Freelance Copy Strategists in LondonFreelance Copy Strategists in London
ProjectsPeople
Alexander Skeith's avatar
Alexander Skeith
London, UK
Award-winning copywriter and brand voice strategist.
5.0
Rating
27
Followers
Award-winning copywriter and brand voice strategist.
Cover image for Monese: Building a Brand with Data-driven Marketing Strategy
Monese: Building a Brand with Data-driven Marketing Strategy
0
24
Cover image for Hotel Chocolat Tone of Voice Development
Hotel Chocolat Tone of Voice Development
0
7
Cover image for Brand Messaging and Strategy for Feel
Brand Messaging and Strategy for Feel
1
16
Cover image for Sample long-form writing on custom
Sample long-form writing on custom duty, import taxes and VAT <Title Tag> Custom duty and Import tax: Everything you need to know <meta description> Get the full low-down on custom duty and import tax, and find out the easiest way to reclaim these funds on purchases you’re returning to the EU. <Intro body> Custom duty and import tax is a topic that can make even the most experienced online shoppers more than a little nervous. The good news is that once you understand how they work, they’re not nearly as scary as they might seem. And, you’ll be better equipped to pursue a refund whenever you happen to return an online purchase that’s come from overseas. Here’s a quick rundown on everything you need to know about the finer details of custom duty and import tax. <H1> What’s the difference between custom duty and import tax? <body> It’s the job of customs authorities to collect duties and taxes on goods coming into and out of a country. But, when it comes to shipping, the words 'duties' and 'taxes' are very often perceived to mean the same thing. This isn’t actually the case at all. When we say ‘duties’, we’re referring to customs duties or custom charges, which are taxes that are applied to cross-border goods which are collected by customs authorities both to generate revenue and protect local industries. These duties can come in a variety of forms ranging from trade tariffs to excise duties. Crucially, most duties are paid by the importer, with the exception of export duties which are paid by the exporter. Import taxes on the other hand, are fees applied by the government on purchased items coming into a country. These taxes can go by different names in different localities — including value-added tax (VAT), sales tax, and goods and services tax (GST) — but they’re essentially the same thing. Tax rates can vary from 0% to 20% or even higher depending on both the country and product. In almost all cases import taxes are paid for by the importer and are placed on almost all purchases arriving from overseas. You’re likely already very familiar with value-added tax, which is more commonly known as VAT. This is an import tax that works as a kind of consumption charge on goods or services. It plays an important role in business and can be charged on a range of items. VAT is a tax which is ultimately paid by you, the customer, instead of working as a tax on individual businesses. <H2> When are custom duty and import tax applied? <body> You’ll be charged custom duty on all goods worth more than £135 (and all excise goods) that are being sent from outside the UK (or the UK and the EU if you’re in Northern Ireland). In these cases, you’ll need to pay custom duty on both the purchase price of the goods, as well as on postage, packaging and insurance. When it comes to gifts, you’ll generally need to pay 2.5% on goods above £135 and up to £630. Rates tend to vary for gifts over £630.  Special rules apply to excise goods  — which can be summarised as wine and other exciting intermediate products (like sherry, port and other spirits), tobacco, and mineral oil (such as petrol or diesel oil). Excise duty is applied to all of these items regardless of their purchase cost. <H3> What are custom duty and import tax based on? <body> So, what factors inform the rates being applied to your latest online purchase from overseas? In the UK, import tax and custom duty amounts applicable to a shipment are determined by a number of factors including the HS code (which classifies the type of product), the goods description on the commercial invoice (which includes the product's end-use), as well as the value of the goods (including freight and insurance fees) help customs to determine the custom duty and import tax and to clear your shipment. International trade agreements between certain countries can also have a bearing on the amount import taxes applied to a shipment. Wherever you need to settle these charges you’ll be contacted by Royal Mail, Parcelforce or the courier company and they’ll send you a bill stating exactly what fees you need to pay. They’ll normally hold your parcel for about 3 weeks and, if you haven’t paid the bill by then, your parcel will be returned to the sender. In the past, even calculating the amount you need to pay on custom duty has proved a little taxing (pun intended). This has involved determining the duty percentage rate on the goods being shipped (a rate that varies depending on the country the item is being shipped to). These can be found by visiting the customs or trade tariff page on the government website of the destination country. Then it’s a case of adding up the value of the goods, plus freight costs, insurance and any additional costs, then multiplying the total by the duty rate.  Similarly, calculating import tax has traditionally required a bit of number crunching. This has involved finding out the sales tax (VAT) rates of the country the item is being shipped to. For example, the UK has three VAT rates: 0%, 5% and 20%, which is the standard rate for most goods and services. So if the shipment is a men’s sweater, the rate is 20% because clothing for adults falls under this standard VAT rate. Once the VAT on a shipment has been calculated, customers have then had to add up the goods value, freight costs, insurance, and import duty, and then multiply the total by the destination country's applicable VAT rate. Thankfully, we’ve managed to do away with a lot of this heavy lifting. By simply accessing our handy calculator (https://dutyrefunds.co.uk/import-duty-calculator/#calculator) and entering in your purchase price, item description and courier, you’ll be able to find out what custom duty or import tax is set to be applied to your shipped items. <Header> Claiming a refund on custom duty or import tax <body> Historically, customers have had to jump through a lot of hoops to get refunded for custom duty and import tax on returned items. The method of claiming repayment has typically depended on how the initial customs declaration was made. If it was dealt with by the Customs Handling of Import Excise Freight (CHIEF) system, customers are still able to claim repayment online — provided you have a Government Gateway number and are already registered for the service. If the custom declaration was made via the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), customers are able to submit a claim using the CDS version of Form C285. In both these cases you’ll need a whole list of items to tick off including the sales invoice, the packing list, the amount of import taxes paid, and your bank details if the refund is to be paid directly. But did you know, there’s an easier way? If you’ve returned goods purchased from within the EU in the last 365 days, Duty Refunds provides you with a quick and easy solution. In fact, we’re now known as the UK’s leading import VAT and duty specialist. Whether you need to reclaim customs charges (https://dutyrefunds.co.uk/reclaim-customs-charges/), get a customs duty refund (https://dutyrefunds.co.uk/reclaim-customs-charges/customs-duty-refund/) or import VAT Refund (https://dutyrefunds.co.uk/reclaim-customs-charges/import-vat-refund/), we’ve made the process as frictionless as possible.
