12% of Overseas Gifts Could Miss Christmas Day. How Can You Avoid Customs Delays?
Last Christmas, failure to give enough information about parcels sent beyond the EU caused an average delay of over 11 days at Customs. International courier ParcelHero comes to the rescue.
The global courier ParcelHero says that 12% of all gifts shipped beyond the EU missed arriving in time for Christmas last year, simply because they had been sent too late or were not properly described in the Custom’s invoice form. Says ParcelHero’s Head of Public Relations David Jinks MILT: ‘No one wants their presents to arrive late for Christmas. By taking just a few easy precautions, senders can ensure that their gifts to friends and family overseas are sitting safely under the tree, and not in a Customs warehouse, on Christmas day.’
Explains David: ‘It’s really important to declare the contents and value of each item inside a parcel on the Custom’s invoice, so that Custom’s Officers don’t have to open the parcel, which causes delays. In all, our research reveals a huge 49% of gifts were held-up at Customs last Christmas. It’s always nice to give someone a surprise gift, but when sending presents outside the EU be sure to specify what is inside on all documentation. On average parcels labelled simply ‘gift’ or ‘present’ were held 20% longer in Customs last Christmas. This is why ParcelHero has launched a new stress-busting Christmas overseas mailing page to help people avoid these pointless delays by knowing the final safe deadline for mailing gifts, and giving a guide to import duty and tax exemptions limits on gifts – which vary from country to country.’
David adds: ‘As a nation we spend a lot of money on the presents we send abroad: the average value for a gift parcel delivered through ParcelHero overseas last Christmas was £109. That shows how much we care about loved ones overseas. But that does mean we ought to put a little bit of that care into ensuring that the presents arrive on time.’
David says: Roger says: ‘Shipping beyond the EU, senders must be aware that they may have to pay import duty and tax, even on gifts. Different countries will decide their own levels of import duties and taxes. However, there are many counties that have quite generous exemption levels on gifts, or have quite a high value threshold before duties and taxes are imposed. Australia won’t charge duties or taxes on any goods below 1000 Australian Dollars – around £480, and the US won’t impose charges on gifts below $100 US Dollars, around £65. But India imposes these on any gift above just 1000 Rupees, around £10; and South Africa above 400 Rand, around £18.’
Continues David: ‘Of course, ParcelHero actively tracks parcels and intervenes on the sender’s behalf, but any Customs delay is concerning at this time of year, especially if it is avoidable. There are some destinations that are known to experience regular delays and senders need to allow extra time and take care to fully describe items. For example 85% of all shipments to China and 78% to South Africa are four or more days late. Knowing the correct mailing dates and gift duty exemption limits will help ensure your parcel doesn’t become a part of these statistics.’
Adds David: ‘It’s also important to remember that any extra duties to be paid will have to be by the receiver, and that also means they will be told what the item is, spoiling the surprise. Paying all duties in advance might be the safest choice; an option that is available through ParcelHero.’
David concludes: ‘There are three simple steps for ensuring simple deliveries:
1. Check the item you are sending is allowed into the country – for example some countries have strict alcohol regulations
2. Check you can send the gift via a courier – for example most couriers have rules surrounding perishable food shipments
3. Look up the value threshold of gifts
‘Sending parcels abroad isn’t a minefield, but it can be confusing for people who only send items once a year. That’s why we have launched our new Christmas page with last mailing dates and gift duty exemption limits for non EU countries - to take all the stress out of sending presents overseas. Our Christmas page even includes last order dates for Christmas from retail stores, from Argos to Harrods!’
https://www.parcelhero.com/blog/e-tail/how-brits-spread-joy-to-each-other-and-the-world
For more information please contact David Jinks, Head of PR, on david@parcelhero.com or by phone on 0208 7584962 (07772 055748 out of office hours)
Leading international online courier ParcelHero® strategically partners with the world's leading logistics companies, including DHL, UPS and DPD, to provide a flexible, cost-effective range of parcel delivery services to over 220 countries worldwide. Huge bulk purchasing power allows ParcelHero® to offer highly competitive pricing with no compromise in service quality.
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