Balikbayan Box to Phils (pls help)

[Le'em]

Not only an it be expensive to send by Royal Mail, DHL, UPS etc, etc, there will also be expensive customs and VAT charges when they arrive at the destination. If the person who you send the parcel to cannot afford the charges, then you will have to pay them or the parcel will be sent back to you. The charges I had when I sent a parcel recently came to about 30% of the value of the items, so that with the cost of the courier came to just over 60% of the value of the items, but I have heard of people that have had charges that were more than the items that they sent were worth!

hi, thanks for the information..what courier your using when you had to pay VAT?

[South-east boy]

hi, thanks for the information..what courier your using when you had to pay VAT?

It was DHL and it was in Cebu that it arrived. They even charge you VAT on what you paid for the courier cost on top as well!

[Pacita]

Balikbayan boxes are usually VAT Free. Just don't send too many items of the same kind as it will be treated commercial. Quantities over a dozen attracts VAT.
Not all boxes in the container are inspected though. Usually, random inspection of 3 or more boxes per container happens. But they will be sealed again infront of the broker. Let your forwarder know if you're in doubt if the contents of your boxes are taxable or not. Regards to all

[sars_notd_virus]

Hello Pacita do you also accept Balikbayan boxes from Philippines to Uk? thanks