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Brexit and the mail

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Implications on mail after the UK's exit from the EU
From 1st January the rules for sending and receiving items to and from the EU will change.For more details please see... HERE
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Brexit and the mail

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http://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/secur ... ce-3076900

· Two in five small businesses admit they aren’t clear on the new rules for posting their goods to the EU, despite 70% being confident their business can navigate the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU

· Half of all small businesses with under 50 employees post to the EU on at least a weekly basis and 70% use Post Office services to get them there

· Post Office launches online customs declarations forms that can be completed before visiting a branch

Two in five (39%) small businesses admit they aren’t clear on the new rules for posting their goods to the EU1 since the UK’s exit from the European Union, equating up to a million UK small businesses, according to new research by Post Office.2

Of the small business decision makers surveyed, over nine in ten (92%) said the UK’s exit from the EU will affect their business in some way, even though 70% said they are confident their business can navigate the impact of this.

While one sixth (15%) aren’t even aware of the new EU posting requirements that have come into force, those who are remain confused, as almost one in five (19%) small businesses admit they don’t understand the new rules and have experienced problems trying to post their goods abroad since the 1st January.

When posting anywhere outside the UK from England, Scotland or Wales, all goods or gifts must now have a customs declaration form attached. For customers posting from Northern Ireland, customs forms are only required for gifts or goods being sent to non-EU destinations. Critically, the customs declaration form must have all relevant fields completed in order for gifts and goods to pass through customs and avoid being returned.

Half (50%) of small businesses with less than 50 employees post to the EU on at least a weekly basis and 7 in 10 (70%) use Post Office branch services to get them there. Over two fifths (43%) of these small businesses think the customs declaration form will take a while to get used to, while the same number (43%) think completing the form may slow things down for businesses.

Customs declaration forms are available in every Post Office branch, to fill out on the day or to take away for later use. There are different customs forms depending on the postage service being used and value of the items being sent. All Post Office branches can help with selecting the right form and completing it correctly, but this week Post Office has also launched a comprehensive guide to getting it right, and made some of the forms available to complete online, print out and attach before visiting a branch.

Mark Siviter, Managing Director of Mails & Retail at Post Office said:

“Many small businesses are already facing challenges this year owing to the pandemic and that’s why we’re providing as much support as possible to ensure they can easily navigate the new rules for posting abroad. We’ve launched customs forms and new supporting information online, which means that customers can fill them in at home or work, before bringing them into branch. Taking the time to complete these forms fully and correctly is the best way to avoid the risk of goods being sent back.

“Our Postmasters are always on hand in branch to guide customers through this process and to help ensure that small businesses can continue to get parcels to their customers worldwide.”

Harlie Briggs, 27, is up-and-coming North London based artist and owner of Harlie Briggs Art. She sells to customers all over the world and uses her local Post Office in Islington to ensure her pieces reach her customers safely, she says:

“I took the plunge and made the decision to pursue my art career full time last year, it was so exciting, but the admin that comes with owning a business was a completely new concept to me and one that’s taken me a while to get my head around. One thing I wanted to ensure from the outset was that my pieces were beautifully packaged and reached my customers safely. I’ve always used my local Post Office to send my packages, both to destinations in the UK and internationally. When the new rules came in for posting to Europe, I didn’t actually know about them until I went into branch, but the staff were so helpful and made the process easy for me. It’s important to get it right so I can build my customer base in the EU.

“To any other small businesses out there posting parcels to customers week in and out, my advice would be to utilise the services offered by Post Office, the staff have a wealth of information available and you can find a lot on the website too.”

Customs declaration forms, as well as help and guidance, can be found online tips for small businesses who are posting goods abroad:

1. You can complete your customs declarations form before arriving in branch to make your visit as easy as possible. Just pick up some forms next time you are in your local branch or download them via the Post Office website.

2. Before preparing any goods for sending, remember to check whether or not the item is prohibited or restricted. There are certain restrictions on what you can send to certain individuals, organisations or countries so it’s best check before you arrive in branch. Letters or large letters containing only correspondence, commercial invoices or shipping documentation do not require a customs declaration form.

3. There are different variations of the customs declaration form, dependent on service being used and the value of the item being sent. More information is available in branch or on our website.

