Any item mailed to Canada may be subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and/or duty. Unless specifically exempted, you must pay the 5% GST on items you import into Canada by mail. The CBSA calculates any duties owing based on the value of the goods in Canadian funds.

Do you have to pay tax on parcels?

You’ll be contacted by Royal Mail, Parcelforce or the courier company if you need to pay any VAT , duty or delivery charges (‘handling fees’) to receive your goods. They’ll send you a bill stating exactly which fees you need to pay. They’ll normally hold your parcel for about 3 weeks.

How do I contact customs about a package UK?

You can call the enquiry line for imports and exports: Telephone 0300 322 7900.

Can I contact customs about a parcel?

So far nothing. You should also be able to phone at 1-877-CBP-5511 (877-227-5511). However, you will need to be able to properly identify the shipment.

Why do I have to pay customs on a parcel?

What am I being charged for? You are being asked to pay the relevant customs duty, excise duty and import VAT on your parcel. When an item is received from outside of the EU, it is automatically inspected by Border Force on behalf of HMRC for prohibited or restricted goods.

How long does it take for a parcel to be sent back from customs?

You’ll be contacted by Royal Mail, Parcelforce or the courier company explaining how to pay any VAT, duty and fees for dealing with customs. They’ll normally hold your parcel for about 3 weeks. If you haven’t paid the fee by then, it’ll be sent back.

Do you have to pay VAT on a parcel from the UK?

You are being asked to pay the relevant customs duty, excise duty and import VAT on your parcel. When an item is received from outside of the UK, it is automatically inspected by Border Force on behalf of HMRC for prohibited or restricted goods.

How do I find out if there is a customs charge?

They also check the customs declaration to determine if customs duty, excise duty and import VAT are chargeable. We pay these charges on your behalf in order to clear your parcel through Customs, so we are asking you to reimburse us for these charges. You can find more detailed information about these charges here