Before COVID, my wife and I went abroad as many as seven or eight times a year. Arriving back in Cayman we were each allowed to bring back hundreds of dollars worth of goods duty free.
I used to think at the time that this seemed so unfair on a person who did not travel and received an item by post and so had to pay duty on it.
Now having been on island for over two years, I was sent, as a birthday present, a much-needed pair of sandals from the UK. My daughter paid the postage, which was more than the cost of the sandals, to the British Royal Mail.
When I went to the Airport Post Office I discovered that not only did I have to pay 22% duty on the cost of the sandals but also I had to pay 22% duty on the postage my daughter had paid.
I still think that is unfair to make those who do not leave the island pay duty while others can bring back goods duty free.
But what I think is totally unjust is to charge any duty at all on what has been paid by the sender in a foreign country. What has this to do with Cayman? Will duty be chargeable next on the packaging etc.?
Can anyone possibly explain why one should have to pay duty on what it has cost to send an item?
George Tustin
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There would be merit in eliminating duty on imported items for personal use below a certain value; perhaps $100.
A couple of years ago I received a notice to collect an item at the airport post office and pay duty on it. The item in question was a birthday card for which the sender had declared the cost, £5, about $6.
I had to pay the duty of $1.70 before being given my birthday card.
How is this cost effective for anyone?