[woodcote]

Found a couple of cars I'd been after for ages on 'special offer' from a vendor in Australia...

Made the purchase 5 April... no extra VAT demanded at checkout...

The cars were posted via Australia Post 'Tracked Airmail under 2kg' on 6 April - and I received a notification email from Australia Post...

8 April - notified by Royal Mail (email and SMS) that a package was on its way from Slot Shop in Australia...

21 April, 3:56pm - email from Australia Post entitled 'Your delivery has landed', with the blurb "Once it’s cleared customs (if required), it’ll be on board with the local carrier. We’ll send one more notification when the delivery has been made."

21 April, 7:37pm - email and SMS from Royal Mail to say said parcel had cleared customs and entering the Royal Mail network for delivery...

22 April, 8:45am - parcel delivered (and nice chat with the postman about the cat, the weather and Australia). Emails and SMS received from Royal Mail and Australia Post confirming delivery.

So that was quicker delivery from Australia than continental Europe at the moment. No VAT, no import charges - despite the cars being valued clearly on the CN23 customs form at £70 the pair and postage taking that up another £20.

I have never (so far) been charged any VAT or important charges on purchases from former colonies where Queen Elizabeth II is still head of state. Is that the logic behind HMRC charges, I wonder?