Why am I being charged this much to import goods?

Question

I have recently ordered goods from America. I got a letter today saying that I had to pay VAT on the item, which is fine. The only problems is that I have been charged £18.60 for the VAT, when the cost of the items was only £80. £18.60 is more than 17.5% of £80. Why have I been charged this much, it is more than actual VAT? The letter also says there is no import duty, just VAT?

Answer 1

The government has to finance all those cameras they have over there. They already take so much of your wages and they have to find other sources of income. Welcome to socialism.

Answer 2

HMRC works out the cost of the item based on a different scale to a straight exchange rate. The handling charge is usually listed separately. For items delivered by ParcfelForce, there is a fixed fee of £13.50.

Answer 3

Its VAT and handling charges - HM Customs charge pretty much 25%.

Answer 4

£14.00 is VAT the rest is a handling charge. Perfectly normal (a bit of a shock the first time it happens to you).

Answer 5

Look at the letter you got. Is there a phone number there? Call it and ask.

Answer 6

Because it's a smack on the wrist for buying from America

Answer 7

properly it count the way you get to the united kingdom from the US, i think of whether it is not achohol or fags then they wont take them away you will possibly desire to pay all the tax of all the item to get them into the united kingdom to sell so as that 17.5% of £1000 it is £a hundred and seventy.50 you are able to might desire to pay to herald £1000 properly worth of stuff

Answer 8

they probably said TAX and not VAT, the TAX is import tax/airport tax.