Gift customs charge

Hi my sister who lives in Australia has sent over a gift for my new baby and one for my toddler, valued at $80 and addressed to both of them, and I am being told I can’t receive this parcel for them until I pay £18.79? She paid $80 for post it already so I don’t understand why I’m having to pay something for VAT? When she would have paid tax on tbe items in Australia how can I be charged to receive a gift for my children ?

Hi Rachael Unfortunately there is a limit to the value of gifts you can receive duty free. It is set at £39. It may be that as there are two gifts and they are separately packaged you may have a case to say they are within the allowance. You need to look at the following guidelines https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-vat-and-customs-duty-on-gifts You then need to go back to the post office/ parcel force or the courier who is asking you to pay prior to delivery. Payment of taxes in other countries doesn’t make any difference to how the goods are treated when sent to the UK.

Hi ,
 

When someone send gifts to someone in the UK you may need to pay Customs Duty, excise duty and import VAT, depending on the value of the items. Please see below guidance for more information. See:  Duties and import VAT on gifts   . Thank you .