CUSTOMS WHEN YOU BUY FROM US?

[andycorleone]

Hi, Thinking in buying a CNC kit from the US but not sure how much Custom I will have to pay to the Queen ?

 

[wizer]

pot luck is the honest answer. if you are lucky you won't get any charges. If you are unlucky, my guess is somewhere between 70-90 squids

 

[andycorleone]

thanks wizer but there is any %? I mean If I buy something that cost $600 USD is the same as something in the region of $200?

 

[tnimble]

Just the ordinary 17.5% VAT and a fixed randsom amount for their effort of reading some forms.

 

[RodN]

I do this sort of thing regularly.

3.5% Import duty
plus
17.5% VAT
plus
usually a processing charge by the carrier of around £10

Bear in mind also, that the taxes are charged on the shipping costs too.

Rod

 

[wizer]

Bear in mind also, that the taxes are charged on the shipping costs too.

robbery

 

[Dave S]

Bear in mind also, that the taxes are charged on the shipping costs too.

robbery

Especially when most of the shipping has taken place outside of the UK.

Dave

 

[MIGNAL]

I do this sort of thing regularly.

3.5% Import duty
plus
17.5% VAT
plus
usually a processing charge by the carrier of around £10

Bear in mind also, that the taxes are charged on the shipping costs too.

Rod

. . . .and sometimes that £10 processing charge mysteriously becomes £20.

 

[Grinding One]

How about gift`s?? Do you still pay tax??

 

[Raggy]

I have had a lot of expensive 'gifts' from Japan for my cars with no problems but from the US they are a lot more picky and check to see what these 'gifts' really are and you seem to get caught out a lot more

 

[xraymtb]

Even gifts are liable to duty if they have a value over £36 I believe (changing in December though I think).

Remember though, as always in my life...I could be wrong....

 

[RodN]

"Goods purchased and imported into the EU with a value over £18, or goods imported from one private person to another private person as a gift with a value over £36 are subject to customs charges."

That's the official line.

Its still robbery though. For example, I had one arrive yesterday, value $35 (and that's well under the limit) where there was no tax or duty to pay, but Royal Mail wanted £11.65 to deliver it!!

I told them where to go, took delivery of the parcel, on which it was stated "This package cannot be delivered until the charges are paid", and informed them that it was indeed robbery as USPS had already been paid to deliver the parcel, and that is all I was going to pay!

Rod

 

[andycorleone]

OK so the Worst That Could Happen is 21% + £10-£20 :twisted:

 

[xraymtb]

21% approximately (the 3.5% import duty can vary depending on the type of goods). The £10-20 charge by Royal Mail usually only applies if they charge the duty.

 

[wizer]

I seem to remember a ruse whereby the goods can be marked as 'faulty returns' to dodge the tax charges... not that i'd endorse such behaviour

 

[tnimble]

"Goods purchased and imported into the EU with a value over £18, or goods imported from one private person to another private person as a gift with a value over £36 are subject to customs charges."

Now ehats happens to the limit and amount payable when taking a gift through airport customs instead of Royal Mail customs..... :roll: :? :shock:

 

[RodN]

I seem to remember a ruse whereby the goods can be marked as 'faulty returns' to dodge the tax charges

That no longer works as an "excuse" for not paying duty and VAT.
You pay. If you want to appeal, then you can claim against HM Customs & Excise. Don't hold your breath and expect it to take a year.

Another one.... you bought something from the USA.... it is returned for warranty repair.... it comes back to you.... and you pay the duty and VAT on the value of the goods as stated on the insurance covering the item even if there was no charge for the warranty work.

He who has been bitten now flies over to the USA to collect the thing in person! The cost of the cheapo flight, car rental and a night in a hotel is much cheaper than having it shipped. And at Heathrow you just walk through with your goods on which duty and VAT has already been paid!

Rod

 

[shedhead]

I have been hit so many times with this tax that i now keep my orders to just below the limit. This works out more expensive but on small orders it will be the cheapest way to do it.

The only way to beat the system is to get someone from America to deliver to then they can post to you. This is not very practical though. The "gift" part can be tricky.

I have no love lost for the tax man, infact i hope his next S**T is a Hedgehog!!!!!!!!

 

[bob the builder]

I recently looked into this myself. you need to call customs on01702366077
explain what the item is your buying and they will give you a product code which tells you how much tax is pay on the item then add vat

 

[Grinding One]

Even if its a used item??I just put a nominal number on it and no insurance ,heck it would cost more to send it back to me...