Eshiels

Our shipment arrived today! We arrived in Scotland in November. We used UPAKWESHIP. Shared container. We were told 10-14 weeks, but there were delays due to the Indigenous protests in January, then COVID-19. Our stuff has been sitting in Liverpool for ages due to lockdown. We were originally quoted $2500. It ended up being $3420 ( including tax). We packed all our stuff - we shipped mostly boxes - we used the plastic totes that you can buy from Walmart etc. We had about 27 of them. We also shipped a pine bookcase, two end tables and a coffee table. I wrapped them in moving blankets that I bought from Canadian Tire. We hired large van from uhaul and dropped the stuff off their depot in Oakville Ontario a couple of weeks before we flew back. Anyway, it all arrived in one piece and there was nothing damaged. It was Brittania movers who delivered our stuff at this side.

Pulaski

What were you charged taxes on? Personal household items are usually tax exempt for those entering or returning to live.

Eshiels

I just assumed the quote included tax! Probably not then.

scot47

VAT ?

Pulaski

OK, so there may have been tax/ VAT on the services .... just so long as it wasn't VAT/ duty on the importation of your personal and household posessions.

Eshiels

Found my quote.
“Our prices are all inclusive of all shipping costs, normal customs clearance, & delivery”
No mention of HST Canadian VAT) on it.

Pulaski

There wouldn't be, if you were shipping to the UK (out of Canada).

Any VAT/ duty on import to the UK would be billed by the shipping agent in the UK.

Eshiels

There was a bracket missing there. What I meant to write was there was no HST ( Canadian version of VAT) on the Canadian shipping company quote. 😀

Pulaski

No worries, I had imputed a bracket there.

Whether you call it VAT or HST either way, it would never have been assessed and charged on a shipment to the UK by the shipping agent in Canada (outside the UK), it would, if applicable be billed by the agent in the UK and collected before your things could be released. Until any tax and duties are paid your things (if they had been dutiable (which yours weren't) would have been held in a bonded warehouse, and only released upon presentation of a receipt for duty paid.