4. If completing the form by hand, remember to write legibly and in block capitals. The forms are scanned by optical character recognition, so this is important to avoid delays.

5. Make sure you complete all the relevant fields, including senders details, an accurate description of the contents, weight and value, plus VAT registered businesses need to include their GB EORI or VAT registered number and HS tariff numbers – missing or incomplete forms are likely to result in the item being returned to you.

6. Once completed, attach your customs form on the front of the item being posted, where possible and ensure the destination address isn’t covered
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Which? : Brexit: the new online shopping and delivery charges you need to know

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https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/03/br ... d-to-know/


From VAT and duty, to handling fees and surcharges - the new charges you could have to pay next time you buy something from an EU seller


Delivery delays, surprise charges on cross-border import costs, and a hike in card surcharges later this year – some of us have been surprised by extra charges when shopping online since the UK left the EU.

For a deal that concluded on Christmas Eve, some of this can be chalked up to teething issues. Although, unfortunately, many of these new charges are likely to stay.

Here are some of the changes you need to be aware of to help you avoid surprise fees next time you buy something from the EU.

VAT charges

New VAT rules seem to be causing confusion for everyone. VAT in the UK is, for the majority of products, charged at 20% and will be applied to most goods, as well as gifts worth more than £39.

Some shoppers are being surprised with a 20% VAT charge from the courier delivering their order, who then passes that payment on to HMRC.

According to the rules around VAT charges, a total order of under £135 from an EU seller should include a VAT charge at the point of sale. If the total cost of your order is more than £135 or your gift is over £39, VAT is often collected at the point of delivery.

Since the UK is no longer part of the EU’s VAT regime, the new rules require EU sellers to register with HMRC to account for VAT in order to sell to the UK. While most larger retailers are likely to be registered for VAT, the smaller ones might not be.

Unless your receipt shows that you’ve correctly paid VAT at purchase, you might find you’re being chased for it upon delivery.

Import charges

In addition to VAT, online shoppers or holidaymakers who buy items from the EU that cost more than £135 will have to pay additional customs duties.

Customs charges can range from 0 – 25% depending on the goods, finding the right tariff can be a bit of a minefield with so many to choose from. Motorcycles, for example, are charged between 6% and 8% import duty depending on engine size.

Some retailers have clarified that they will try to include VAT and import charges at the point of sale, for example, the fashion company Zalando, Amazon and eBay. But this may not always be the case.

Customs duty is often collected from the recipient, not the sender, but you should check your receipt to see if you have already paid the charge. Check the retailer’s terms and conditions for clarity on its approach to customs duty and VAT before you buy.

Delivery charges and ‘handling fees’

Navigating the new rules appears to be far from smooth-sailing for delivery firms. Logistics giant DB Shenker suspended its delivery services to the UK in January after reporting that only around 10% of its freight had correctly completed the paperwork.

To account for the changes, some delivery firms have introduced additional ‘handling costs’ for the new checks and paperwork. Royal Mail, for example, is charging a flat £8 handling fee and DHL Express will charge a minimum of £11 or 2.5% of the total duty.

Northern Ireland shoppers

The rules differ for shoppers in Northern Ireland due to its unique position of remaining within the EU’s Single Market.

Shopping between Northern Ireland and the EU remains more-or-less unchanged. However, the trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain has become more complex.

With the new rules and regulations, some retailers based in Great Britain have stopped sales to Northern Ireland. In January, supermarkets saw shortages of fresh produce while deliveries were being held up in the ports. M&S announced earlier this week that it would be reducing the items available to customers in Northern Ireland due to the paperwork delays at the ports.

One shopper shared their experience with us on Which? Conversation:

‘I’ve tried obtaining online various gardening products, also items from the Debenhams sale, only to receive “unfortunately due to Brexit we are no longer able to accept orders from Northern Ireland”.’

Credit and debit card charges

The payments giant Mastercard announced earlier this year that will increase its charges for UK credit and debit card purchases from EU-based merchants. This will apply from 15 October 2021.

