UK Imports & Disbursement Fees

Import shipments are subject to customs duties and taxes. In the event carriers prepays duties, taxes and other government charges on behalf of the payer, a fee will be charged based on the advanced amount.

World Options Disbursement Fees

World Options also charge a disbursement fee to the customer, on top of the disbursement fee charged by the carrier. World Options disbursement fees are based on the amount of duty and tax payable, if the total is below £100 then the disbursement fee is £5 and anything above £100 the disbursement fee is £10. Duty and Taxes invoices must be paid upon receipt and within 7 days of the dated invoice or the World Options account will go on stop. 

When a Customer books an import in to the UK using the World Options portal there duties and Taxes can be expected to be paid in the following methods

1. if the Customer has a direct account with the carrier , then the Customer will get charge the Duties and Taxes on their  direct account
2. If the Customer does not have a direct account with the carrier then the Customs agent can contact the receiver to collect payments (or request World Options to pay the duties and taxes)
3. If the Customer does not have a direct account, World Options can pay the duties and taxes if requested once the shipment is collected. 

One of the benefits the Customer has with having a direct account (for paying Duties and Taxes only) with the carrier is that delivery from a carrier can continue moving instead of  being stopped when there is a customs fee to be paid. In this situation World Option can be used for booking the import and Carrier account can be used for paying Duties and Taxes (and the World Options disbursement fee would not be paid on top of the Carrier disbursement fee).

Things to note: 

• Duty and Taxes invoices do not have the same payment terms set against the Customers account. 
• The receiver will still need to clear the goods even if World Options organized the duties and taxes. This may cause some delays if the carrier cannot contact the receiver.