tax have long been abolished Window Tax, Chimney Tax, Church Tithes etc).
There are supposedly 66 forms of tax other than Income Tax - but 40 years ago you would have found almost as many.
Local Income Tax will never be introduced. Poll Tax (or the Community Charge) was the nearest we've had to a local Income Tax i.e a tax based on the person rather than on property.
The real problem with a Local "person" based form of tax is that it is impossible to keep track of where people are - especially those who do not own property and move about quite frequently - in and out of local authority areas. Local Authority areas are very small, geographically speaking, and one only has to move a few miles and find you are dealing with a new system of taxation.
And guess who would be tasked with collecting local Income Taxes - yes, employers. Now you could have a situation where an employer has 100 employees who live (for the moment) in (maybe) 6 or 7 different Local Authority areas. Each of the employees wpould be paying different levels of Local Taxes to these different authorities. The Employer would (presumably) have to calculate the different taxes and pay the tax (presumably) to the Inland Revenue. The Inland Revenue would then have to have a mechanism whereby they forward the tax deducted from the different individuals to the relevant local authorities. Given the governments recent track record in installing systems for administration, I think most people would see that a large opportunity for another gigantic admin' disaster would present itself.
The real problem with a Local "person" based form of tax is that it is impossible to keep track of where people are - especially those who do not own property and move about quite frequently - in and out of local authority areas. Local Authority areas are very small, geographically speaking, and one only has to move a few miles and find you are dealing with a new system of taxation.
And guess who would be tasked with collecting local Income Taxes - yes, employers. Now you could have a situation where an employer has 100 employees who live (for the moment) in (maybe) 6 or 7 different Local Authority areas. Each of the employees wpould be paying different levels of Local Taxes to these different authorities. The Employer would (presumably) have to calculate the different taxes and pay the tax (presumably) to the Inland Revenue. The Inland Revenue would then have to have a mechanism whereby they forward the tax deducted from the different individuals to the relevant local authorities. Given the governments recent track record in installing systems for administration, I think most people would see that a large opportunity for another gigantic admin' disaster would present itself.
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