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UK shoppers face delays, extra fees on EU fashion items
20 Jan '21
2 min read
Pic: Shutterstock
UK shoppers are reportedly facing delays and extra fees of up to £5 on fashion items shipped from the European Union (EU). And new paperwork and extra customs and border security arrangements arising out of Brexit are being blamed for this chaos. The trouble has cropped up at a time when businesses are witnessing a spike in online orders while the country is in lockdown.
Parcels with the wrong documentation are being returned to sender when they reach the border in many cases. What has added to the problem is the high levels of sickness among postal workers due to COVID-19, a top UK newspaper reported.
Under new rules, anyone sending parcels from the EU to the UK needs to fill in forms including proof of origin and the reason for sending the package. Retailers selling to the United Kingdom now have to pay customs duties and fill out declaration forms, as well as registering for value-added tax (VAT) in the UK. VAT relief on imported goods under £15 has also been abolished.
Some retailers and delivery firms are charging extra from customers to cover the cost of the red tape.
The charges will depend on the country, whether the package is a gift or commercial goods and its value. Goods under €35–which were previously exempt from VAT–are now taxable.
Parcels with the wrong documentation are being returned to sender when they reach the border in many cases. What has added to the problem is the high levels of sickness among postal workers due to COVID-19, a top UK newspaper reported.
Under new rules, anyone sending parcels from the EU to the UK needs to fill in forms including proof of origin and the reason for sending the package. Retailers selling to the United Kingdom now have to pay customs duties and fill out declaration forms, as well as registering for value-added tax (VAT) in the UK. VAT relief on imported goods under £15 has also been abolished.
Some retailers and delivery firms are charging extra from customers to cover the cost of the red tape.
The charges will depend on the country, whether the package is a gift or commercial goods and its value. Goods under €35–which were previously exempt from VAT–are now taxable.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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