Import + Duty..

[smithster1]

I had some good shipped from China and they landed today.
Lat night I had to pay the import and duty costs...
Total value of goods £400.. Total shipping costs £1020 (air freight). Terrible I know. Shipped with UPS.
But I had to pay £265 in taxes and duty. If I was to work that out just on the goods I would be shocked.. But I am assuming they also add in the shippig costs into the mix?
It seems extremely high!?
Do they add shipping and handling costs in with the mix? It does not surprise me if they do to be honest!

 

[Customs Geek]

Yes duty is charged on the total costs of getting the goods to the UK so it will include the freight. Duty will depend on what type of goods are.

Import VAT at 20% is charged on the total costs of goods plus the duty plus the cost of transport from the uk arrival point ( port or airport) to the end destination.
If you import again you can check the landed costs . There are plenty of websites where you can do this including several of the courier companies.

There’s also this one
www.gov.uk/check-how-to-import-export

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Landed cost = ((Unit price + shipping cost) + duty) + VAT. Then the costs of getting the goods to you from the port!

 

[japancool]

If you are VAT registered, you can claim back the VAT portion.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If you are VAT registered, you can claim back the VAT portion.

Do you still need to be registered for something additional (EORI or similar)?

 

[japancool]

Do you still need to be registered for something additional (EORI or similar)?

You need to have an EORI number so that the VAT liability goes to the correct account, but you don't need to be VAT registered for an EORI number - but if you aren't VAT registered and then become registered, you need to apply for a new EORI number.

 

[CHUKTC]

Corriers such as UPS are notoriously difficult to deal with regarding customs charges and usually just lump it all into one fee to charge you which is really unhelpful. It can take a lot of work and pestering to issue you with a breakdown of the Duty the VAT and their charges that you have paid but if you want to claim back the VAT portion you need this information. Depending on the size of your shipment air cargo may work out cheaper next time and you will get proper clearance docs that way.

 

[japancool]

Corriers such as UPS are notoriously difficult to deal with regarding customs charges and usually just lump it all into one fee to charge you which is really unhelpful. It can take a lot of work and pestering to issue you with a breakdown of the Duty the VAT and their charges that you have paid but if you want to claim back the VAT portion you need this information. Depending on the size of your shipment air cargo may work out cheaper next time and you will get proper clearance docs that way.

UPS specifically will send you a paper copy of the invoice with a breakdown of VAT, duty and clearance fees.

 

[CHUKTC]

Unfortunately in many cases this does not happen!

 

[Customs Geek]

Corriers such as UPS are notoriously difficult to deal with regarding customs charges and usually just lump it all into one fee to charge you which is really unhelpful. It can take a lot of work and pestering to issue you with a breakdown of the Duty the VAT and their charges that you have paid but if you want to claim back the VAT portion you need this information. Depending on the size of your shipment air cargo may work out cheaper next time and you will get proper clearance docs that way.

I agree that the couriers are not always transparent or great at providing clearance documents.
That said you should be using a the figures on your C 79 for VAT reclaim purposes and not the courier invoice . HMRC stopped sending them out so you now have to download them yourself .
www.gov.uk/guidance/get-your-import-vat-certificates

 

[The Soup Dragon]

I dread getting imports in by UPS they are hopeless

 

[XMPL]

Next time you import by LCL ,not use your own company. it will cheaper than.