Returning goods to the UK (Amazon) — how to do it from Poland in 2026

Step 1 — initiating the return in your Amazon.co.uk account

You always start a return from your Amazon account — not by sending a parcel. If you send the parcel without first having the return approved in the Amazon system, the seller may refuse to accept it or Amazon may not be able to match the shipment to your order. The procedure for initiating a return is the same regardless of whether you live in the UK, in Poland, or in another EU country.

How to initiate a return through your Amazon UK account

Steps: (1) Log in to amazon.co.uk. (2) Go to Returns & Orders → Return or Replace Items. (3) Select the order and the product you wish to return. (4) Select the reason for the return (e.g. "not as described", "no longer needed", "defective"). (5) Amazon will show you the return options — if the seller handles international returns, you will receive a prepaid return label or shipping instructions.

Important: not every seller on Amazon UK accepts international returns from Poland. Check the seller's policy or contact them through Amazon messages before packing the shipment. If sold directly by Amazon (Fulfilled by Amazon / Sold by Amazon), a return from Poland is generally accepted.

Once the return is approved, Amazon will indicate whether the seller covers the return shipping cost (prepaid label) or whether you pay yourself. For international returns you often have to pay for shipping — and only receive a refund of the goods price once Amazon has received the return.

Return deadline and consumer rights — what UK law says

Amazon.co.uk applies a 30-day return policy for most products. Separately from Amazon's policy, as a consumer buying from a UK seller you have rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 — the right to return a faulty product within 30 days of purchase, and in some cases even longer.

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 is the legal foundation for your consumer rights against the UK seller. If the seller refuses to accept a faulty product, you can invoke this Act. Details: legislation.gov.uk — Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Note: UK law governs the transaction between you and the seller. It does not govern the customs formalities for sending a return parcel from Poland to the UK — that is a separate matter.

Step 2 — sending the return parcel from Poland to the UK (customs formalities)

When you send a parcel from Poland to the UK as a return to the seller, you are technically making an export from the EU to a third country. This means the parcel must be correctly labelled on the outside and, above certain value thresholds, you may be required to file an export customs declaration. Below we explain exactly what you need to do.

How to correctly label a return parcel to the UK

The return parcel to the UK should show: (1) Your sender's address (your details in Poland). (2) The recipient's address (Amazon or the seller in the UK — as provided by Amazon). (3) A description of the contents in English (e.g. "Return — defective goods" or "Commercial goods return"). (4) The goods value — enter the actual purchase price, not "0" or "gift". Understating the value on an export parcel is just as illegal as understating it on import. (5) The Amazon order number — this helps the seller identify the shipment.

You send the parcel from Poland through any courier operating on UK routes: DHL, DPD, UPS, or Poczta Polska (EMS). The courier will normally ask for the goods value and help complete the CN23 customs form — required for parcels from outside the EU with a value above 300 SDR (approximately EUR 380). For lower-value shipments, form CN22 is sufficient.

Export customs declaration — is it required and how to file it

When exporting goods from Poland (the EU) to the UK, if the parcel value exceeds EUR 1,000 or the weight exceeds 1,000 kg, a full export customs declaration in the AES/PUESC system is required. For most consumer returns the value is lower and a simplified declaration (CN22 or CN23) attached to the parcel by the courier is sufficient.

In practice: once you have sent the parcel through DHL or UPS, the courier handles the export formalities on your behalf. You fill in a form on the courier's website or at the drop-off point. The courier generates a tracking number and the associated export documents. The cost of sending a parcel to the UK through DHL, UPS, or DPD in Poland is typically PLN 50–150 for a parcel up to 5 kg, depending on the courier and the service chosen. This is not a customs broker service — couriers handle this export independently.

Returned Goods Relief (RGR) — does the seller pay duty when receiving the return?

When your parcel reaches the UK, the seller can use the Returned Goods Relief (RGR) procedure — an exemption from duty for goods returned to the UK that were previously exported from that country. RGR applies to the seller (the importer on the UK side), not to you as the consumer sending the return. RGR conditions: the goods have returned to the UK unchanged, are documented as re-exported goods, and return to the original exporter within three years. Details: GOV.UK — Returned Goods Relief.

