received some good from the US (value inc postage $344) yesterday. my housemate signed for them, and the courier said nothing about import charges/VAT etc.
my housemate said that last time he imported anything from the US he had to pay the courier then and there before he could get the goods.

have i missed out on the extra charges, or should i expect something to drop through my letter box in the next few weeks?

of course, if it comes it comes, but it would be nice to know 🙂

you should be OK – you usually have to pay before receipt.
However if the taxman does come calling, don't try to put the dressing gown you got from Bill Oddie down as 'expenses'.

if its fedex you will get a bill 😥
if its anyone else you've got away with it 😀

i got a bill about two weeks later.

If it was fedex they invoice after delivery

Also, no-one expects the taxman – that's their chief weapon (etc)

If it was TNT, UPS or Fedex you will receive a letter from them with a bill for the duty, VAT and 'handling fee'. Check that they have used the correct code for the import duty fee as they have tried to overcharge me in the past. They tried to charge me the 15% rate which is for full bikes, whereas bike parts in only ~ 5%, (can't remember the exact figure). If they have billed incorrectly ring them and ask them to re-send you the bill with the correct code and in two previous cases I never received anything more sp I just ignored it 🙂

You'll need to google the Government web pages to get the correct code.

You often get a bill through the post a couple of weeks later.

LOL @ AndyP. Best send Sonja into town but a 7/10 for breakfast…

fed-ex… bugger…

so should be around 5% for the bike part, and then 17.5% VAT?

and a handling charge!? i paid for fed-ex all the way, so why should i pay a handling charge???

no handling charge with fedex, thats rm's trick

The VAT man will be round very soon to check out you haven't got anything else to declare……….. once they get their safety kit on first

don't forget to smile 😉

lol…

hope i won't get shafted by either then!

Fed Ex charged me a £14 handling charge in November