I don`t know anything about it velvet but maybe this link will help you...

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/internet.htm#1

Thanks Scotty  

Do they offer a gift wrapping service?

I heard something that if you get the sender to write gift on the item you don't pay tax but I'm not too sure as I've never done it myself..

As well as the gift wrapping service idea, if it is a gift.  I understand that only a percentage of goods are intercepted and taxed.

I bought some boots from the US on ebay and the duty, customs charge and vat made them a very expensive purchase. I think if an item is under a certain amount (£40) rings a bell you don't pay duty, but don't quote me on that.

I had a tshirt that was £9.99 and I got charged £18 by customs  even though they'd put 'gift' on the packet.

I buy things from the USA and Australia on eBay regularly.  Whether you pay customs duty and/or VAT depends entirely on the value of the goods as miss lippy said.  I think that 4 times out of 5 I don't get charged, maybe because Customs and Excise seem to concentrate on higher value commercial packages or they aren't very efficient.  If you buy commercial goods worth under £18 there is no duty payable, and no duty is payable on gifts up to £40.  Some sellers on eBay will mark the items you buy from them as gifts so that you incur less in import duties, but it is illegal to do this, so many other sellers won't.   Royal Mail and Parcelforce also charge for collecting the duty on behalf of Customs and Excise, which I have found is often more than the actual duty payable. 

I've been stung a few times on customs duty for ebay purchases from the USA. If you have bought something expensive - and the item is mailed with insured post or special delivery there is a far greater chance of customs picking it out imo...