As a consumer you do not need to worry about RGR — that is the seller's concern. Your interests are: (a) correct labelling of the parcel; (b) proof of dispatch and parcel tracking; (c) contacting Amazon after the seller has received the return to obtain your refund.

Recovering duty and VAT paid on the original purchase — can you get it back?

When you bought the goods on Amazon UK, you paid import duty and VAT on receipt (collected by the courier). If you are returning the goods, you have the right to also claim back these charges — but the procedure is not automatic and depends on how the original customs clearance was conducted. Below we explain how to do it.

Recovering duty and VAT through the courier after returning the goods

If you paid duty and VAT to the courier (DHL, UPS) on delivery — contact the courier once Amazon has confirmed receipt of the return. Provide: the return confirmation from Amazon, proof of payment of duty/VAT (courier receipt or invoice), and proof that the return parcel was dispatched. As a customs representative, the courier can submit a refund application on your behalf. Deadline for submitting the application: up to three years from the date of duty payment (Article 121 of the Union Customs Code).

In practice: some couriers handle these applications efficiently — others require persistence. If the courier refuses to help, you can file the application yourself through the PUESC portal, specifying the customs decision and the proof of re-export. Keep all documents — the courier receipt, the Amazon return confirmation, and the proof of dispatch of the return parcel.

Will Amazon refund the full amount — including duty and VAT?

Amazon's standard position is to refund the price of the goods and the original delivery cost if you return within the deadline. However, the import duty and VAT that you paid to the courier are not automatically refunded by Amazon — they are payments made to customs authorities, not to the shop. Amazon may nonetheless grant a refund of "customs fees" — it is worth asking customer service. Amazon's policy in this area can be inconsistent and varies by circumstance.

To recover everything: (1) Amazon refunds the goods price; (2) the courier or you apply to the customs authority for a duty/VAT refund; (3) Amazon may refund the original delivery fee (depends on policy). Return shipping costs are not always recovered — check the seller's returns policy before buying.

Prices quoted are indicative ranges — exact quote after document review.

What the current rules say

Returning goods to Amazon UK from Poland is possible — start by initiating the return in your Amazon account (30-day window), then send the parcel with correct labelling through DHL, UPS or DPD. The duty and VAT you paid on receipt can be recovered by submitting an application through the courier or via PUESC — you have up to three years to do so. Amazon refunds the goods price, but customs duty must be recovered separately from the customs authority. Always verify current rules before taking action. Prices quoted are indicative ranges — exact quote after document review.

FAQ — frequently asked questions

How do I return goods to Amazon UK from Poland?

Log in to amazon.co.uk, go to Returns & Orders, select the product and initiate the return. Once approved, send the parcel through DHL, UPS or DPD to the address provided by Amazon. Write the actual goods value on the parcel and describe it as "Return" — the courier will handle the export formalities.

Will I get the duty and VAT I paid on the original purchase back?

Amazon refunds the goods price. The import duty and VAT you paid to the courier on delivery can be recovered by submitting an application to the customs authority (through the courier or via PUESC) once the return has been confirmed. You have up to three years from the date of duty payment. Keep your courier receipt.

Do I have to pay duty when sending a return parcel to the UK?

No — sending a parcel from Poland to the UK does not attract duty on the Polish side (it is an export from the EU). The courier may charge a fee for handling export documentation or a "customs clearance fee" — ask about this before dispatching. On the UK side the seller can use Returned Goods Relief.

How long do I have to return goods to Amazon UK?

The standard deadline is 30 days from the date of receipt of the parcel. For goods bought in the Christmas season Amazon often extends the deadline. If the goods are faulty, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you the right to return within 30 days of purchase, and to a repair or replacement within six months.

What is Returned Goods Relief and does it affect me?

Returned Goods Relief (RGR) is an exemption from duty for goods returned to the UK. It applies to the seller on the UK side (the importer), not to you. As the consumer sending the return, you do not need to apply for RGR — that is the seller's obligation or right.

Official sources

• Consumer Rights Act 2015 — legislation.gov.uk
• Returned Goods Relief — GOV.UK — GOV.UK
• Rules for exporting goods from Great Britain — GOV.UK
• Union Customs Code — EU Regulation 952/2013 — EUR-Lex
• PUESC — customs and tax payments platform — PUESC