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DHL Vat
 

I have recently been Charged VAT for Freight charge for a shipment from China to UK. Previously my frieght charge was 0.00GBP, however now I have been charged 101 GBP & tax of 20% on that.

Shipment method was DHL.
Is this something new or is it because the shipper did not pay for freight?

Thanks

This happens if "customs" force DHL to Scan the packadge (waste their time and youll pay them some money, wether you like it or not :( )

Tips to avoid this:

Send smaller parcels :dance:

I am the receiver of the package.
I don't think it is because they scan the parcel. It is because the supplier did not declare the frieght charge on customs form, but im not sure.

Someone please confirm.

If DHL determine the supplier has not declared correct info, they sting the receiver with the duty. All the companies are meant to do this. No exemptions.

Much as we would like it, our goods are not going to come into any country if duties are not paid.


Have a word with the supplier to recover this.

:juggle:

Greenbean has got it spot on.

When your supplier does not make a declaration for shipping cost, customs and excise take the highest possible shipping charge for the weight etc of your goods and apply it.

VAT and duty is applicable to the item's declared value PLUS the shipping cost.

I have been recently stung by this as well due to the incompetence of one of my Chinese "friends".

^^^ in a nutshell.

It is your punishment for making them do extra work.

Not to mention, it is a revenue earner for the department.

:juggle:

Worth to mention is that dhl and other companies take the declaration off the packages just to mess with your goods (true story)

Thanks for all the info guys, much clearer now.
Is it possible to claim back the Duty I paid If I prove the correct shipment amount paid for the package? I think it was only like 40USD (Through a forwarder) which is about 25GBP.

Possible. Fedex suggested to me this could be done if you get the correct declaration from the supplier and then take the matter up with customs and excise.

You need the correct declaration from the supplier.

That may mean you need to be fluent in Mandarin or Cantonese.

Either tell the supplier to reimburse you or chase after them to obtain a form they will claim does not exist.... it does but they will try not to find it.

Expect 6 weeks or longer to get HMRC to action a refund

:juggle:

This is the reason why I didn't bother.

i got 2 large parcels shipped by DHL to my workplace. Arrived ok and usually the customs charge is approx £20, but on both these occasions they have charges VAT of £50 to the company i work for as they are VAT registered . Any time packages to the house i only pay the small customs charge.
intriguing.