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Packages sent between Britain and Spain may be subject to additional taxes and charges
Christmas is just around the corner and many British expats living in Spain will be thinking about sending home a card or a gift this festive season. The Spanish postal system isn’t without it challenges, and horror stories abound about parcels sitting in depots for weeks on end, and on rare occasions not turning up at all.
Since the UK is now outside of the EU, things have become a little more complicated, and it’s best to be aware of the possible charges you could incur, both through sending packages from Britain to Spain, and vice versa, to avoid any nasty surprises.
Posting items from the UK to Spain
When sending documents, cards or gifts from the United Kingdom, customers will have to complete a customs declaration form explaining exactly what is in the package and how much it’s worth. Generally speaking, for private individuals (as opposed to businesses), any mail with a value of less than 45 euros should be exempt from IVA (VAT) and import charges.
Certain items, like food, beverages and cosmetics fall outside of this rule, and may incur separate charges.
On the other hand, if the post you receive in Spain is valued above 45 euros then you will almost certainly be charged.
Now, this may appear straightforward at first glance, but countless Brits have been outraged at having to pay to receive delivery of items obviously below the 45-euro threshold.
“I have been charged by Correos more than the value on packages twice so told all my family and friends not to bother,” one irritated Facebook user wrote.
“Well reality is very different from this, I’ve been charged by Correos and UPS, value way under €45,” another added.
The most common thread is that people are being charged a few euros regardless of the value of the item, which would appear to be a handling fee. On the other hand, several customers have praised the efficiency of the postal service in Spain and admitted to receiving packages without having to pay a cent.
“Must be a parallel universe. We have received numerous documents/parcels/cards and as yet charged nowt,” another social media member confirmed.
Full details on all taxes and charges applicable when sending post from the UK to Spain can be found here on the Correos website.
Posting items from Spain to the UK
All mail arriving into the UK from another country will be checked by the Border Force and may be subject to customs charges depending on the contents of the package, where it came from and whether it’s been sent by a private citizen or company. Again, letters, postcards and documents are usually exempt from any fees.
If the item you are receiving from Spain is valued above 45 euros, you will most likely have to pay VAT and duties to the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), but it’s best to check with Correos in Spain and Royal Mail in the UK ahead of time to be sure.
Image: Pixabay
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