Import duty when ordering from the US

[NatChap]

Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone knows how much import duty is on meds from the US when ordering over £140? I've only ever ordered under that amount and Royal Mail website doesn't specify, says that anything other than gifts (which is 2.5%) it can vary.

[NickP1]

The last couple of orders I’ve received were sybect to 20% vat plus royal mails fee to clear customs. No other charges.

[helvella Administrator in reply to NickP1]

NickP1,

NatChap did mention £140!

Gifts above £630 and other goods above £135 The rate depends on the type of goods and where they came from - call the helpline

[NickP1 in reply to helvella]

Yes I noticed. My order was £148. Company would not allow me to order more than two bottles at a time.

[helvella Administrator]

NatChap,

Full details:

gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad

The fee for clearance varies by carrier.

[EbonyEvans]

Royal Mail have been known to charge between £8-£20 handling fee. I think the OP posted that they spent £140. Maybe use the search bar as I’ve seen several posts. This info was in addition to the above reply. It’s also a case of Russian roulette. Some packets get stopped. Some don’t. I recall a few people on this forum it averages 1:3. While someone in Kent gets charged 20% regardless.

[NatChap]

Thanks Might not risk it and just keep below the £135.

[Rapunzel]

Hey NatChap

To say do keep below £135 - although the $ going South at the moment, keep well within, in case of a sudden $ surge against the £. It's really brutal >£135. Remember that includes the shipping and handling as our American cousins call it

[ellj]

I was charged vat 20% and a royal mail fee of £14 on a package which was value of £27

When I queried it I was informed anything over £18 would have these charges.

[Lynneypin]

I bought something for £45 and cos they used DPD I had to pay £20 to DPD to cover the charges😩

[tcanno]

This maybe out of date but the last time I ordered I go a call from UPS asking me to pay the duty.

From what I have seen if it is under £34 you don't pay but you still need to pay VAT when it is ordered.

Check the Customs site for details

[helvella Administrator in reply to tcanno]

tcanno,

I have no idea where you get £34 from? VAT cuts in at £15 and duty at £135.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Usually VAT on purchase price and shipping, plus either courier or royal mail handing charge. My last one over £135 was from Australia and that's all I got charged (it was declared as animal food supplements)

[researcherUK in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

If the value of the Customs Duty (2.5 % on anything of value of £135 - £630) is less than £9, they don't charge it.

[Avidreader]

Can anyone please explain why you’re ordering direct from US ? It doesn’t seem to work out much cheaper after postage & import tax does it ? Or am I missing something ? I get from 2 pharmacies in UK ? Nature Throid ? I’m new to all this ! Just stopped Levo 4 months ago

[Rapunzel in reply to Avidreader]

Yes, Avid but is your GP charging you for a private prescription? And a consultation, perhaps? Most GPs and endos will not countenance prescribing NDT including my numpty

[Avidreader in reply to Rapunzel]

Ah ok - I pay my Endo £100 ( for about half hr) for consultation- I’ve seen him twice - he asked my GP to do my bloods on NHS - which she just about grudgingly did ! He doesn’t charge me for writing prescription -

hopefully I wont need to see him that often once I’m up & running -

But it’s an expensive business - what with all the “ good quality “ vitamins I’m buying too -

My husbands in USA this week - but I think I’ve left it too late to organise him to pick up via mail

Order - I’ve emailed a Phamacy but they take72 hours to respond 🤣

What a minefield it all is - I find it stressful -

[Avidreader in reply to Rapunzel]

Also - I think you do still need a prescription to

Buy overseas ? Certainly in USA ?

[Rapunzel in reply to Avidreader]

Not the case if you're in the UK. I buy my NDT and T3 without prescription, from abroad.

[Avidreader in reply to Rapunzel]

Wow that’s amazing - maybe once I have my dose steady I can do that 👍 at moment I don’t feel confident to sort myself dose - I have just bought a thermometer though ! Does anyone know where I can find the chart one slides to use to track temperature etc ?

[NatChap in reply to Avidreader]

Avidreader I can't get NDT on prescription so order Nature-throid from the US x

[NatChap]

Thanks guys. I've kept below £135 and ordered 3 months supply..hoping by the time I need some more Nature-throid is available in higher strengths. It's not very economical buying 1 and 1 1/2 grains strengths when I'm on 4 grains a day

[Avidreader in reply to NatChap]

I feel your pain ! I’m just forking out for 4 months supply 😊buying from Uk Phamacy this time - as the import tax & postage don’t seem to make it much cheaper ?

Anyone know if I can buy in Spain ? I go there a lot ? I have a prescription- Nature throid

[NatChap in reply to Avidreader]

I'd love to be able to get mine from the UK but my GP and endo refuse to write me a prescription for it 🙁

[researcherUK]

Anything above £15 for any goods, even for medicine or supplements, ordered from outside the EU, you need to Add 20% + £8 for Royal Mail towards clearance/service fees, totaling £36 on your order of £140.

You'll receive a card from Royal Mail with the payment fees which you can pay online and they'll deliver 2 days after the payment is done or you can collect from the post office the next day after payment.

Couriers charge more

[helvella Administrator in reply to researcherUK]

You have missed that at £135 there is also duty to pay which can further increase the cost.

[researcherUK in reply to helvella]

True, I have deliberately missed it.

The customs duty can be up to 2.5% on certain items with purchase values of £135 - £630. However, if the total amount of the customs duty is less than £9, it is usually waived.

"If the goods are over £135 in value, customs duty may also be due, although this will depend on what they are and where they have been sent from. Where the actual amount of duty due is less than £9, this will not be charged."

In NatChap's case, the total value of the purchase was £140 so the tax duty is negligible and would not be charged. This is why I have only indicated the VAT and the Royal Mail clearance charges.

I hope this helps!

[NatChap in reply to researcherUK]

I ordered below that because I wasn't sure what extra I would be charged if I went over. How would I find out how much duty would be?

[researcherUK in reply to NatChap]

As explained...

The rule is 2.5% Customs Duty for anything above £135 and up to £630

They usually exercise a discretion on the order and where it comes from and indeed for personal use and not for business import. If the total amount of the customs duty is less than £9, they don't charge.

gov.uk/government/news/know...

Read through the page and check item 4.

[researcherUK]

The customs duty can be up to 2.5% on certain items with purchase values of £135 - £630. However, if the total amount of the customs duty is less than £9, it is usually waived.

"If the goods are over £135 in value, customs duty may also be due, although this will depend on what they are and where they have been sent from. Where the actual amount of duty due is less than £9, this will not be charged."

Your purchase is £140 so its import duty is £3.5 that is less than £9; so, not applicable.

Your purchase of £140 will only be charged 20% VAT + clearance fee which is usually £8 for Royal Mail as I have previously indicated.

I hope this helps!