AliExpress now charging VAT

[cropwell]

It doesn't make any difference to an individual buyer.
VAT and import tax are 2 different things.

I believe my original beef was about the ridiculous fees that forwarding agents charge to handle any tax or VAT. Now the VAT on goods <£135 is collected at source and Fedex, UPS and DHL etc. no longer have this lucrative source of income. The disadvantage is that we no longer get away with tax free import of small items - Hey Ho!

[dazp1976]

I believe my original beef was about the ridiculous fees that forwarding agents charge to handle any tax or VAT. Now the VAT on goods <£135 is collected at source and Fedex, UPS and DHL etc. no longer have this lucrative source of income. The disadvantage is that we no longer get away with tax free import of small items - Hey Ho!

I need to make an enquiry then.

Back in March.
I ordered from Ali usd26.50 - paid the vat on top.
Then a few days later got email link from dhl.
Paid the import tax AND the con handling fee to them.

According to you this don't happen?.

[cropwell]

According to you this don't happen?.

Unfortunately, the mechanism for it happening is still there for goods with an intrinsic value over £15 and less than £135. Most of the time HMRC can't be arsed with small values. As they automatically get the VAT for low value personal imports, they are generally satisfied with that. I think you were unlucky (maybe the Customs Officer had a row with his partner and was in a bad mood). I have had imports of $150 without any duty and also goods worth £8 that were subject to the DHL con (I didn't pay it and they returned the goods and I got a refund). Both of these were before the collection of VAT at source. Now, because the VAT is already paid, most small value goods are just let through. You are more likely to trigger DHL involvement if you go for fast delivery options.

[dazp1976]

Unfortunately, the mechanism for it happening is still there for goods with an intrinsic value over £15 and less than £135. Most of the time HMRC can't be arsed with small values. As they automatically get the VAT for low value personal imports, they are generally satisfied with that. I think you were unlucky (maybe the Customs Officer had a row with his partner and was in a bad mood). I have had imports of $150 without any duty and also goods worth £8 that were subject to the DHL con (I didn't pay it and they returned the goods and I got a refund). Both of these were before the collection of VAT at source. Now, because the VAT is already paid, most small value goods are just let through. You are more likely to trigger DHL involvement if you go for fast delivery options.

I didn't have a choice on delivery options with that one.
It's outlandish how we get ripped off in the uk tbf.
It's all bollox!

Have another £80 worth of small bits arriving either this/next week. Fingers crossed
Not too concerned though. Some not avail in uk at all (or ever will), and the bits I could get here... I've likely saved £70 off.