Living expenses cheaper in UK or USA?
Dec 1st 2016, 11:57 am
#46
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Living expenses cheaper in UK or USA?
Dec 1st 2016, 12:13 pm
#47
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: Living expenses cheaper in UK or USA?
I wouldn't have marked those as a gift...I would have written NCV (no commercial value) in the amount column.
Dec 1st 2016, 12:18 pm
#48
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 145
Re: Living expenses cheaper in UK or USA?
The annoying thing was that by HMRC's rules, $35 is below the £34 limit above which goods attract a VAT charge. The doubly annoying thing was that the Royal Mail couldn't waive or refund the fee, and HMRC's process for reclaiming it was utterly labyrinthine so despite them admitting on the phone that it was a mistake it totally wasn't worth the time and effort to make the claim.
Dec 1st 2016, 12:35 pm
#49
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,023
Re: Living expenses cheaper in UK or USA?
Good to know, she's sending Christmas presents for my nieces in the next week or so.
The annoying thing was that by HMRC's rules, $35 is below the £34 limit above which goods attract a VAT charge. The doubly annoying thing was that the Royal Mail couldn't waive or refund the fee, and HMRC's process for reclaiming it was utterly labyrinthine so despite them admitting on the phone that it was a mistake it totally wasn't worth the time and effort to make the claim.
The annoying thing was that by HMRC's rules, $35 is below the £34 limit above which goods attract a VAT charge. The doubly annoying thing was that the Royal Mail couldn't waive or refund the fee, and HMRC's process for reclaiming it was utterly labyrinthine so despite them admitting on the phone that it was a mistake it totally wasn't worth the time and effort to make the claim.
Dec 1st 2016, 12:39 pm
#50
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Living expenses cheaper in UK or USA?
That's what we do, it's easier, saves the shipping cost, and avoids the issue of the recipient being handed a bill to receive a present.
Dec 1st 2016, 2:50 pm
#53
Wondering if...
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Clarence, NY
Posts: 1,214
Re: Living expenses cheaper in UK or USA?
Anyway, the parcel was sent today and will not attract a bill for the recipient. They are also aware that, if all the devious planning fails, the parcel should just not be accepted by them.
Dec 1st 2016, 3:34 pm
#54
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
Re: Living expenses cheaper in UK or USA?
Oh crap, I really need to get on with mailing out stuff to the UK for Christmas. Time is passing me by quite quickly at the moment.
