S55 HOT

I've imported some fairly cheap stuff from the US - like DVD's and never been stung with import duty or VAT. However, I'm thinking of buying a camera for over a grand......

It will obviously be a bit bigger so will attract a bit more attention and is worth considerably more so I son't want to get hit with fees !

What is the best way to reduce the risk of being charged without being completely illegal ? Lower than real valuation is one option, but the camera retails at two grand here so can't take the **** too much !

Any better ideas ?

danny-boy

I remember someone saying if you get it wrapped up as a present you dont pay import duty, as you dont have to pay duty on gifts. I think that was for Japan not sure about the US.

Good Luck

Dan

miggs

if its from a dealer they will put it as merchandise on the customs slip so you will get stung

If you bought it from joe public they would put it as a gift on the customs slip so then you wouldnt get stung

the above comes from a experiance if you casn talk the dealer round but i would doubt it as they would get there ***** chewed off

DazW

iTrader: (1)

IIRC it doesnt matter if its a gift or not, its if its value is more than £18, or £10 if its merchandise, you get stung- hence why DVD's get thru- how do they know its worth more than £18? with a Camera worth £1K I'd assume you'd have it posted with Insurance, and this is the value they use to calculate import duty

DazW

[Edited by DazW - 12/23/2002 9:57:13 AM]

[Edited by DazW - 12/23/2002 9:57:59 AM]

M0NEY

No you can get through import if it has present on it. A mate who runs a tuning company has done this in the past for alloy wheels! When he buys a set from the US, he gets them to send one wheel to different addresses (ie his mates houses) and just puts present on the package. He then gets away without paying the import costs!!

Yes he has done this a few times and it has worked! Obviously you cant do it all the time as they will cotton on but so far he has done it with a few sets of alloys

DazW

iTrader: (1)

M0NEY,

Does that means he has to have 4 address's to get a full set of alloys

I did try & get a set of alloys from Japan & have them marked as 'gift' but I still got collar'd ...only about 10% tho'

Some more info here:
http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/importukduty.htm ...looks like goods over £18 get stung and gifts over £36

http://www.hmce.gov.uk probably has all the info, but as usual the 'search' facility doesn't work!

DazW

[Edited by DazW - 12/23/2002 11:03:23 AM]

chrisj1260

I import cars from japan and parts and i pay a std rate of 10% and 17.5% vat but if its a personal import i.e not for re sale you dont pay the vat just the duty.............. cheers chris

Josh L

On a positive note, I recently had cause to speak to C & E about this, and if it's a digital camera it's classed in the same way as computers, and is exempt from duty. You will of course have to pay VAT.

However, as the dealer will put the details on, if you try to avoid the VAT you're scuppered. A possible alternative would be the 'gift' route, but only if you had a friend or relative over there.

In my line I obviously buy a fair bit of kit, and take UK prices with me when I go to Singapore etc, so I can compare prices. I've found Singapore to be quite a lot cheaper than the US, but although the differences can be massive, sometimes it's not sufficient to justify importing.

If you're not registered for VAT, but have a friend who is, you might be able to come to an arrangement that will still save you a few quid. If not, I'd suggest that you balance up whether the saving is really worth the trouble.

Josh

S55 HOT

Thanks Josh - I'm trying to weigh up the balance and it's sounding like the potential extra cost does not outweigh the saving.

I want a Canon D60 sooooooo much !

polarbearit

'but if its a personal import i.e not for re sale you dont pay the vat just the duty'

Surely this can't be true

If it is though I'll get the cheque book out for the R34

M0NEY

Chris, you have to pay vat and import on cars! Even if you try and argue its a personal import and its nor for resale, you will still get done!

Daz, yeah the guy had 4 addresses. He sent one to his address, one to a friends, another to a friends and the 4th to someone elses! He has done it a few times and has got away with it as it has gift on the packaging.

You cant do it all the time though as your bound to get caught one time!