Import/Customs Fees Question

d3moliti0n

d3moliti0n

d3moliti0n

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11 Aug 2007
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1,666
Hi

I have ordered a DVD box set off the american river (I don't know if talking about other companies is allowed in General Discussion or not) website which cost in total £42.27. Basically I am wondering if I will need to pay import/customs fees for this item, and if so how much should I expect to pay? I ordered the item as it was cheaper than the region 2 version of the box set but overall it may end up costing more if the import/customs fees are expensive. I live in the UK btw.

Thanks for your help
 
You might have to, depends on if they happen to check your parcel at customs.
If it does get checked you will probably have to pay VAT and import duty, so maybe about £8? You might have to pay the courier/RM's charges too, which i think are about £10-15.
 
If the goods cost £18+ and are not zero rated (books), then they are eligable for tax.

If caught you will be looking at about 15% of the total cost of the order including the postage and a handling fee (£8 for Royal Mail).
 
Yeah... gift idea is a good one, however might be hard to have a company do that..

but 15% of £42 is a bit of a rip off really.. stupid customs :(
 
well i keep getting riped off , Hellsing OVA Vol 4 dvd , came to just over 40USD or about 20quid at the time , they found it slapped 12 more quid on it or some 60% the cost of it
 
I just cancelled the first order (which they won't take any money for, right?) and ordered it again and selected to show the gift options, chose no wrapping paper and it now has a small gift box icon on the order so I'm assuming it will be sent as a gift?
 
lord filbuster said:
It doesnt matter if it is marked as a gift, tax is still applicable.
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Bingo

Marking it as a gify just raises the tax threshold to £36 when sending items from one individual to another - not from a company to an individual (and certainly not when from a huge, well recognised company who uses packaging with very visible company markings).
 
I just had something that is price $150 from the states through the Mail system without getting sting by the VAT/Customs.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I just had something that is price $150 from the states through the Mail system without getting sting by the VAT/Customs.
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Aye, at least for normal post it tends to be a bit hit and miss, with larger/more recognisable retailers getting hit a lot more often (in my experience).
 
I've ordered about a dozen items from the States over the last few years. Probably been picked up for duty on half of them - nearly always the more expensive items too. I always take into account the possible charges before ordering and ensure even if I do get hit, I'm still getting a better deal than over here.
 
meghatronic said:
I don't mind vat/tax... it's the RM charge that angers me.
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You could always nip down to Heathrow or wherever and arrange the clearance yourself?
It's much easier to let a courier do it and use their deferment account to clear your goods. That's why the handling charge is applicable,
 
So I'm looking at about £15 overall when taking into account the 15% of the final item price and the £8 handling fee. How do I pay this? Also, which courier in the UK should I expect the item to be delivered by?
 
Last edited:
Lopéz said:
VAT still applicable though.
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Are you getting fed up of repeating that yet? ;)



d3moliti0n, if it was sent via surface or airmail it'll arrive by Royal mail in the UK, in which case you'll get a little card through the door with a message along the lines of "We have your package, if you don't pay the ransom the DVD's get it" ;)
Which can be paid either (from memory) by posting it back with the correct stamps, or you can go down to your local sorting office, pay it there and pick the package up at the same time.
 
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