STOP PRESS - Siblings Together

NOW CLARIFIED.  The items being sent to Siblings Together will, according to the adviser I spoke to at HRMC, qualify as "basic necessities for needy people" under notice 317.   You must mark on the parcel: "CHARITY ITEMS: RELIEF CLAIMED".  

Comments

  1. Oh no! I hope Siblings Together can get it worked out so there are no customs charges. I know the rules are there for reasons, but sometimes they are so frustrating!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yowie! You'd like to think there would be a way round that, fingers crossed...

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is a shame. I have received gifts from Oz from my family. They always mark the label as gift and so far we have never been charged by customs. Not sure how this works for giving something to an organisation/ charity though.
    I hope this gets cleared up and that customs will drop the charge.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, that's not good. I can only assume that it's because a high value was listed on the customs form. I *think* the rules are that there are no charges to pay if the item is a gift and the value is under something like £40. Obviously, a quilt would be worth more than that but I'd hope there would be some exceptions for charitable donations though.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I know all about custom charges in Germany. Just don't know if those are the same for the UK, since it's also Europe and there is no custom between us.
    Normally you have to mark it gift and the value should be below a certain amount and then it gets through without problems. What that amount is, I have no idea (it is 45€ over here). As for the charity thing, they are only free for charities that are officially registered (again, German custom law).
    Why don't you check the UK custom website? I am sure they offer a lot of advice.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I hadn't thought of that. Good thing I haven't sent any. (Although I have a couple that I've been thinking of sending.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. The HMRC website seems to suggest that parcels need to be marked CHARITY ITEMS: RELIEF CLAIMED.

    Details here
    http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/vat/import.htm

    And it also looks like they should be able to reclaim the charges for any quilts sent so far. But I'm not an expert so probably best to check with HMRC

    Hope it gets sorted out.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 1. make sure it is labeled as a charitable gift. & Make the value low.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You have to pay customs on anything valued £15 and over now (unless it's a gift which I think is about £30).:( You might be able to sort something out with the carrier (Parcelforce?) though before you collect. I once received a package of returned items to me worth £1000 and bypassed the charge with a phone call and e-mailing back and forth a document for "Returned Goods Relief" to DHL at East Midlands Airport where it was being held. I didn't have to pay out and then claim it back. I would imagine a similar procedure would be in place for charity items, so it's worth asking.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What what what? Has something happened? Did I miss something? *confused*

    ReplyDelete
  11. Got it! I will mark mine accordingly! :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Comment away peeps :-)