Importing a guitar from the states.. how much tax?

Jimbo · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:03

Im getting a guitar sent form the US, how much do you reckong they will hit me for import tax? the guy declared it at $600.

He sent it Today, how long do you reckon I'll have to wait until it arrives?

What will they do? knock on me door and say you owe us this much for tax? they dont have my phone number?

badbob · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:06

"Do you reckon"
First off stop using American terms.

$600 % US-UK exchange rate = £293
17.5% VAT + 4% Duty + £10 courier admin charge.
Total £330

Jimbo · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:10

Eh WTF? are you saying I will have to pay £330? to them before they hand over my guitar?

Christ I hope not. I have £100 put away just in case, but not £330!! aaaaargh.

badbob · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:18

oops sorry must have clicked wrong button, I work out total £365

Jimbo · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:21

Your either winding me up or your maths are as bad as mine bob.

badbob · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:27

Why do you think it's called "rip off Britain"

I had to pay around £140 charge for a subwoofer imported from the US.

Jimbo · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:31

http://parker1.co.uk/guitar_import.php

Ah what ever, if its that bad I'll just get a cash advance of my employer, I'm not bothered as this guitar will still be worth it... its only money pffff.

badbob · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:34

So I was right, for £300 guitar another £70 in charges.

Jimbo · 19 Oct 2007 at 00:38

Yeah so it'll cost me about the same... £70.. Im fine with that. I think I picked you up wrong, cheers.

Andelusion · 19 Oct 2007 at 01:07

Should be 22.4% as far as I know, plus the handling fee. I'm getting one imported from the US at the mo valued at $2000, ouch.

Still vastly cheaper than buying it from the UK though.

Dunks · 19 Oct 2007 at 01:56

Jimbo said:
Yeah so it'll cost me about the same... £70.. Im fine with that. I think I picked you up wrong, cheers.

I read it as a £330 charge aswell, not the total cost.

Gaijin · 19 Oct 2007 at 09:47

Andelusion said:
Should be 22.4% as far as I know, plus the handling fee. I'm getting one imported from the US at the mo valued at $2000, ouch. Still vastly cheaper than buying it from the UK though.

Thats uncanny, as soon as I saw the thread I was going to post 22% total.

However, you may get lucky like me and not get charged at all (don't count on it though) , at the time I bought it, I got a grands worth of ESP guitar to my door for just over £400

Jimbo · 19 Oct 2007 at 10:32

Thanks guys. Yeah Dunk1 he had me pannicking for a moment or to.. lols.

Jimbo · 19 Oct 2007 at 10:42

Lol Gaijin its me here im bound to get charged lol. Next question is, I wonder how long it will take to arrive? its been shipped, the guy sent me the receipts etc.

badbob · 19 Oct 2007 at 11:06

It'll be help up in customs for about a week.

Andelusion · 19 Oct 2007 at 11:20

Jimbo said:
Lol Gaijin its me here im bound to get charged lol. Next question is, I wonder how long it will take to arrive? its been shipped, the guy sent me the receipts etc.

It depends, I recently ordered 2 items from the US, one was shipped a day later than the other and arrived on my doorstep exactly 1 week after being checked in at the US depot, the other was in customs for around 2 weeks.

The last 2 times I've ordered a guitar it's been in customs 1-2 days, so I guess it just depends on luck.

Jimbo · 19 Oct 2007 at 12:06

Fingers crossed, thanks mate.

Gaijin · 19 Oct 2007 at 13:41

Jimbo said:
Lol Gaijin its me here im bound to get charged lol. Next question is, I wonder how long it will take to arrive? its been shipped, the guy sent me the receipts etc.

Mine got stuck in the Christmas/NY shutdown, so theres not much point telling you how long it took.

It did however take about 2-3 weeks.

An exhaust manifold I ordered, however turned up in two days! :eek:

Jimbo · 20 Oct 2007 at 13:23

Did customs send you a letter first telling you how much you owe them in tax? or do they just show up at your door?

just Scott · 20 Oct 2007 at 13:43

Jimbo said:
Did customs send you a letter first telling you how much you owe them in tax? or do they just show up at your door?

They send you a letter.

Then you pay via the parcelforce site.