importing from the usa

jmahoney · 16 Jan 2007 at 13:57

hello ,

I am importing an item from the USA (radio controlled car) the cost of this is $500 does anyone know how much import duty and VAT I will pay.

Or can you tell me any sites that will give me this information.

Rotty · 16 Jan 2007 at 13:59

17.5% vat on the cost of the item and carriage

Duty is often around 6% but varies from item to item and more often you get away with this bit

courier handling charge of about £5-15

if you work on between £60 and £80 you won't be far wrong

ringo747 · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:01

if the parcel is marked as a gift is it right that you can avoid import tax and duty?

Rotty · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:01

jonnyc747 said:
if the parcel is marked as a gift is it right that you can avoid import tax and duty?

no

only if the item is below a certain value, £18 iirc

ElRazur · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:02

jonnyc747 said:
if the parcel is marked as a gift is it right that you can avoid import tax and duty?

Depending on how heavy it is and if it manages to escape a random check from customs. Most times it works. My ps3 was marked gift and i havent got any charge from customs so far.

gambitt · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:04

I'd like to find out how to bring over some car parts. Want to buy a crate of them (say 6 foot squared) and have it shipped by sea.

A guy at work brought over some massive piece of furniture by sea and he didn't pay any VAT, tax or anything (only shipping cost)

ruffneck · 16 Jan 2007 at 14:04

the only way you can get around it is if you have an american address (in the UK) sounds wierd; or if you know someone living in the states thats planning a holiday in the UK

ringo747 · 21 Jan 2007 at 00:56

Rotty said:
no

only if the item is below a certain value, £18 iirc

so if my great aunt wants to send me an electrical device worth 300quid for my birthday I have to pay tax and import duty on it??? that couldnt be right!

stoofa · 21 Jan 2007 at 03:15

jonnyc747 said:
so if my great aunt wants to send me an electrical device worth 300quid for my birthday I have to pay tax and import duty on it??? that couldnt be right!

It certainly is.
All this "Marked as gift means you pay no tax" BS is another great Internet Folklaw along side the "Students don't pay tax" etc.

Shifter_Hull · 21 Jan 2007 at 03:20

jonnyc747 said:
so if my great aunt wants to send me an electrical device worth 300quid for my birthday I have to pay tax and import duty on it??? that couldnt be right!

when she post it to you from the states and they ask how much its worth ask her to put down $18 dollars
then if it gets lost you lost 300 quid thats a way round things :rolleyes:

Jet · 21 Jan 2007 at 03:23

Shifter_Hull said:
when she post it to you from the states and they ask how much its worth ask her to put down $18 dollars
then if it gets lost you lost 300 quid thats a way round things

as well as getting criminally prosecuted?

Shifter_Hull · 21 Jan 2007 at 03:25

didn't say it was the best thing to do just stated it was a way round it
Maybe

Jet · 21 Jan 2007 at 03:28

Shifter_Hull said:
didn't say it was the best thing to do just stated it was a way round it
Maybe

I realise that, I wasn't having a go. Just making sure he realised it before sending it off lol. I'm not sure what the chances of getting prosecuted are anyway.

Shifter_Hull · 21 Jan 2007 at 03:31

50 /50 maybe

i had items delivered where on delivery there has been import tax to pay other times no charge

Jet · 21 Jan 2007 at 03:35

Shifter_Hull said:
50 /50 maybe

i had items delivered where on delivery there has been import tax to pay other times no charge

But you didn't say it was worth less than it was though did you?

That's what I meant. There's nothing wrong with sending something and hoping they don't charge duty. Actively changing the value to evade the tax is something entirely different.

Edit:

Note: Some unscrupulous overseas suppliers openly advertise on the internet, or on their web-sites that they will deliberately either misdescribe items or underdeclare their value in order to evade customs charges that are legally due on importation. You should be aware that although the foreign sender may have completed the customs declaration form on the parcel you are regarded (in law) as the importer of the goods and responsible for the information on the declaration, and any customs charges that may be due. This means that if you purchase goods from these suppliers and the declaration is found to be false or misleading you may be liable to financial penalties or criminal prosecution. Furthermore the goods themselves will be liable to forfeiture. It is in your own interests to ensure Customs declarations are completed properly.

And to help the OP and anyone else importing stuff, here is a list of common goods and the import duty:

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

Shifter_Hull · 21 Jan 2007 at 03:39

no its not worth it in the long run
due to parcels that can go astray i rather it have the correct sum on it then if it goes missing you got a good claim for insurance
ie proof of posting with the post office and having the correct amount of the label

Rotty · 21 Jan 2007 at 12:21

jonnyc747 said:
so if my great aunt wants to send me an electrical device worth 300quid for my birthday I have to pay tax and import duty on it??? that couldnt be right!

yes, you would have to pay tax

ringo747 · 22 Jan 2007 at 12:29

Rotty said:
yes, you would have to pay tax

thanks for clearing that up. it just sounds very weird having a cost attached when its a present!

LostCorpse · 22 Jan 2007 at 12:33

ringo747 · 22 Jan 2007 at 12:34

is it a different story if you visit the country and bring back something in ** suitcase? i.e. a camera or something like that? or is there a limit on its value?