Customs Duty

[superpav]

Hi,

I wonder if someone can help me. We have sold some products to a customer in Switzerland. We shipped these by UPS and on they have charged us £34.43 for "CUSTOMS DUTY AND/OR VAT IMPOSED ON YOUR SHIPMENT". £21.37 of this is VAT, £13.06 is a Disbursement Fee. Can I claim back the VAT (£21.37) on this invoice?

Thanks!

 

[David Griffiths]

Slighly puzzled by your posting. UK VAT and duty are normally only charged on goods entering the country. Is this charge from UPS in relation to you importing the goods to the UK before you sent them to Switzerland? If that's the case, then yes you can recover the VAT if you VAT registered.

If it wasn't UK duty or VAT, then no you can't claim it

 

[superpav]

Thanks David.

I have just been speaking to UPS and I made the error of accepting all duties and taxes when arranging the shipment, so we are picking up the customs fees for the products entering Switzerland. I thought as we were the supplier this was standard practice but in future I will ensure we do not do this again.

UPS also confirmed that we cannot claim the VAT on this charge, like you said.