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When is VAT payable on pets entering Great Britain?
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Helpful information/
Surprisingly few places you can find it!
Oh, wow. This sounds very complicated – and not at all what Brexit believers were led to believe. Hopefully things will smooth out.
Safe travels when you get moving.
Spot on Sheila!
I was so proud of my pet passport, but now it’s just a piece of paper (sigh).
If you ever go travelling again, get one made up in Europe and then things are a lot easier…
I figured there would be a chance in protocol just to make things that bit more difficult but I had no idea about VAT or ToR. Customs clearance is one thing but it seems ludicrous (to me) to have VAT charged on a pet coming in. This is really helpful information here and you’ve made is far easier to understand than the government does! xx
Mmm, and this is the tip of the iceberg that is the Brexit shambles. So many people asking about it that it made sense to get it all together in one place.
I’m back because there’s something I just can’t get out of my mind. It makes me sad that companion animals are classified as “personal effects”. 🙁
Isn’t it sad 🙁
It sounds like you’ve worked miracles to get this all sorted out in time and that you can continue. I had an audition with Paris Opera and spent ages preparing for it and looking forward to it, these opportunities don’t come up very often. I took my covid test In London it was negative but the French banned none essential travel and opera singing isn’t essential so I couldn’t travel.
Oh no! We heard about an opera singer being prevented from attending an audition in Paris — it must have been you 🙁 Really feel for you. It’s an ever changing situation. You think you’ve got everything covered and then someone decides to interpret the rules differently…
I adopted my dog from Poland and he arrived a few days ago. It’s a rescue so cost me nothing but we had to enter amount above zero on for customs MRN number. We put 50 zlotys which is around £10. How do I pay VAT now? Is someone going to contact me now?
HMRC has got all the details as I had to apply for IPAFFS on a government website.
You’re lucky. Until 1st of July there is a ‘stay of execution’ — nobody is collecting VAT at the Border. It will all change as of 1 July…
What does Customs Clearance involve? Once you arrive into the U.K does the vehicle/animals on board have to be inspected by Customs?
Currently the border between the UK and Calais does not have a Customs Post, even though it is a Border Control Post, as they are not ready. So a ‘stay’ until 1st July has been agreed while both sides of the Channel are reorganised to deal with the paperwork.
After 1st July, we believe, we as a shipper, will need to invoice our clients for their customs and VAT if they are not able to show they have already paid for it elsewhere.
On arrival into the UK we will go to an office to release the Customs obligation and pay any dues.
Hi, I am a bit confused, does this means that if you buy a puppy abroad and bring it before 1st of July you do not have to pay VAT at all or just at the Border control post? Many thanks
VAT liability is solely the responsibility of the purchaser. From July 1st, we, as a company will have to show that VAT has been paid before we will be allowed into the country.
I have purchased the dog in Poland for 1700 Euro. Will I have to pay VAT now or later in case if I travel to EU and back? Do I have to do something, register my puppy? I hale all the required vaccinations, chips and passport. Please advise, thank you.
Please do read the information we have provided and if you find you have more questions, do contact HMRC for further information.
I hale called HM Revenue and received an information that one the dog arrives with an ower there is no VAT to pay.
Thanks for this clarification. I contacted HM Revenua and customs a week ago and so far no response.
How does all of this apply to rabbits?
Its always about cats, dogs and ferrets :’(
That’s because there is no VAT element for rabbits!
Hi, would you be able to do a detailed ‘case study’ example of an EU-bought pedigree puppy coming to the UK, please? An up-to-date, step-by-step idiot’s guide kind of thing? I’m determined to import a Broholmer pup (Danish Mastiff) – probably from Denmark, Poland or Hungary. It’s Sod’s Law that this breed is so perfect for me but isn’t bred in the UK at all due to not being recognised by the UK Kennel Club. It would be immensely useful to know all the ins and outs, including all the expected costs.
We would love to do just that. The rules change regularly and there has been a recent sea change in thinking. Please do send an email to ask@animalcouriers.com with the details of your needs and we’ll put together an idea of how it works at the moment. All the best, Animalcouriers