Reclaiming customs duty & import VAT

[Error404]

I've been stung for £110 for a steering rack I had sent from the states
It was already mine, I sent it out there to have some work done on it, and it was sent back with a $500 value in case it went missing in the post. Customs have raped me for £89.50 import VAT and £13.03 customs duty - which i have had to pay Parcel Force to get the rack back, they will not get involved in any disputes and told me I have to apply to reclaim the charges from HMRC.

As far as I understand it I shouldn't have to pay the import duty or VAT as the item was already mine.
Has anyone ever had any success trying to reclaim these fees? Any advice?

Cheers
Alex

[topsparky]

thats crap mate
knowing our government though you'll get nothing back
but i'd fight it to the end
good luck

[Le S2 Audi]

I've been stung for £110 for a steering rack I had sent from the states
It was already mine, I sent it out there to have some work done on it, and it was sent back with a $500 value in case it went missing in the post. Customs have raped me for £89.50 import VAT and £13.03 customs duty - which i have had to pay Parcel Force to get the rack back, they will not get involved in any disputes and told me I have to apply to reclaim the charges from HMRC.

As far as I understand it I shouldn't have to pay the import duty or VAT as the item was already mine.
Has anyone ever had any success trying to reclaim these fees? Any advice?

Cheers
Alex

Yes BUT It's a pain in the Bum doing it...

You should have asked them to declare it at NCV (No Commercial Value) & they could still insure it....

You might have a problem reclaiming it as when you sent it out you should have filled in the correct export forms that would allow you to re-import it without paying VAT & Duty.

You may still be liable for the vat on the work that has been done & you will have to provide an invoice for this...

Plead ignorance and see what happens....

[Jamo]

Yes BUT It's a pain in the Bum doing it...

You should have asked them to declare it at NCV (No Commercial Value) & they could still insure it....

You might have a problem reclaiming it as when you sent it out you should have filled in the correct export forms that would allow you to re-import it without paying VAT & Duty.

You may still be liable for the vat on the work that has been done & you will have to provide an invoice for this...

Plead ignorance and see what happens....

Have to agree unfortunetely I looked into this to send a turbo back from modification.

I think to reclaim you would have to prove it was yours with receipts etc from memory

[mcandmar]

So were not the only ones that get shafted with this. In my mind having to pay vat on the duty charge is just taking the piss.

[speeding-g60]

anything at all you need me to do with this, let me know.

if you need some form of sworn statement of a returning part or whatever...

i do have the invoice from them sitting here in front of me (thank goodness i am lazy and dont clean the office space much) but you know how much you paid to have it done. most of it was labor, not very much parts itself....

if you need this sent out to you or need a scan of it, glad to help any way i can.

Aaron

[Error404]

Aaron you've already been a massive help mate, don't want to put you to any more hassle. I'll see how it get on with a polite but firm letter to Customs and see what they say! Be great if you could send me a scan of the invoice though, i'll PM you my email address

cheers
Alex

[bluequattro]

Error there used to be a guy living near you that was an expert at reclaiming VAT.
Unfortunately he was too good, got 20 years I think!

[Error404]

Been trawling the HMRC website and can only find information for import and export as a business. There's no info on there for private individuals, at least not what i can find. I think I will need to ring them on Tuesday to see what i can do about it.

[speeding-g60]

email sent.