The prominent British delivering company with express parcel delivery that has been operating for over 25 years is the best way to describe Parcelforce – part of the Royal Mail group.
The Royal Mail Group has undoubtedly improved its operations and consistently exceeded the norms. This is why people choose Parcelforce worldwide.
Parcelforce had to accommodate their delivery to new UK customs rules, and Parcelforce customs charges were introduced once the UK left Europe.
Parcelforce handling fee
Because Parcelforce handles customs clearance on your behalf, they charge a non-refundable courier fee.
If the value of your goods is over £135, the Parcelforce courier fee will be £8. For high-value goods worth £900, this fee is higher – £25.00.
Parcelforce urges UK shoppers to promptly answer any queries from HMRC to avoid additional charges and to receive the parcel as soon as possible. If they keep your parcel for more than 10 days, a storage fee will be added to your bill and charged before they deliver the package.
A charge of £5.50 per parcel will be applied to packages that have been contained for 10 to 20 working days. For each subsequent working day over 20 working days, the cost is £1.35 per parcel.
How to pay for import duty and VAT with Parcelforce?
Parcelforce will pay customs duty or excise duty and VAT directly to the HMRC on your behalf once the parcel is received at their international hub. They will reimburse customs charges in two ways:
Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)
This is where you, the recipient or importer, are accountable for paying the relevant import duty, excise duty, and VAT, together with their handling or customs clearance fee.
They will send you a letter to confirm how to make your payment for the goods that may be delivered. The letter will contain a 17-digit reference number you can use to complete the payment. Parcelforce will deliver your parcel once everything has been paid.
You can pay import duty and VAT online, by phone, or at one of their depots. You will need your 17-digit reference number, which can be found in the top left corner of the letter. Parcelforce will send you this number when your parcel is received at their International hub.
The only accepted payment methods are all major credit or debit cards, cash, and cheque (at the depot only).
For any issues that may occur, like the website not accepting your reference number or being unable to find your customs charges letter, you can contact their customer support.
Delivered Duty Paid (DDP)
For specific European services, Parcelforce offers a DDP service. This is where the original sender (in this case, the seller in the EU country) will be invoiced to pay the relevant import duty, excise duty, and VAT.
Can I receive a refund of customs charges if I decide to return my parcel?
Yes, you can. For returning the parcels, we recommend using Royal Mail, due to lower charges. When sending the items back to the seller, you have to complete the CN22 form and tick the box that says “Returned goods.”
If you need help and advice, we recommend opening an account on their website and reaching out to their representatives.
The process of reclaiming import duty on returned goods is long and complex.
Firstly, you must gather all the relevant paperwork: customs charge letter from the courier you have received with the parcel and proof of the refund from the EU retailer and then complete the C285 form on the gov.uk website. The one thing to remember is that the website doesn’t validate whether the information is correct.
We have to highlight this because the claims are denied mostly due to incorrectly completed forms.
You will have to wait around six weeks to receive feedback from the HMRC. Sometimes, people are left in the dark and never hear back about their submitted claims.
Luckily, UK law allows you to apply for import VAT and customs duty refund through a freight forwarder or an agent, which is when Duty Refunds steps in.
Our experts will take your case and get you your refund in just three weeks!
How to reclaim the customs charges with Duty Refunds?
Duty Refunds has a team of experts that have a fantastic success rate and have processed over hundred claims, so you can sit back and relax.
On our website, you can check whether you are eligible for a refund in just a few seconds and initiate the claim with Duty Refunds.
You would need to provide us with your tracking number after registration. We will contact the courier to get the import documents and fill and file the claim on your behalf. If you wish to check the status of your claim, feel free to visit your account on our website.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this article answered all your questions regarding the customs charges, what they are, and how to pay them. The entire situation is less confusing and frustrating.
It is important to remember that reclaiming customs duty and import VAT is possible only if you decide to return the items.
You can initiate your claim with Duty Refunds in just a few clicks if you find this whole ordeal too stressful or complicated. We will gladly assist you!
