Import vat and customs clearance

[BadBoyzofBBQ]

Hi guys
Just received rubs from my sponsor in US it is being held up at customs, they want £21.78 for vat and clearance fee.
This has been sent as a gift.(I will pay it and fight after).
Are they correct?

ASH

[Swindon_Ed]

i take it they've used USPS who then work with Parcel Force in the UK. The standard customs charge is about £14 from memory, and this would be chargeable no matter what.

Then you've got to decide is the remaining amount worth arguing with HMRC for?

[Toby]

it all depends what was put on the invoice, Ed is correct about handling fees, they may have put a value of goods on there which has been used for VAT, I dont think I have ever avoided the reight companies fees, thye have a tendancy to send a letter and they chase payment vigerously.