Importing electronics from EU. Taxable?

SB118 · 2 Aug 2007 at 13:55

I'm looking to buy some camera bits from portugal but as usual i'm concerned about duty.

Are imports from one eu member to another taxable/duty added, or do i just pay the cost of the parts?

Or does it depend on what mood Customs are in when they open the package?

cheers

The $6m Dan · 2 Aug 2007 at 13:56

I believe £17.99 is the limit, and after that it's luck of the draw as to whether they will charge you import duty and VAT.
Not everything gets checked so some people get lucky others do not.

SB118 · 2 Aug 2007 at 13:58

buggerit, so much for the common market

Back to buying from the uk then, don't feel like getting hit for extra costs on 300 quid of cameras!

Le_Petit_Lapin · 2 Aug 2007 at 13:59

Get your friend to buy it for you and post it to you as a gift?

Werewolf · 2 Aug 2007 at 14:02

parts imported from inside the eu should have no additional taxes, assuming they've had tax paid at the other end

stoofa · 2 Aug 2007 at 15:16

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
Get your friend to buy it for you and post it to you as a gift?

Argh!!!!!
*Smacks head on table*
Why do people still think gifts are automatically exempt from tax!!

Le_Petit_Lapin · 2 Aug 2007 at 15:21

stoofa said:
Argh!!!!!
*Smacks head on table*
Why do people still think gifts are automatically exempt from tax!!

....I dunno. Customs have never asked for VAT from me on gifts before though. Are they supposed to?

Ironic Namesake · 2 Aug 2007 at 15:23

If buying in the EU, VAT will only be charged in the originating country.

ie. if you are not VAT registered and based in Germany, if you purchase something from UK you still have to pay the 17.5% , which is usually included in advertised retail prices anyway

stoofa · 2 Aug 2007 at 15:27

You may find these two links of interest.
General document on Internet shopping from Revenue & Customs:

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...yType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

A list of most comonly purchased items online and the VAT/Tax you should expect to pay:

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...ent&id=HMCE_PROD_009989&propertyType=document

deuse · 2 Aug 2007 at 15:27

stoofa said:
Argh!!!!!
*Smacks head on table*
Why do people still think gifts are automatically exempt from tax!!

i been sending things to the UK for 4 years now(when i am there0
not one problem.You do have to put your USA address on the form you fill in
to send stuff.I just put for family-birthday prezie

stoofa · 2 Aug 2007 at 15:31

And I'm sure there are many other people who will claim the same.
Bottom line is marking an item as a gift when it isn't is illegal.
Even gifts are subject to tax.

J.T · 2 Aug 2007 at 15:38

Doesn't marking it as second hand work as well, or am I on something again... :confused:

Ironic Namesake · 2 Aug 2007 at 15:50

J.T said:
Doesn't marking it as second hand work as well, or am I on something again...

Completely irrelevant anyway - item is being sent within the EU . Don't have to include commercial invoices or declare value.

jas72 · 2 Aug 2007 at 16:14

free movement of goods and services.

No tax to pay.