Well the bill for the VAT is £20,820. I believe the retail value of the equipment was given as approx $170k. Is there some kind of limit for how much a donation can be worth?
Cheers, Emma On 20 January 2014 13:47, Neil J. McRae <[email protected]> wrote: > All of that is largely irrelevant unfortunately. > > What was the declared value of the equipment when posted? > > Neil > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On 20 Jan 2014, at 13:41, "Emma Frost" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Hello all, > > > > So I have a strange question but am hopeful that someone on here might > be able to help... > > > > We (as in the Internet Society) are trying to donate some routers to > ASREN and WACREN (research education networks for the Arab States and West > and Central Africa). > > > > The routers were donated to us by one of our Organisation Members in the > US. The first PoP is going in at London so we shipped the equipment to the > UK from the US, before this we received clearance from the US Dept of > Commerce (no licenses needed), but now the equipment is sitting in customs > in the UK. > > > > UK customs have said that unless ASREN and WACREN pay VAT for the > equipment or present a VAT exempt certificate the routers will be sent back > to the US. > > > > The data centre involved has suggested that we pay the VAT and use an > organisation to reclaim the VAT, that organisation then takes 27% of the > money for their fees - so that's not a possibility for us. > > > > So we're sort of at an impasse now and don't know how to help get the > equipment released and I guess I was hoping there might be someone on here > who has experienced anything similar to this and could offer some advice? > > > > To conclude the equipment is donated, for non commercial use and is > being donated to not-for-profit organisations. There should be a solution! > > > > Oh and we have until Friday. So any help much appreciated! > > > > Cheers, > > Emma > > >
