I am about to receive some stuff from Shenzhen China tomorrow, value about £100.
I'm tracking it via DHL and I have little idea how the duty and VAT will work. I think the duty is exempt.
I'm expecting to get a DHL notification that I have to pay them duty, VAT and handling before they deliver?
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty
Tax and duty
You’ll be contacted by Royal Mail, Parcelforce or the courier company explaining how to pay any VAT, duty and fees for dealing with customs.
They’ll normally hold your parcel for about 3 weeks. If you haven’t paid the fee by then, it’ll be sent back.
VAT
You pay VAT on goods sent from non-
European Union (EU) countries and EU
special territories (eg the Canary Islands) if they’re:
- gifts worth more than £39
- other goods worth more than £15
- alcohol, tobacco products and fragrances (eg perfume, eau de toilette and cologne) of any value
You have to pay VAT on all goods sent by mail order from the Channel Islands no matter what their value.
You’ll be charged at the
VAT rate that applies to your goods. VAT is charged on the total value, including:
- the price paid for the goods
- postage, packaging and insurance
- any duty you owe
Customs Duty
You’ll be charged Customs Duty on gifts and other goods sent from outside the EU if they’re above a certain value.
The value includes:
- the price paid for the goods
- postage, packaging and insurance
Type and value of goods | Customs Duty |
---|
Anything under £135 | No charge |
Gifts worth £135-£630 | 2.5%, but rates are lower for some goods - call the helpline |
Gifts above £630 and other goods above £135 | The rate depends on the type of goods and where they came from - call the helpline |