Mastercard’s fees will increase from the current rate of 0.3% for credit cards and 0.2% for debit cards, to 1.5% and 1.15% respectively. Interchange fees have been subject to a cap in the EU since 2015 after retailers had long warned that the high charges meant consumers would inevitably absorb the price. Last summer the European Commission published a report to

Visa is expected to reveal its plans to increase its charges on interchange fees this week. It is expected to increase its credit card fee to 1.5% and 1.15% for debit cards – reflecting the same fee changes that Mastercard announced earlier this year. The fee will apply to transactions made by UK cards to EU merchants.

When we asked Visa about its plans to increase its charges in January it confirmed that should any change to its interchange fees happen then it will provide advanced notice of this, typically at least six months.

The new charges will be a substantial uplift on the EU capped charges and it’s likely that shoppers will feel the impact of this.

If something goes wrong with an order from the EU

If something goes wrong with goods or services you’ve bought from an EU-based seller, your route to recourse isn’t particularly straightforward now that the UK has left the EU.

If you’d like to make a return, you’ll need to complete a customs declaration form, CN22 or CN23, to include the item’s description, weight and value. The customs charge is paid for by the recipient upon delivery.

Seeking a refund on the VAT and import charges paid may be difficult though. To claim a refund on customs duties for goods that you have returned you’ll need to complete a C285 form, or a C1179 for a returned faulty item.

Should something go wrong with your order then Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act continues to apply for all purchases made on a credit card.

If your complaint is not resolved and you need to escalate a dispute with an EU seller then you might come across some costly challenges. Previously, when the UK was a member of the EU, you could take the seller to court in the UK, but now you’ll have to escalate matters at a court in their country.

Which? has written to the government to raise these outstanding issues and seek clarity on them.

This story was originally published in February 2020. It is regularly updated with the latest information.
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From Thursday 1 July 2021, a new post-Brexit VAT change will apply to goods being sent from Great Britain to the EU

Post by POSTMAN »

https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/our- ... eu-3113629

Post Office offers customers help with new post-Brexit changes affecting good being sold to the EU

From Thursday 1 July 2021, a new post-Brexit VAT change will apply to goods being sent from Great Britain to the EU

Items sold to EU destinations from Great Britain with a value of €22 or less will no longer be exempt from VAT.

The EU has now established its Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) which businesses in Great Britain can use to comply with new VAT e-commerce rules when sending goods from Great Britain to the EU*

Post Office has put in place new checks to ensure correct information will be collected when posting at any Post Office branch so marketplace sellers can continue to trade and send their items at branches with confidence

People sending gifts from Great Britain to the EU are unaffected by this post-Brexit change


Post Office is alerting its customers that a new post-Brexit change concerning VAT will affect goods being sent from Great Britain to the EU from Thursday 1 July.

Items sold to EU destinations from Great Britain with a value of €22 or less will no longer be exempt from VAT. They will be subject to the local rate of VAT and charges of the destination country.

The EU have set up a new scheme called the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) that allows businesses that register on the scheme to apply VAT and customs charges at the point an item is sold. For Post office customers, the change predominantly affects marketplace sellers who sell via marketplaces registered on the scheme. Post Office has put in place new checks to ensure the correct information will be collected for the IOSS scheme, so marketplace sellers can continue to buy their postage in Post Office branches with confidence.

Mark Siviter, Post Office Mails Product Portfolio Director, said:

“Whilst these changes don’t impact customers sending gifts to the EU, we’re concerned that thousands of marketplace sellers, particularly smaller ones could get a shock on 1 July when having to deal with these new VAT arrangements. We have put new checks in place to ensure marketplace sellers can continue to come to their local Post Office to send their goods with confidence. Crucially they can also receive advice and specialist knowledge from their Postmaster if they need it.”

Marketplace sellers that use Amazon, Ebay, Etsy and Not On The High Street can continue to visit their local Post Office and the Postmaster or their staff will capture the necessary information now required following this post Brexit change to the VAT rules.

Customers sending gifts to EU destinations are not affected by these changes either. Gifts under €45 remain exempt of VAT or charges.

These new changes do not apply to anyone visiting a Post Office in Northern Ireland and posting gifts or sending items sold to EU destinations from Northern Ireland.

*The EU’s Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) has been established which businesses can use to comply with new VAT e-commerce rules on distance sales when sending goods from GB to EU. This enables business sellers who register on the scheme to charge VAT at the point of sale for consignments with a value of €150 or less avoiding any VAT charges on delivery.
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It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
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The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
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