Page 1 of "Gifts" Anybody know how many you are allowed with Customs?

I`ve got several "gifts" passing through the mail right now. If they all arrived on the same customs desk would I become liable to pay VAT on them? They are all individual orders and all under £18. DVD Soon seem to mark everything as a gift which is great. Just wondering what the chances are?

If they are under £18 then they don`t have to be a gift.

Sorry I thought I posted this in the general forum. Don`t know how you move it.
DVD Soon seem to mark everything as a gift, which is nice. I`m just wondering if four or five might attract attention. The items are all less than £18 but if there four or so would they still be regarded as seperate or would the taxman not like it? Or Can I order seperate items under £18 as often as I like without a prob?

Any single package marked as `Gift` can be upto £36 in value.

after that, they charge duty & VAT (3.5% on contents Value, 17.5% on total inc. postage)

SN

I just bought a portable dvd player from HK and got stung for customs. Can anyone tell me how they work out their charges..I know there`s an £11 clearance fee, if it`s 3.5% on contents value, then what is the 17.5% calculated from, and is that added to the 3.5%????

This thread has some info that may help:

http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/forums/thread.asp?Forum=113&Thread=77479

Dazza.

Ok, here goes...

Lets say your item has a declared value of £100 and £10 for P&P

First add the duty (3.5%) = 100 x 1.035 = £103.50

Next add the postage = 103.5+10 = £113.50 - you do this because VAT is applied to the total cost inc P&P.

Lastly apply TAV[at]5.71% = 113.50 x 1.175=£133.36.

(using 1.175 etc automatically does the `take 17.5%, then add` bit).

(The `clearance fee` should be duty & vat free, but I`m not 100% sure on that).

Hope this helps expand the thread a bit.

SN

Just to add to what`s been said, the Customs Info Page is here:

A Guide for International Post Users
http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/notices/143.htm

Mark.