1
4
Copy Strategist(3)
Mark Reid-Williams's avatar
Mark Reid-Williams
proLondon, UK
Helping founders turn ideas into websites, content & courses
6
Followers
Helping founders turn ideas into websites, content & courses
Cover image for Know Thyself, Grow Thy Wealth DISC Assessment – Content Cour...
Know Thyself, Grow Thy Wealth DISC Assessment – Content Course for Self-Discovery - This project is a self-discovery content course built around the DISC personality framework, designed to help individuals better understand how they think, decide, communicate, and approach money. The core belief behind the course is simple: sustainable growth, personally or financially, starts with self-awareness. The content is structured as an accessible learning journey, removing complexity and jargon while still delivering depth. DISC concepts are explained in plain language and connected to real-world scenarios such as work style, decision-making, risk tolerance, communication, and financial habits. The course is intentionally reflective rather than prescriptive, encouraging participants to observe themselves before attempting change.
1
16
211
Cover image for Self-Awareness Before Scale – Business
Self-Awareness Before Scale – Business Intelligence Starts With You. This project showcases Module 1.2 from our Know Thyself, Grow Thy Wealth course and learning series. It's a foundational lesson on self-awareness as a business skill, delivered as a polished video slide deck. In this module my wife Christine Reid-Williams explores how self-awareness shapes: - Leadership behaviour - Decision-making under pressure -Blind spots that quietly limit growth -Alignment between personal values and business direction. Designed as an accessible entry point into the wider course, this lesson helps business owners move from reactive decision-making to intentional leadership, setting the tone for everything that follows. Designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery through videos, powerpoints, workbooks and DISC assessment.
1
148
Cover image for Self-Awareness Before Scale – Business Intelligence Starts W...
Self-Awareness Before Scale – Business Intelligence Starts With You. This project showcases Module 1.1 from our Know Thyself, Grow Thy Wealth course and learning series. It's a foundational lesson on self-awareness as a business skill, delivered as a polished video slide deck. In this module my wife Christine Reid-Williams explores how self-awareness shapes: - Leadership behaviour - Decision-making under pressure -Blind spots that quietly limit growth -Alignment between personal values and business direction. Designed as an accessible entry point into the wider course, this lesson helps business owners move from reactive decision-making to intentional leadership, setting the tone for everything that follows. Designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery through videos, powerpoints, workbooks and DISC assessment.
0
137
Cover image for Dynamic Website Experience – Zion Hill Outdoor Spaces This p...
Dynamic Website Experience – Zion Hill Outdoor Spaces This project showcases a fully responsive, dynamic website built for Zion Hill Outdoor Spaces, demonstrating how a single website can adapt seamlessly across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. The video walkthrough highlights how dynamic design allows layouts, imagery, and content to naturally reflow across screen sizes — maintaining clarity, balance, and visual impact on every device. Real user-generated content from completed landscaping projects is blended with seasonal visuals throughout the site, during the day, at night, or across different seasons. This approach removes the need for multiple site versions and ensures the business is represented professionally wherever and however potential customers choose to browse.
26
345
Copy Strategist(1)
Sai Chauhan's avatar
Sai Chauhan
London, UK
Digital Marketing Magician | SocialMedia | Copywriting | SEO
Digital Marketing Magician | SocialMedia | Copywriting | SEO
Cover image for Landing and Opt-in Pages
Landing and Opt-in Pages
0
10
Cover image for E-mail Marketing
E-mail Marketing
0
4
Cover image for CopyWriter for Personal Brand
CopyWriter for Personal Brand
0
5
Placeholder project card media
View more →
Copy Strategist(1)
Joe Kirk's avatar
Joe Kirk
London, UK
Digital Designer
12
Followers
Digital Designer
Cover image for Cutbox
Cutbox
1
0
Cover image for Created DJ turntables for your phone using your music librar...
Created DJ turntables for your phone using your music library aiming to make djing more accessible and to not fork out hundred for some new turntables, mix your favourite tracks and browse your collection based off of vinyl records, save and create your next creation blended between 2 of your favourite songs! 💿 💿 Video made in Jitter😉
33
102
1.2K
Cover image for Degen Distillery
Degen Distillery
1
3
Cover image for Playing around with this big red button😳 Press it and it wi...
Playing around with this big red button😳 Press it and it will clear you phone completely or if you don’t want anyone to see anything on your phone👀 press it, you can also set it to clear your phone for a certain amount of time so if you find your self in a doom scroll on reels press it and save yourself!
0
85
Copy Strategist(1)
Ben Hayes's avatar
Ben Hayes
London, UK
Freelance copywriter for brand, messaging, tone & campaigns.
Freelance copywriter for brand, messaging, tone & campaigns.
Cover image for Brand / Messaging / Tone / Creative Campaigns
Brand / Messaging / Tone / Creative Campaigns
0
3
Cover image for Brand Positioning for Mamula Island Hotel
Brand Positioning for Mamula Island Hotel
0
4
Cover image for Verbal Identity Rebrand for The July
Verbal Identity Rebrand for The July
0
4
Placeholder project card media
View more →
Copy Strategist(1)