AliExpress now charging VAT

[dazp1976]

This actully works to our advantage for goods over £18 and less than £135 as AliExpress acts as the VAT collection agent not Royal Mail, UPS DPD etc... Because they charge for the service at silly rates.

It doesn't make any difference to an individual buyer.
VAT and import tax are 2 different things.
I've had one out of twenty items caught out this year.
The one caught was my modbus cable and driver disc for a servo. Came via dhl.
Paid the vat at Ali, then a tax on entry to dhl.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000185976627.html
I weren't too bothered about it though as I did factor the cost in first. I saved a packed on the servo drive/motor system itself originally, so I could write it off. (yes I know. I should've remembered the cable etc when I ordered the drive!!!!).

All royal mail stuff get through so far.