Today I received a record from the US, and I was told I had to pay a £22.10 fee. £14.10 was for import VAT and £8 the Royal Mail handling fee.
The value of the record was $10.99, which after conversion into sterling comes to £7.06. So that means I was charged 199.7% VAT. I can see where the mistake has been made, as 20% of £7.06 is £1.41. Somehow they've managed to add an extra 0 on the end to make it £14.10
I've been looking around the internet and found the following pieces of info and want to see if I'm correct:
1. Import VAT is only charged on items over £15.
2. Import VAT is only charged on the value of the item and does not include the cost of shipping.
3. Royal Mail only charges the £8 handling fee if there are charges to be made to HM Revenue.
I've already filled out the form to request the refund on the import VAT, but I'm not sure on how to go about the Royal Mail handling fee. Am I right in thinking that I shouldn't have been charged VAT, and therefore shouldn't have been charged the handling fee? If so, how do I go about requesting a refund on the handling fee?
ANNOUNCEMENT : ALL OF ROYAL MAIL'S EMPLOYMENT POLICIES (AGREEMENTS) AT A GLANCE (Updated 2021)... HERE
ANNOUNCEMENT : PLEASE BE AWARE WE ARE NOT ON FACEBOOK AT ALL!
Charged import VAT when shouldn't.
Forum rules
For help with tracking please see...HERE
For information about your item being in HWDC Langley please see...HERE
For information about any other mail or if you have a complaint or general query, we first suggest you contact Royal Mail, see the link HERE.
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
For help with tracking please see...HERE
For information about your item being in HWDC Langley please see...HERE
For information about any other mail or if you have a complaint or general query, we first suggest you contact Royal Mail, see the link HERE.
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
-
Minischoles
- ROYAL MAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE
- Posts: 154
- Joined: 02 Jun 2012, 05:53
- Gender: Male
Re: Charged import VAT when shouldn't.
Once HMRC refund you they send a letter to you. You send that letter to the International team of Royal Mail who then get you the handling fee refunded.