Sending my things from USA

[aidan]

Recently I have moved to the U.K. with my husband. I wasn't able to take a small painting easel with me on the plane as I had planned and so I asked my father to ship it to me. It was quite expensive to ship it, and he took out insurance via the post office as well on this easel. He sent it off from Massachusetts, USA, and when it got to Mitcham, Surrey, UK, we were charged almost 50 pounds in Vat tax.

I am in need of another, smaller, parcel to be sent to me now, what can I do to avoid this tax, and why was it applied in the first place?

Thank you so much.

Heather

[Ian McTernan CTA]

This sounds very much like import tariff or more likely import VAT, and has been incurred on the value of the goods brought in to the country. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary Customs will charge VAT as if you had bought and were bringing in the goods from outside the EU.

To avoid this in future, ask the shipping company (use an international courier such as DHL, etc.) to deal with the package and with Customs.

Ian McTernan CTA
Mcternan Associates Ltd
Chartered Tax Advisers
ian@imcternan.com