Importing from china (dutie charges?)

adamknox · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:21

I want to import a torch (quite small) in from china. (Its a real one, its not a cheap version) Only problem is im a bit worried about dutie costs.

The torch is $35 US dollers (£22.42) Free shipping etc. Does any one know if ill have to pay? It says on the site (& ppl on the forums of the site) hardly any one gets charged dutie costs. The site says less that 2% of packages are opended at customs. Have you ever imported from china? I dont understand how the whole dutie charges work lol do they not open every package? Ive bought a DVD box set from the U.S before and ended up paying £10 duty charges. -_- Ive asked on yahoo answers and all you get is "DONT IMPORT FROM CHINA BUY UK MADE" or "YES YOULL GET CHARGED £3,000,000!" -_- Thanks for your help

- Adam

P.s The only reason i am buying form china is...its the only place you can get it lol Unless you buy from the UK sellers on the bay that was £89.99 for it.

P.s 2 its beign sent Hong Kong Post Registered Air Mail (1 x 138.00g) (Delivery takes 5 - 12 BUSINESS Days. Tracking Number Provided.

memyselfandi · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:27

It doesn't matter that you are importing from China only that you are importing from outside the EU, (hence all the other threads on here regarding importing from the US are also valid for this).

As the item+shipping cost > £18 then you could be liable for vat/duty/admin charge. If it is coming via normal post then you may or may not get charged ... it just depends on whether it slips through. If it is coming via a courier company then you will probably get charged. Given the cost of the item, if you are charged then the admin charge is likely to be more than any vat/duty.

If they have marked the item as a gift then that £18 would be raised to £36 but the sender could get into trouble if it isn't really a gift, (or if they have put a false value on the customs declaration).

jbloggs · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:28

The torch is $35 US dollers (£22.42) Free shipping etc. Does any one know if ill have to pay?

On that amount you will not be asked to pay import duties...I think the value of goods you are required to pay duties on is about £50 and above, I'm sure someone will be able to state the exact value...

Common Internet goods

TangoSixteen · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:30

lol nothing from china's real!

Especially since its only 24% of the price of the real one!

No alarm bells ringing here?

adamknox · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:33

TangoSixteen said:
lol nothing from china's real!

Especially since its only 24% of the price of the real one!

No alarm bells ringing here?

No? If something is only made in china and not sold anywhere else in the word.... You have to import from china. lol Its not a pair of £300 nike shoes im buying for £18.99 from china

adamknox · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:35

jbloggs said:
On that amount you will not be asked to pay import duties...I think the value of goods you are required to pay duties on is about £50 and above, I'm sure someone will be able to state the exact value...

Common Internet goods

Ty! it did also say that "If you buy two items at once your more likely to get charged dutie charges."

moon man · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:37

never been hit by cutoms yet from china (last item was an sflo2 player) they always seem to declare under price

Tefal · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:37

adamknox said:
I want to import a bride (quite small) in from china. (Its a real one, its not a cheap version) Only problem is im a bit worried about dutie costs.

Bill101 · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:41

TangoSixteen said:
lol nothing from china's real!

Especially since its only 24% of the price of the real one!

No alarm bells ringing here?

+1
Also must resist saying
DutY

adamknox · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:45

Bill101 said:
+1
Also must resist saying
DutY

Its not 24% of the price tho. The reason the UK sellers are charging SO much is because they have imported them, them selfs. In one of the cases the 'seller' even had on his past item list he had bought 3 of them from china for.. YEP £24.99 each.

memyselfandi · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:53

jbloggs said:
On that amount you will not be asked to pay import duties...I think the value of goods you are required to pay duties on is about £50 and above, I'm sure someone will be able to state the exact value...

Common Internet goods

If the figure for duty is <£7 then there is a chance you will not be charged it. This does not affect any vat or admin charges you may be asked for.

adamknox · 20 Sep 2010 at 12:58

memyselfandi said:
If the figure for duty is <£7 then there is a chance you will not be charged it. This does not affect any vat or admin charges you may be asked for.

Bit thick.. lol so does that mean i MAY not get charges duty charges but WILL get charged vat?

memyselfandi · 20 Sep 2010 at 13:03

adamknox said:
Bit thick.. lol so does that mean i MAY not get charges duty charges but WILL get charged vat?

If you are charged then the charge is made up of three parts:

- Duty
- VAT
- Admin Change

I have seen times where the Duty figure alone will come to <£7 and hence not be charged but that does not mean that VAT, or the postal services admin charge, will not be charged as well. The chances are that the admin charge would be the largest amount anyway, (it's the Parcel Force (or whoever) charge for them paying Customs and then you paying them).

adamknox · 20 Sep 2010 at 13:10

memyselfandi said:
If you are charged then the charge is made up of three parts:

- Duty
- VAT
- Admin Change

I have seen times where the Duty figure alone will come to <£7 and hence not be charged but that does not mean that VAT, or the postal services admin charge, will not be charged as well. The chances are that the admin charge would be the largest amount anyway, (it's the Parcel Force (or whoever) charge for them paying Customs and then you paying them).

well the VAT should be about £2.75ish (dont mind that so much) Cant find duty charges on a torch tho lol But im guessing it wouldnt be over £7. The way the parcel is beign sent is Hong Kong Post Registered Air Mail (1 x 138.00g) (Delivery takes 5 - 12 BUSINESS Days. Tracking Number Provided.

Nathan · 20 Sep 2010 at 13:23

It will be less than a tenner. What torch is it? Need one to replace my broken P7

neil3k · 20 Sep 2010 at 13:34

lol dvdbunny

adamknox · 20 Sep 2010 at 13:50

Nathan said:
It will be less than a tenner. What torch is it? Need one to replace my broken P7

Well im torn between two. Complete SSC P7 900 Lumen Bike headlight set (type that into the bay and ull find it. It is a torch. Theres also
a UltraFire SSC P7 900 Lumen 3 mode Torch Flashlight 19.99 on the bay <import) heres a review on You tube

OR (my personal fave) MTE SF-23 SSC P7-D-SXO 5-Mode Memory (900 Lumens). < this is the one you have to import) This is a video of it.

memyselfandi · 20 Sep 2010 at 13:58

adamknox said:
well the VAT should be about £2.75ish (dont mind that so much) Cant find duty charges on a torch tho lol But im guessing it wouldnt be over £7. The way the parcel is beign sent is Hong Kong Post Registered Air Mail (1 x 138.00g) (Delivery takes 5 - 12 BUSINESS Days. Tracking Number Provided.

Admin charges will probably be around 8-12 quid if you are charged them on top of that.