UK Shipping and Customs from USA

IK6SPEED · 07-13-2018, 02:19 AM

A friend of mine rebuilt and repaired a pair of ECUs sent to him from someone in the UK. He had never tried to ship a return to UK and gave up after about 60 minutes, calling me for assistance.

That was a bad move as I know nothing about exporting car parts to the UK or EU from the USA.

After 2.5 hours on the phone with FedEx I still could not find the right combination to avoid paying customs and VAT of around $550 USD on these repaired $2500 USD parts that had been sent to the USA for repair.

Of course that did not include 90 minutes on the phone with people in USA Government trying to figure out Harmonizer Codes for Declaration of items on the forms, but that’s a different matter all together.

I realize most probably deal with importing return items within EU so you do not have this issue, but can anyone shed light on how to ship a repaired part from USA originally sent from UK for repair without the automatic VAT and import fees?

Or does everyone in UK need to pay...and then file to UK Customs to have the money refunded? Which would be ridiculous imo.

Thanks for any insight.

philiper1 · 07-13-2018, 02:44 AM

I think it all depends how it was exported in the 1st place out of UK and imported into US as what? was it done as a temporary export for repair? or just posted without taking this into consideration? it's quite complicated and if you are into shipping yourself, better contact specialist shipping agent to sort it out, will probably cost more but it will be done properly.

teaston · 07-13-2018, 03:29 AM

Just do what the chinese ebay sellers do and put the value of the items as $5 on the declaration

philiper1 · 07-13-2018, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Just do what the chinese ebay sellers do and put the value of the items as $5 on the declaration

one the issues with that is, if it gets lost or damaged, you will have no insurance!

teaston · 07-13-2018, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philiper1

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Just do what the chinese ebay sellers do and put the value of the items as $5 on the declaration

one the issues with that is, if it gets lost or damaged, you will have no insurance!

It was a tongue in cheek comment mate

philiper1 · 07-13-2018, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

It was a tongue in cheek comment mate

AndyMD · 07-13-2018, 03:57 AM

You could chance it as follows;

Make sure that there is no invoice shipped with the goods.
Get your friend to label it 'repaired goods under warranty'

IK6SPEED · 07-13-2018, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philiper1

one the issues with that is, if it gets lost or damaged, you will have no insurance!

That was one issue. Had to insure for $2500 USD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyMD

You could chance it as follows;

Make sure that there is no invoice shipped with the goods.
Get your friend to label it 'repaired goods under warranty'

Customs requires an invoice.

I however there are no options for “ticking that box” on the form.

That’s why the VAT is applied.

speedski · 07-13-2018, 10:24 AM

You cant insure something for more than you declare to customs - it needed to be exported from the UK as a controlled shipment on a repair and return basis - this allows the item to be imported without duty as it was a controlled export.

Declared at 2500 USD value and Carriage will result in duties and taxes to that effect. Now...

They could try to have it reassessed by appealing to HMRC on its return, but that's unlikely to succeed (otherwise everyone would do it) and it wont be free to do either.

Know this...If the recipient won't/can't pay the duties and taxes, as with all international courier firms you are ultimately liable as shipper, EVEN if you select to bill D&T to recipient in the bill to section of the AWB.

IK6SPEED · 07-13-2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedski

You cant insure something for more than you declare to customs - it needed to be exported from the UK as a controlled shipment on a repair and return basis - this allows the item to be imported without duty as it was a controlled export.

Declared at 2500 USD value and Carriage will result in duties and taxes to that effect. Now...

They could try to have it reassessed by appealing to HMRC on its return, but that's unlikely to succeed (otherwise everyone would do it) and it wont be free to do either.

Know this...If the recipient won't/can't pay the duties and taxes, as with all international courier firms you are ultimately liable as shipper, EVEN if you select to bill D&T to recipient in the bill to section of the AWB.

So it is up to UK Citizen to set it up correctly on export?

Not just a declaration on the import return customs forms?

speedski · 07-14-2018, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

So it is up to UK Citizen to set it up correctly on export?

Not just a declaration on the import return customs forms?

The return export will require you to list the inbound to you tracking - it may work, depends what visibility customs has tot he required information.

9/10 though the shipper export should have been done indicating it was a temporary import for reasons of repair and return.

Abzynthe · 07-16-2018, 07:37 AM

Would be cheaper to fly over and collect them lol.

Could you not send another package with the required documents you should have had in the first place, then send these items back once the second package is received in USA?

speedski · 07-16-2018, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abzynthe

Would be cheaper to fly over and collect them lol.

Could you not send another package with the required documents you should have had in the first place, then send these items back once the second package is received in USA?

Its gotta weigh the same on the way out as the way back,or justified weight discrepancy.

It is sometimes cheaper to fly and collect it - there's big business in on board courier services...

Abzynthe · 07-16-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedski

Its gotta weigh the same on the way out as the way back,or justified weight discrepancy.

It is sometimes cheaper to fly and collect it - there's big business in on board courier services...

