Easy, simple, duty refunds
At Duty Refunds, we believe returning an item should be just as easy as buying it in the first place.
You’ve paid the customs duty, and you should get a refund on that duty – let us handle HMRC.
You’ve paid the customs duty, and you should get a refund on that duty – let us handle HMRC.
Getting a customs refund is time consuming and stressful
We're here to fix that
When you return an item, you get a refund from the seller, right?
But when you return certain items internationally, you should actually get two: one from the seller and one from HMRC for your customs duty and import VAT.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen automatically. You have to go to HMRC to request your refund directly, which is no picnic. There are forms to fill out and endless customs documents to retrieve.
A lot of people don’t think it’s worth the hassle – and that’s what we’re here to help with.
But when you return certain items internationally, you should actually get two: one from the seller and one from HMRC for your customs duty and import VAT.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen automatically. You have to go to HMRC to request your refund directly, which is no picnic. There are forms to fill out and endless customs documents to retrieve.
A lot of people don’t think it’s worth the hassle – and that’s what we’re here to help with.
Why we’re here
Over the last few years, lots more people have needed help claiming their customs duty back.
If you buy an item worth more than £135 from another country, you probably need to pay customs duty on it.
Before Brexit, this only applied to goods purchased from countries outside the EU. Now that the UK is out of the EU, shoppers also need to pay customs duty on goods purchased from EU countries.
It’s estimated that people in the UK buy £40bn worth of items from abroad1, and the average UK return rate is around 28%2 – which is a lot of money to claim back!
If you buy an item worth more than £135 from another country, you probably need to pay customs duty on it.
Before Brexit, this only applied to goods purchased from countries outside the EU. Now that the UK is out of the EU, shoppers also need to pay customs duty on goods purchased from EU countries.
It’s estimated that people in the UK buy £40bn worth of items from abroad1, and the average UK return rate is around 28%2 – which is a lot of money to claim back!
What we do
Our process is simple. It only takes 5 minutes to fill out your form and we’ll do the rest. We prepare and
submit the paperwork on your behalf, and only charge you if your claim is successful. Our fee is 15% of your
customs refund.
Helping people get their customs fees back
It doesn’t matter whether you’re returning a pair of shoes or a sectional sofa – if it costs over £135, we
can help you get your customs duty back quickly and easily.
Making global shopping feel like local shopping
Buying and returning products should be easy and simple, no matter where you are. We simplify that process,
and save you the time and stress of having to deal with HMRC.
Time-saving and stress-busting returns
If you’re thinking of returning an item, or you have already returned an item, we may be able to help you
get your customs duty refund, stress free.
Ready to get started?
Where we came from
Our founder, Daniil, had the idea for Duty Refunds when his partner ordered a pair of shoes from France
and wanted to return them. The process of shipping them back to France and claiming the refund through
HMRC looked so complicated she gave up and kept the shoes.
Daniil realised this must be happening all the time. Thousands of people were keeping items they’d bought internationally – not because they liked them, but because they were difficult to return. So he started Duty Refunds with a mission – to make it easier and faster for online shoppers to get their money back.
Daniil realised this must be happening all the time. Thousands of people were keeping items they’d bought internationally – not because they liked them, but because they were difficult to return. So he started Duty Refunds with a mission – to make it easier and faster for online shoppers to get their money back.
Trusted to make customs duty easy and simple
Don’t just take our word for it, people across the UK are delighted with our help. Here’s the difference we’ve
made so far:
4.8*
TrustPilot rating
Hundreds of
claims processed
Average
refund £2503
Get in touch with us
Got any questions for us? We’d love to hear from you. You can reach us by sending an email
to the relevant email address below
Customer service and general enquiries
[email protected] Parnerships
[email protected] Media and press enquires
[email protected] Where we are
16 Great Chapel Street, London, W1F 8FL, UK
[email protected] Parnerships
[email protected] Media and press enquires
[email protected] Where we are
16 Great Chapel Street, London, W1F 8FL, UK
Questions?
Got any questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.
You can get in touch with us by email on
[email protected]
or via our
live chat.
Can I get my customs duty refunded?
If you’ve returned an item to a retailer abroad worth over £135, then most likely yes! There are a few caveats though. Certain items like alcohol and tobacco aren’t eligible.
And there are time limits too.
If you returned the item because it was damaged or defective, it can’t have first entered the UK more than 365 days ago. And if you returned the item because you didn’t want it anymore, it can’t have entered the UK more than 90 days ago.
And there are time limits too.
If you returned the item because it was damaged or defective, it can’t have first entered the UK more than 365 days ago. And if you returned the item because you didn’t want it anymore, it can’t have entered the UK more than 90 days ago.
How long does it take to get my refund?
How much will I get back?
Who will handle my claim?
What is a letter of authorisation?
Who are Duty Refunds?
12021 E-commerce Payments Trends Report: UK Country Insights: Data provided by WPL via ONS, 2021
2Dressipi "The Truth Behind Reduced Return Rates", 2021 study.
https://dressipi.com/blog/reduced-return-rates-a-bonus-for-fashion-retailers/
3Average refund value based on total amount owed to Duty Refunds customers from HMRC
December 2021-July 2022. Customers are charged a flat rate 15% service fee based on the total
amount owed from HMRC.