US import duty / tax

You might have to fill in a form or two but you can ship them as personal effects (if you bought them in the EU and haven’t had VAT/duty refunded on export).

Got it. Thank you. My mum, who is visiting in October, has said she’ll take it back for me on her flight as sports equipment so I’ll look into forms to give her just in case. Definitely haven’t had VAT refunded on it - used it for two years in the U.K. before I moved to the U.S.!

If I ship something back to the U.K., that was purchased in the U.K. and has already had VAT paid on the goods, I'm still gonna have to pay VAT, right?

Nope. I did this. Shipped personal items (that I bought in the U.K. and owned for years) back to the UK from USA. There is a form I had to fill out and attach to the outside of the boxes. They never even looked at the forms as they were still attached to the boxes when they arrived at my parents in the UK.

I also took a bike (on the plane) to USA then back to UK after a long time. I just walked through customs. Not sure how they could prove where it originated from.

Yes VAT is due.

Shipping updates from me:

Ordered a hub from some eBay guy in Russia. Posted 24th August by the 29th August it was "Prepared for shipment from Russia" - still there.

Ordered two rims from the USA - Sent untracked. Been waiting since 3rd September.

I think there are some mega delays in mail imports. Which is odd because you can't find anything about them or the possible length of such delay online.

I ordered some dynamo gear from Rene Herse. With Priority Shipping from Seattle it still took the better part of a month to arrive. It should be here tomorrow as it was stopped at the local depot for for customs, VAT and PF's bargain £12 fee.

I ordered some dynamo gear from Rene Herse. With Priority Shipping from Seattle it still took the better part of a month to arrive. It should be here tomorrow as it was stopped at the local depot for for customs, VAT and PF's bargain £12 fee.

Dredge I know, but RH were taking 3 to 4 weeks to even get stuff out the door last year ago. With no way of really contacting them to see what was going on. They still have basically removed all ways of contacting them, really takes the piss.

fuck jan and his shitty business ethics. His responses to criticism on the paceline were laughable.

I ordered some rando parts back in early November having shipped to my Mom's in the USA. I got over there myself on the 25th and it hadn't dispatched yet! I did actually manage to contact them through the contact us form and did get a reply a day later with a tracking number.

Still not great.

There is a whole thread on this RH customer service stuff on the 650b email list:
https://groups.google.com/g/650b/c/RFnI-kzi3aA

FedEx delivered something from Italy today, and then invoiced me this evening for the taxes owed. Is that standard post-Brexit? Usually you get invoiced first, then it's delivered after you've paid what's due.

Parcelforce invoiced me and then eventually delivered….Must depend on the courier.

Usual for FedEx in my experience, yes.

Fed Ex are a bit relentless, someone I know had a similar situation as marxist_vulcan, Parcelforce demanded import+vat+fee but then delivered next day

Edited

Fedex sometimes pay the VAT and fees so that it can be released asap and delivered to you quickly and then seek it back off you. Don't think because they have already delivered the package, you don't need to pay. They will pass on your debt to a collection agency who will come looking for it.

I don't think this is aimed at me, but if it was, I've paid it. I was just surprised that they delivered the package first, then invoiced me as before I've had to pay any fees first, then the package gets delivered.

Aye and even if its wrong there is no way to argue it, the full system is a total farce now.

Parcel force were the same when I tried to argue the price of the fees and they didnt give a fuck, send it back or pay.

Im fine with paying but when they are calculated wrong its a total joke.

No, not at you specifically, just in response to the post above about receiving the invoice and ignoring it. Dangerous advice to be putting on the internet imo

They do it so you get your items sooner. Parcel force and others don't care and will leave your stuff sitting in customs until you've paid.

I was impressed to be honest. It wasn't quite up there with my Paragon Machine Works experience ten years ago, when I ordered a small item on a Friday evening and it arrived on Monday morning, but the Italian firm despatched the package on Friday, despite saying it would take four working days to be sent after payment, and it arrived yesterday.

I knew I had to pay VAT and a small amount of import duty, so was expecting an invoice first then the delivery, so it was pleasantly surprising to get the goods so quickly. I must have gotten use to Parcelforce levels of customer service.

Would agree not sage advice but this was nigh on 7 years ago and hoping it was more a case of postman delivering it accidentally and perhaps got a telling off?

I continued to live there for 3 years, gave them my forwarding address, never heard a peep.

PF gives you 20 days and then return the items to the sender.

Cross posting but realised this is the more appropriate thread - I am buying something from the US and would prefer not to get stuffed by FedEx handling/clearance/disbursement charges; is there any way to pay import taxes myself?

Not sure any of the couriers allow that any more. Maybe if it goes via US post and royal mail?

Only way is to have it sent via US Postal Service.

Brokerage fees are a big revenue generator for courier companies and there’s no escaping them.