Surely sending something with a simulated same weight as the returning package would still be cheaper than paying £500 in taxes?

speedski · 07-16-2018, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abzynthe

Surely sending something with a simulated same weight as the returning package would still be cheaper than paying £500 in taxes?

Get out the lube if it gets inspected...

It's going to be xrayed too as its air freight...

Abzynthe · 07-16-2018, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedski

Get out the lube if it gets inspected...

It's going to be xrayed too as its air freight...

Fair enough. Just coming up with ideas haha.

Send two more dud ECUs that are cheap and can be scrapped lol.

IK6SPEED · 07-16-2018, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abzynthe

Would be cheaper to fly over and collect them lol.

Could you not send another package with the required documents you should have had in the first place, then send these items back once the second package is received in USA?

Remember it would be inspected by US Customs inbound and if something was claimed that wasn’t there.....

v1k1ng01 · 08-06-2018, 05:07 PM

Is the part being shipped to a UK citizen or a US Service Member? If it's going to a US service member you can ship it to their APO through USPS without paying customs import and duty tax.

IK6SPEED · 08-06-2018, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1k1ng01

Is the part being shipped to a UK citizen or a US Service Member? If it's going to a US service member you can ship it to their APO through USPS without paying customs import and duty tax.

No

07-13-2018, 02:19 AM	#1
IK6SPEED Banned 4488 Rep 10,473 Posts Drives: BMW M3 / AH3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cali iTrader: (23)	UK Shipping and Customs from USA A friend of mine rebuilt and repaired a pair of ECUs sent to him from someone in the UK. He had never tried to ship a return to UK and gave up after about 60 minutes, calling me for assistance. That was a bad move as I know nothing about exporting car parts to the UK or EU from the USA. After 2.5 hours on the phone with FedEx I still could not find the right combination to avoid paying customs and VAT of around $550 USD on these repaired $2500 USD parts that had been sent to the USA for repair. Of course that did not include 90 minutes on the phone with people in USA Government trying to figure out Harmonizer Codes for Declaration of items on the forms, but that’s a different matter all together. I realize most probably deal with importing return items within EU so you do not have this issue, but can anyone shed light on how to ship a repaired part from USA originally sent from UK for repair without the automatic VAT and import fees? Or does everyone in UK need to pay...and then file to UK Customs to have the money refunded? Which would be ridiculous imo. Thanks for any insight. Last edited by IK6SPEED; 07-13-2018 at 02:24 AM..
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07-13-2018, 02:44 AM	#2
philiper1 Colonel 771 Rep 2,468 Posts Drives: F21 M135i LCI Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Norfolk iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4 Coupe [0.00] 2016 BMW M135i [0.00]	I think it all depends how it was exported in the 1st place out of UK and imported into US as what? was it done as a temporary export for repair? or just posted without taking this into consideration? it's quite complicated and if you are into shipping yourself, better contact specialist shipping agent to sort it out, will probably cost more but it will be done properly. __________________ Current: F21 M135i Mineral Grey and few options Previous: F30 320i XDrive, E85 2.5i, E21 323i
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07-13-2018, 03:29 AM	#3
teaston Banned 10995 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	Just do what the chinese ebay sellers do and put the value of the items as $5 on the declaration
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07-13-2018, 03:57 AM	#7
AndyMD Lieutenant 330 Rep 501 Posts Drives: Golf R 2020 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	You could chance it as follows; Make sure that there is no invoice shipped with the goods. Get your friend to label it 'repaired goods under warranty' __________________ EX F34 320d Sport \| Sept 2013 \| Imperial Blue \| Media \| Manual \| Currently learnt a lesson
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07-13-2018, 10:24 AM	#9
speedski Major 547 Rep 1,066 Posts Drives: Former F40/F36/E81/E85 Owner Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	You cant insure something for more than you declare to customs - it needed to be exported from the UK as a controlled shipment on a repair and return basis - this allows the item to be imported without duty as it was a controlled export. Declared at 2500 USD value and Carriage will result in duties and taxes to that effect. Now... They could try to have it reassessed by appealing to HMRC on its return, but that's unlikely to succeed (otherwise everyone would do it) and it wont be free to do either. Know this...If the recipient won't/can't pay the duties and taxes, as with all international courier firms you are ultimately liable as shipper, EVEN if you select to bill D&T to recipient in the bill to section of the AWB.
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07-16-2018, 07:37 AM	#12
Abzynthe Colonel 1388 Rep 2,126 Posts Drives: BMW 440i Gran Coupe LCI Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Would be cheaper to fly over and collect them lol. Could you not send another package with the required documents you should have had in the first place, then send these items back once the second package is received in USA? __________________ Previous: 2010 F01 740d M Sport \| 2015 F36 420d M Sport Current: 2018 F36 440i M Sport (Stage 1 BM3, xHP stage 3)
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08-06-2018, 05:07 PM	#18
v1k1ng01 Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 243 Posts Drives: 2013 335i M-sport Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW F30 335i M ... [9.66]	Is the part being shipped to a UK citizen or a US Service Member? If it's going to a US service member you can ship it to their APO through USPS without paying customs import and duty tax.
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