Revenue seized a package my mother sent me, with no clear explanation why nor warnings or known reasons.

20 comments

1. Have you googled section125 of the Finance Act 2001 to see what thats all about? Or section142 etc?

2. https://www.anpost.com/Post-Parcels/Sending/Sending-Guide/Prohibited-Items

   Liquids of any kind including water, alcohol, gels, creams, aftershaves and perfumes

3. I recon read that letter again, slowly.

   It says quite clearly on the first page why it was seized. I wouldn’t be up to date on the Finance Act 2001 but a quick Google would tell me what section 125 is. (It’s tax, I can see that from the letter).

   > forfeiture under the law relating to excise.

   So their terms is you pay tax.

4. Basically they are saying they don’t think tax was paid on the alcohol so they seized the goods.

   I suppose you have to get the receipt from your mother. Contact them and ask how to proceed. Don’t just send the original receipt to them cause it will just get “lost”.

   Edit: according to the law they only have to notify you that they seized the items. In the future don’t send alcohol through the mail. You could get away with one bottle…but 4.5 litres of wine makes them suspicious

5. Read it again seriously

6. [deleted]

7. >with no clear explanation why nor warnings or known reasons.

   Except on the very first line.

8. That wine has been opened & tested for drugs.

9. Postal importation of alcohol has different rules compared to bringing it back from holidays, etc.

   In this case, Excuse duty is payable if alcohol is coming in from another EU country and _must be paid prior to the item being posted_.

   If Customs detect the importation, it is normally confiscated. Getting your booze back is not just a matter of paying the required Duty. You will need to contest the case first to see if they’ll accept the late payment.

10. You are not a licensed importer and didn’t notify Revenue to pay Duty and VAT. The letter is much shorter than the one I’ve received in the past

    Duty free limits only apply when being bought in person

11. A gift has to be sent directly from the sender to the recipient and it has to be marked as a gift, the total value of the contents,postage, packaging and insurance has to be under £39/€45 or you have to pay tax and duty to receive it.

12. You need to pay duties and taxes, then they release it. Contact the number on the letter.

13. You gonna get the chair for this one boy

14. > or it’s actually a government thing and they’re an overreaching and grossly incompetent institution.

    Yes. Its the tax office. What do you expect? Them to be reasonable?

    > Send warnings, reason, anything before seizing goods maybe?

    Unfortunately they seize virtually any amount of alcohol coming from anywhere (including EU) to claim the excise duty (import tax) on it.

    Sending it by post / courier / whatever is different to “bringing it yourself in person”.

    The letter you got is your warning.

    You can pay the fees and they might release it.

15. 

16. You can’t post alcohol or tobacco to another country

17. You have to pay tax when importing wine

    Tax free allowance only applies for when you personally bring it back with you

    There is no longer any tax free allowance for VAT as of June

18. OP getting downvoted but I have to agree with the sentiment, paying import tax on <5 litres of wine from another European country is bogus

19. Do you struggle with literacy….?

20. You’re a moron