Forum

uk customs charges package from USA
 

I need to ship around 20 small items which are worth around 1200$ from USA to UK address.
How strict are uk customs? What are my chances of not paying anything?

Re: uk customs charges package from USA
 

What shipping service are you using? You could put the declared value lower than the actual amount the item costs to lower the customs fees.

Re: uk customs charges package from USA
 

I could use usps or apc.
Since the package is light and small should i lower the declared amount?

Re: uk customs charges package from USA
 

Its entirely up to you how you value the parcel.

Personally evading UK taxes isnt going to go down well on this forum, but everyone does it.

Bare in mind if it goes missing you will only be insured for the value declared.

Its trial and error on 'what you can get away with', but personally I find, you pay 'something' and create a value at least x how many you have in the parcel works fine.

Re: uk customs charges package from USA
 

Can it be done? Sure

Should you? Well that really depends if you want to risk the item getting sized if they do catch you doing it

You also will only be able to claim for the declared value if the item does go missing

Re: uk customs charges package from USA
 

What about marking it as Gift.

Re: uk customs charges package from USA
 

Worth just reading this > https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

Re: uk customs charges package from USA
 

lol 'GIFT' - that has been abused so much that its very dangerous to try that if its multiples of an item. Plus the valuations of 'gifts' are so low in the UK, its barely plausible anything is that value anymore.

There are ways of getting huge orders in with low value declaration without the need for an EORI number, but thats something you'll have to find out for yoursef.