Import charges for the UK on goods from abroad post 1st Jan 2021

woodbury22uk · March 18, 2021, 11:45:50 PM

I have received four deliveries from the EU since the beginning of the year. So far I have not paid any import VAT or carrier clearance charges. I suspect that HMRC are applying a light touch on raising VAT on small consignments at the moment.

Two shipments were from Shapeways in The Netherlands. Dutch VAT was not charged. One consignment was from a non-VAT registered German supplier, and other was from a German supplier who charged the standard German VAT. This supplier had the cheek to ask me to pay him 12.50 euros extra when his bank lopped that amount of the correct euro amount sent by my bank. I had to explain to him that they would take the whole of the extra 12.50 if I had sent it, and he should ask them to refund him the 12.50.

Shapeways were the only ones declaring the WTO tariff code for the goods - basically ornamental plastic - which would incur a 6.5% duty charge for consignments over GBP135 in value. Trying to get them to call my stuff "toys" probably means they would have to certify compliance with toy safety .regulations

Two things changed on 1 January 2021 for import shipments (EU and elsewhere) - the £15 low value consignment concession was removed, and a lower threshold for duty charges was set at GBP135.

I have a parcel on its way from Japan by surface mail which will be another test of the system, though I do not expect to see it for a couple of months.

It would be interesting to learn at what point import VAT restarts being charged by carriers on behalf of HMRC.

maridunian · March 19, 2021, 06:23:38 AM

Quote from: woodbury22uk on March 18, 2021, 11:45:50 PM
It would be interesting to learn at what point import VAT restarts being charged by carriers on behalf of HMRC.

... especially if there's some advance warning of that so we can fill our boots, VAT free!

Mike

Railwaygun · March 19, 2021, 06:43:01 PM

Thanks for this thread

N

Gordon · March 20, 2021, 12:39:40 PM

Quote from: woodbury22uk on March 18, 2021, 11:45:50 PM
I have received four deliveries from the EU since the beginning of the year. So far I have not paid any import VAT or carrier clearance charges. I suspect that HMRC are applying a light touch on raising VAT on small consignments at the moment.

I have a parcel on its way from Japan by surface mail which will be another test of the system, though I do not expect to see it for a couple of months.

My experience has been similar. No extra charges on my items received recently from EU or Japan.

Gordon · March 20, 2021, 12:44:02 PM

Importing from Switzerland seems to be OK as well at the moment. Swiss sellers have more experience of selling to outside the EU, to the USA for instance, which may help

njee20 · March 20, 2021, 10:37:36 PM

Surely the retailer are irrelevant in this? All they need to do is remove local VAT, but whether they do doesn't actually influence what happens downstream. The point is that HMRC are not 'intercepting' parcels for fees. I note with interest that several of the (non railway) retailers I have used in Germany are still not selling to the UK, and I'll wager they historically have done many times more trade than any of the model shops. Bit strange.

I wish they'd say there was an amnesty on VAT and duty until x date, there are some good deals on 3D printers if you know you won't get stung for additional fees on entry to the UK!

Railwaygun · March 21, 2021, 12:44:37 AM

Any experiences of recent orders from Aliexpress (China) ??

I buy electronic components in small volumes ( £10-£ 15 ) , I worry that import duties would make it uneconomic .

njee20 · March 21, 2021, 02:50:38 AM

No difference there - it's the orders over £135 where HMRC should be getting involved to charge VAT on entry to the UK - and presently aren't. That said, God knows how AliExpress are navigating the accounting of UK VAT among their millions of sellers.

Fardap · March 21, 2021, 09:48:32 AM

Quote from: njee20 on March 21, 2021, 02:50:38 AM
That said, God knows how AliExpress are navigating the accounting of UK VAT among their millions of sellers.

Think you meant "if"

njee20 · March 21, 2021, 11:15:40 AM

Well yes, that was my implication.

Gordon · April 29, 2021, 11:34:15 PM

I received a package of stuff arrive a couple of days ago ordered from Spur N Teile one of the German N gauge spares specialists. Once again as per other recent post-Jan 1 transactions from abroad, EU included, no supplementary fees, and the retailer quite happy to post outside EU. Seems that as long as the seller (eg on ebay) or retailer is well versed in how to sell internationally there is not too much of a problem.

maridunian · April 29, 2021, 11:48:01 PM

Shapeways are now adding 20% VAT at checkout time for invoices totalling £135 (including p&p) or less.

Mike

swisstrains · April 30, 2021, 09:12:44 AM

Earlier this week I decided to "test the water" with an order of £185 from DM Toys in Germany.
German tax was not deducted from the order and on arrival in the UK I was requested by UPS to pay 20% UK VAT plus £11.50 handling fee before delivery.
Quite an expensive experiment but because I paid online at least the delivery was not delayed and it arrived next day.
It would appear that HMRC don't have a VAT amnesty.

woodbury22uk · April 30, 2021, 10:06:28 AM

Yesterday I paid Menzels in Dusseldorf for a long standing £300 pre-order now ready for delivery. They deducted German VAT from the price of goods and shipping so I am expecting to pay VAT and a handling charge when the parcel gets to the UK.

swisstrains · April 30, 2021, 10:47:09 AM

Quote from: woodbury22uk on April 30, 2021, 10:06:28 AM
Yesterday I paid Menzels in Dusseldorf for a long standing £300 pre-order now ready for delivery. They deducted German VAT from the price of goods and shipping so I am expecting to pay VAT and a handling charge when the parcel gets to the UK.

Yes Mike. I have dealt with Menzels this year and they are excellent. The deduction of German VAT is clearly shown when ordering.