Hi all,

Just wondered if anyone has purchased any goods from a coutry outside the EU over the internet and what charges they had to pay (import duty VAT etc.)

Cheers

Hi,

To name a few experiences;

* I ordered about £45 worth of T-Shirts from USA. I got charged an extra £15 from UK customs and excise to include import and administration :(

* I ordered about £30 worth of comics from USA. No import charges.

* I ordered about £40 worth of retro toys from Japan. No import charges.

IMHO it is hit and miss, sometimes your packages get stopped sometimes they dont. However, overall i have had packages stopped about 20% of the time.

A small hint, if the online shop provides a "Delivery notes" section - write words to the effect of "this is a gift". Sometimes the supplier writes this on the package and from what I understand this allows a larger allowance when importing :) ?!?!?!

Good luck
Scott

got charged £80 for a $350 mp3 player from New Jersey, USA

there is 'import duty' to pay (4 to 5%), then add
VAT at 17.5%. But, as has been said, your package may
pass 'unmolested' ;)
There is a Government website which explains all
(cant find URL) - do a google search on 'import duty'

alan

How can you be charged to search something?

That would be discrimination no? It's like an on the spot fine for being in a certain place.

Either he's lying or got the wrong end of the stick. You cannot be charged in such a way.

The HMCE page covering this is http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/notices/143.htm
There is a more easily readable interpretation at http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/importukduty.htm

albob: import duty actually varies dfrom 0% to 85% depending on the item and how it's described. Personally I've never experienced anything over 55%

MrContro: My experience when importing has like most people been mixed, some you win some you lose. I take the approach of "Hope for the best but budget for the worst".

Couple of things to remember. If the actual value of the item is over £18 (£36 for a gift) then VAT is levied on the total amount including the shipping cost. Some carriers will only let you have the package after you have paid, Royal Mail is one. With others, you think you have got away with it and then they invoice you later. If you believe you have been overcharged due to mis-interpetation of the item description you can appeal the charge.

I've oredered a bit of stuff from the usa.Its hit and miss,most get through withoput customs/paying extra tax.

I ordered a Gucci Watch off Ebay a few weeks ago and ended up paying £19 for duty. Not bad though as P&P was free!

B :P

Smaller packages get away lighly. I've never had a problem with CD's or DVD's.

Bigger stuff has a value declaration - depends on the supplier really..... I've heard of stuff having a valuation of 'Samples with no commercial value' or 'Warranty return' etc.

Al

the duty you pay is down to the value of the item being shipped. When I bouht my mp3 player they offered to put a lower value on it for me so it cost less duty. I declined, just incase I was unlucky enough to have the package opened!

Lots of CD's / DVD's usually ordered individually from various places and delivered through the letter box - no duties.

Car accessories from USA, Japan and Australia on different occasions usually £50 or less in value - normally a box has turned up on my door via royal mail - again no duites.

i've ordered alot of stuff from Hong Kong (not at the moment though ;)) and Japan, value was anywhere between 10-40 quid - never had it stopped

word of warning - my mate ordered 3 seperate things from different countries - US, Spain & Japan, all in the space of a week and customs got suss (thought he was a terrorist or something :rolleyes:) and got charged 50 quid to search the one from US, turned out to be a computer game :p


kev :)






edited due to user error ;)

[Edited by flat4 - 4/6/2003 11:34:39 PM]