I'm looking to buy a watch from a seller in the States for roughly £950 ($1500), and am making a saving of about £550-£650 over what I would pay for it here in the UK.

Thing is, what should I expect to pay for customs duty for this value?

Wouldn't want to get stung by the import tax.

 

Fly over and wear it back, bring another in your pocket, and flog on ebay lol.

Or if you know someone in US get it sent to them, and they send it to you as your birthday pressie

 

10% import duty plus 20% VAT

 

Isn't a watch duty free?

 

Do you know anyone in the US, send them the money and get them to buy it and send it to you as a gift.

 

Does that always work though?

 

Never used to be.

Les

 

Senn it done a few times and never been an issue. Make sure it is packaged and looks like a gift and all should be well.

 

I did the same, but bought it from Switzerland. It was delivered by courier, they had paid the import costs and then billed me for them.
I held off paying as i never realised/researched and so it was an unexpected bill, i never heard another thing from them, so hence never paid any duty or vat, £100+ iirc .

 

I expect you will. I bought a very expensive set of bike lights (cycle) and got stung on the import duty. still a bargain compared to uk prices though

 

Offer the seller a few dollars to gift wrap it and include a birthday card otherwise your saving will be drastically reduced.

 

If the seller is a company they won't do that for obvious reasons hence why you need an individual in the US to buy it for you.

 

I think you'll find its 4.5% for items under tariff code 9101

VAT is calculated on CIF Value of goods+Duty so its :

4.5% of the cost of the watch
20% of the cost of the watch, shipping and duty