Customs duties on postal deliveries explained Published July 21, 2010 100th Air Refueling Wing Legal Office RAF MILDENHALL, England -- If you are here as part of the Visiting Force, military or civilian, you have an APO Post office box. This APO address allows you to receive mail, to include packages, from the United States as if it were an actual United States address. On the off chance a package is delivered to your British address, you will find enclosed a demand from Her Majesties Revenue and Customs for payment of import duties. HM Revenue and Customs have no way of knowing if the recipient, is exempt from those duties. If that happens, there is a solution. You can complete a Customs Declaration C2, a declaration that the goods are "personal goods imported by a member of the Visiting Forces." Thats should allow the delivery of the goods without payment. The forms should be available from the organization delivering the package, but if not, they are available at the base legal office. The solution is not to be treated as a gateway to having goods delivered to your British address. Any packages should still be sent direct to your APO box. Please be aware that only entitled personnel may make such a declaration. Retirees do not qualify. You should also be aware that any false declaration is subject to criminal consequences. If you have questions regarding this or any other legal issue, please contact the legal office.