Getting hit with customs tax - advice please.

[RMCF]

I recently ordered a 5GB MP3 player from the US through eBay. Cost me £75 inc postage to UK. Bit of a bargain as they cost £170 here. It was delivered about 10 days ago, apparently with no problems.

However, I received a letter today from FedEx Express, asking me for £21 (£16.50 VAT and £4.50 Admin Fee) for duty/tax charges.

Do I have to pay this? I already have the player in my possession. What if I don't pay it?

I have only ever been caught for taxes from the US once before, and that was for CDs. However, I did not receive the items until I had paid the taxes due. In this case they delivered it anyway.

Any advice?

 

[Miyazaki]

I'd imagine if you didn't pay they'd refer the matter to customs and excise, who would probably fine you and impound your mp3 player.

 

[Solomon Grundy]

yep, you'll need to pay the extra...end of story.

 

[RMCF]

Yeah suppose probably better to pay rather than get blacklisted.

 

[Nick_UK]

I recently ordered a 5GB MP3 player from the US through eBay. Cost me £75 inc postage to UK. Bit of a bargain as they cost £170 here. It was delivered about 10 days ago, apparently with no problems.

However, I received a letter today from FedEx Express, asking me for £21 (£16.50 VAT and £4.50 Admin Fee) for duty/tax charges.

Do I have to pay this? I already have the player in my possession. What if I don't pay it?

I have only ever been caught for taxes from the US once before, and that was for CDs. However, I did not receive the items until I had paid the taxes due. In this case they delivered it anyway.

Any advice?

You do know that the Customs & Excise are the most powerful people in Britain ? They can dismantle your car, and you can't make them reassemble it ! Pay the duty

 

[alexs2]

I recently ordered a 5GB MP3 player from the US through eBay. Cost me £75 inc postage to UK. Bit of a bargain as they cost £170 here. It was delivered about 10 days ago, apparently with no problems.

However, I received a letter today from FedEx Express, asking me for £21 (£16.50 VAT and £4.50 Admin Fee) for duty/tax charges.

Do I have to pay this? I already have the player in my possession. What if I don't pay it?

I have only ever been caught for taxes from the US once before, and that was for CDs. However, I did not receive the items until I had paid the taxes due. In this case they delivered it anyway.

Any advice?

I think you've already answered your own question on a few levels,having been caught for import duties once before,and as you've already stated,it was a bargain at £75 Vs £170 and surely remains so at £96 incl payment of taxes.

 

[Mr.D]

Pay the taxes. Do not eff with customs ...they enjoy it too much.

 

[bri.s]

Its fedex you need to pay as they have already paid it for you. They do this to stop any delays in delivery of your parcel. Customs would not clear it to be delivered untill they are paid.You will still have to pay it though because fedex will not let it go unpaid.

 

[samjet]

so remember next time you buy anything from the usa get the sender to mark the value as less than £18 which i seem to recall is the threshold for duty

works a treat

 

[Nick_UK]

so remember next time you buy anything from the usa get the sender to mark the value as less than £18 which i seem to recall is the threshold for duty

works a treat

Until the C & E routinely open the parcel, which they do quite often

Many CD and DVD suppliers will split orders into small parcels that don't attract duty or VAT.