The Tariff for import duties is huge so really you need to contact Customs and Excise. Alot of things can be zero rated but other items surprisingly can be 12% or thereabouts. As for values of goods anything of a value over £18 is liable for duties/VAT if applicable.
The perfume I wear is impossible to find here anymore so I order it online from San Francisco - I've never been charged any tax/duty and it's well over £18.
The perfume I wear is impossible to find here anymore so I order it online from San Francisco - I've never been charged any tax/duty and it's well over £18.
It all depends how much the company value the package at. I've ordered artwork before and the company who sent it to me stuck a $50 value on the customs declaration, despite the total I paid being over $500.
Also, it depends by which method the item(s) is/are posted. Typically, items sent by a service such as DHL or FedEx are more likely to be picked up at customs - in these cases you will receive a bill through the post a couple of weeks after the item is delivered. Items which are relatively small and sent via USPS go in to the hands of the Royal Mail - and these are more likely to avoid the import duties.