It can be frustrating living in the EU if you want to buy from a UK retailer.
A product may be cheaper in Britain but once you factor in the international delivery, import VAT, customs handling charges and Post Brexit international shipping restrictions the savings can be lost.
That is where Parcel Flow can take the stress out of shopping.
Instead of demanding the UK retailer ship directly to your address in the EU, you simply use the UK as your shopping address then receive your items there before arranging international forwarding based on your parcel, the destination and available shipping options.
Here are some simple things to consider when buying from the UK.
What about direct UK to EU shipping and customs charges?
Brexit has changed things at the border, meaning most goods crossing from Great Britain to other EU countries will now have to clear customs.
Depending on the product and their value, you could pay import VAT, customs duty or courier handling charges or a combination of all three.
But that doesn’t mean you will pay the same rate every time.
The final charge depends on how the retailer or carrier classifies the item, its value, its country of origin and the destination country and how VAT and customs handling is processed.
For the shopper, this simply creates one more problem the price listed on the UK website isn’t necessarily the final amount you pay.
UK parcel forwarding to eu enables you to effectively separate the shopping process from the international delivery process, allowing you to choose the most appropriate method for each parcel and get better control over the total cost.
Parcel Forwarding vs Import VAT & Customs
It is worth remembering that the aim is not to bypass customs and import VAT illegally.
It is to efficiently manage the delivery process in such a way as to avoid additional costs where possible.
By choosing a suitable forwarding service, you could be able to do things like:
- Consolidate multiple UK purchases into one shipment, avoiding multiple international shipping costs.
- Separate your orders from different retailers to avoid multiple delivery charges.
- Compare different international courier options.
- Request repacking to cut down on excess parcel volume.
- Hold on to your order until you can send it all in one go.
For example, if you buy three little items from three different UK retailers, you will pay for three individual international shipping charges.
But if you opt for the retailer to deliver domestically to your forwarding address, you will be able to join those parcels into a single international shipment, saving you money on the international postage cost and possible other costs too.
That is the main way that parcel flow uk offers practical savings.
Your UK address becomes the vital link
You may find that a number of British retailers offer better or cheaper domestic delivery options than they do international ones.
In some cases, they may not even send to other EU countries at all.
By using your uk shipping address for eu residents, you can ensure that you benefit from cost effective domestic delivery, which in turn enables you to combine and forward the parcels to the final destination.
This can prove especially beneficial for:
- UK only retailers
- Limited edition products
- British clothing and shoe stores
- Electronics and accessories
- Hobby specific stores
- UK retailers with free UK delivery
If you are not UK based yourself and you’re just in search of an effective way to access British retailers, this is an important consideration too.
Can you avoid paying EU import VAT and duty?
When the parcel is in transit, you will need to take more care.
A forwarding service won’t alter your legal VAT or customs duty obligations.
If they are applicable to your parcel, routing the parcel to the destination via another country will not automatically eliminate their liability.
But you can still take steps to avoid the costs of import VAT and customs duty uk to eu where their application is appropriate and the rules allow.
For eligible low value consumer imports the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) can mean VAT is paid at the point of sale rather than as a separate import fee.
According to HMRC, this scheme applies to eligible shipments valued at £135 or less, based on the EU scheme and the €150 threshold.
The important consideration is to understand the actual VAT treatment of each order, rather than simply assuming that the shipment can be forwarded without cost.
Why parcel consolidation is often the best option
All too often, people discover that postage and parcel size impact the final price. When you buy more, you should pay for more.
And if you buy several things from several places, you should pay for each parcel individually.
That can cost a lot of money in postal rates and handling charges, especially if you are willing to wait until you have a few parcels and then consolidate them into one international shipment.
Check whether the UK parcel forwarding services you are considering offers:
- Parcel consolidation: Three or more parcels are combined into one parcel
- Repacking: Excess parcels are removed where possible, to bring the overall size down
- Flexible dispatch: You wait until you have multiple orders before you send them
If you are a frequent UK shopper buying from several retailers rather than doing one big purchase, these options can be very useful.
What about Belfast parcel forwarding?
Belfast occupies a special position because Northern Ireland has a different customs arrangement from the rest of the UK under the Windsor Framework.
Goods moving to and from Northern Ireland and the EU can take advantage of special arrangements that do not apply in the same way to goods moving to and from England, Scotland and Wales.
But it would be wrong to think that simply routing parcels through Belfast will automatically exempt them from EU customs charges.
Revenue Ireland states that goods headed for Ireland, shipped via Northern Ireland, will be subject to the appropriate customs and import laws.
That means Belfast parcel forwarding can have the same benefits as forwarding through other routes in the UK as long as the origin, ownership and destination of the goods is consistent with Irish customs rules.
When belfast shipping makes sense
As in any area, the key is understanding the origin, ownership and destination of the parcel.
Check that it applies to the following:
- The goods originated from.
- Items are being sent from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- They are headed for the EU.
- Products are made in the EU.
- The goods are eligible for preferential treatment.
- Customs declarations the carrier will complete.
- VAT and import duty are payable.
As we have seen, the Windsor Framework has simplified some of these questions, but goods destined for the EU aren’t automatically exempt from import VAT and duties just because they pass through Belfast.
How to shop from the UK most effectively
Whether you need a UK shipping address for eu residents or otherwise, take some simple advice:
- Consider the price difference between the item in the UK and the final shipped to and paid for eu cost
- Use the UK delivery address when you purchase from a retailer that can’t deliver to the EU directly
- Ship a number of compatible products through your UK forwarding address to benefit from consolidation
- Check the VAT, import duty and restrictions on what you buy and choose the best forwarding route for each parcel
This will ensure you’re paying the full cost of a product without becoming distracted by getting a cheap purchase that doesn’t work out to be so cheap once it is shipped to your door!
For many, the main savings offered by Parcel Flow uk is control over the shipping process.
You decide when your order ships, whether your parcels are consolidated and which international courier you want to use to send the goods.
Conclusion
UK parcel forwarding will not deliver you out of paying your EU import VAT and customs duty obligations. But it can help you to reduce the cost by choosing the best route, consolidating parcels wherever practical and understanding the applicable VAT and customs rules before they apply. If you need a uk shipping address for eu residents, get in touch to see how Parcel Flow can help you make your next UK purchase easier to manage with our free UK address.
