Sending stuff to the UK

[IBM]

Over in Singapore atm, and our kids got tonnes (several boxes worth) of toys and clothes given to them for their impending birthdays. All I can say is I wish I'd had grandparents like theirs when I was young.

So, it's not going to fit in the suitcases (we've already acquired one extra one for stuff) and we're sending it with DHL. What's the stance on taxes and duties for gifts? We didn't pay a penny for this stuff, and I object to paying anything in taxes and duties for something we didn't buy, and don't have any intention of selling on.

Anyone know what the procedure for this is, and what best to put when listing the goods? I'm tempted to put a brief description, and the value down as £5 per box....anyone know more on this than me?

Cheers.

[b0redom]

Just put 'excess luggage' on the manifest - me and the mrs did this in Oz when were on our RTW trip.

Only potential gotcha is if you claim it's worth only £5 and it gets lost you might have a problem with insurance.

[Spud1]

Yeah don't lie about the value - aside from the insurance if it gets checked for whatever reason and is found to be substantially more than £5 you could be in alot more trouble money wise than if you had declared them all.

I would put the real value on, mark them as gifts, and if anyone complains explain your situation - you have proof if they need it (well sort of..it really will be your kids birthdays soon, they really do have relatives abroad etc etc)

[vinnyT]

I think that you'd be better off asking the carriers, DHL, as they have the experience, and will be able to advise you best.

Putting £5 value per box will be asking for customs to open it, when they do, they'll see it ain't worth £5 (unless stingy G parents, and i didn't get that from the intro). They may then come to their own conclusions, which may not be favourable to you.

bOredom's excess luggage seems right to me, but speak to DHL.

[IBM]

Excess luggage sounds good, but I'll give DHL a ring before completing the forms tomorrow (as long as their open on Saturdays in Singapore).

The thing is that if someone has bought presents for me, then their actual value is irrelevant. Since they've a gift to me, then their value is relative to the value I place upon it...say £5. I know it's more complex than this, but I'm going to be well pissed off if I have to pay for something that I didn't buy in the first place...

[vinnyT]

Yes, the value is irrelevent if they are gifts given to you, but that is only true if the customs officer believes they are gifts and not stuff that you have brought, and are now trying to import into the country as 'gifts'.

Putting a *value* of £5 on something that is obviously worth far more will look suspicious at best (and then they will open every other box).

DHL will be open on a Saturday, if not they shouldn't be in business.

Hope you get this sorted to your satisfaction.

[mart_haj86]

Do not mark it as just gifts because if the values are higher than £36 you will get charged d/t by HMRC irrelevant of them being a gift. Excess luggage may help but beware that you may still get charged d/t if customs decide to seize the item.

You being someone (who i assume does not send stuff abroad very often) wouldnt have a full account with DHL and you would be classed as an "unknown shipper"

For all items being sent under this classification means that the items have to automatially go through extensive customs clearence for a period of around 24 hours. Therefore these items would more than likely be assesed for tax.

[Whiternoise]

My best idea would be to put the most "expensive" stuff in the baggage you're taking back by plane and then put all the cheaper stuff into the DHL bag. That way, if you do have to pay customs duty, it won't be so bad.

Or.. split up the stuff so you're not sending a bag stacked full of toys into the UK - that might be a bit suspect.

AFAIK, it depends what DHL decide to declare it as, based on what you tell them..

[markyp23]

It's always better to be open about this stuff in case you get caught out and then you're looking at paying the tax and a hefty fine.

[finlay666]

surely you could include a photo of the passport details or the kid and write them a very nice letter about how they were his presents and he would be very upset if he had to pay extra, child labourers only make little money

seriously: I would declare it as a gift, but pop a reasonable value down, like £20-25

I got my stuff from hong kong...only thing they market on the box was led keyrings $2 (there was over $30 worth of stuff aswell!)