If i purchase say an intercooler from austrialia would i be looking at big vat bill ? say £800 for the intercooler.

and what if the intercooler it was brought from a private seller ? will it still be subject to VAT ?

 

Get them to post it to you without the reciept and mark the customs declaration as a "Gift"

Even better get them to gift wrap it for you and enclose a card saying "Happy Birthday from Uncle Fred" or something like that.

 

bttt

 

if you end up paying it will be:

cost of item + 3.5% Import duty + 17.5% VAT