Importing from Brazil — how to pay the UK import VAT

We are a UK Limited registered company, importing incense from a Brazilian registered company. The value of shipments will be around £300. We are not UK VAT registered, as we have not hit the turnover threshold. We will be using UPS/Fedex to ship the goods from Brazil. Can UPS/Fedex pay the 20% UK import VAT on our behalf, and then we then pay them (that seems to be a service they offer)? Or does the Brazilian company need to register for UK VAT and charge us UK VAT? Thank you.

Hi,

It will depend who the importer of the goods is. If the Brazilian company is the importer of record then they will pay the import VAT, register for UK VAT and charge the  VAT on the sale.
However if you are the importer then the shipping agent would normally pay the VAT on your behalf and then you would pay this amount over to them.

Thank you.

If you are using a courier then they will usually clear customs and invoice you as the UK based importer for the duty and VAT . They may ask for this prior to delivery. No the Brazilian company does not need to register for UK VAT unless they are selling goods in the UK .

Many thanks for your replies, much appreciated.