Custom Charges on Package sent from home

Hi there,

Im not sure if anyone out there can help me with this, but I thought I would give it a go!

My husband and I were in Canada for christmas this year and while out there we bought a new computer but it didn't arrive in time in order for us to take it on the plane. It was sent to my parents house and my mom later shipped it to us. Then we get a letter from parcelforce saying we owe 230 pounds in VAT. I know all the rules about paying vat on imported items. But I'm wondering... if this happened to be an old computer that I owned and just had my mom send it out here for me as I live here now would I still have had to pay vat on my own personal property? That computer we bought was second hand and it was bought on my mom's credit card.

Anyone have any suggestions...has anyone been charged for items they have had sent from home?

Thanks for any help given!!

Don't know the specific rules for UK import, but typically when one buys abroad, they declare items that will arrive later as "goods to follow" so that they might fall under your personal exemption for your trip.

As to VAT on your personal property, if it was acquired abroad, and it isn't leigible for a special tariff, then it will be subject to normal import tariff, and you would be required to prove its fair value.