Forums > Help! > Importing to UK from USA?

Posted: 14th Sep 2005
Import duty and tax is always a maybe, sometimes customs just let stuff through. It depends on what it says on the customs declaration. If you're charged any tax/duty you pay it to the delivery guy, so it's a good idea to have some cash in the house when he arrives.

It's next to impossible to estimate what the cost is going to be, as the customs people seem to value things differently from everyone else. I bought a load of second hand computers in Japan and shipped them over. Computers are exempt from VAT, but I got charged because I had to disassemble them, and aparently parts aren't exempt. I also got charged VAT on the value of new goods (I'd taken in to account the fact that customs are b******s, and didn't care, as I got the computers for free, so it was cheaper than getting them here).

There are duty rates buried deep in the uk customs websites, but the classification means things can fit into several groups.

If you can find a supplier in europe you'll have better luck with shipping and tax. I think in europe you just pay VAT at the rate of the country you're buying from, and customs let it go as there's an agreement between the countries. The only problem is finding sites in english.

I've been buyiong parts from Germany and Swizerland for LED poi, that are valued over £100, and not had to pay any extra tax on them. I got screwed when buying from the U.S. as I had to pay $18 shipping (no tax as it was under their ~£50 threshold). When the parcel arrived the postage label said $8, so I guess there's either a huge shortage of cardboard boxes and bubble wrap in the U.S., or I've found yet another company with a 'f*** you, you're not american' attitude.

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Posted: 14th Sep 2005
I got myself a lovely digital camcoreder on import from the USA and i am now starting to wish i hadn't. My advice would be take advice from someone who knows about this stuff, if you don't you may well regret it.
Tread carefully with this one.
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Posted: 20th Sep 2005
could be wrong, but im pretty sure you only have to pay vat if you're ordering from and live in the uk. kinda like sales tax in the us -- you dont pay it if you live out of the state you're ordering from.



also.. to avoid it being bothered too much by customs, ask the shipper if they could say "gift // ncv" on the package, if they dont already do it. (ncv = no commercial value... cant be taxed if it doesnt have a commercial value, can it? )



thats what they did when i'd order records out of the uk.. never had a prob. w/ having to pay any kind of taxes.



i'd agree with polarity, tho.. if you can find what you're lookin for in europe, you'd save a bit on shipping. if not, then oh well.. you get what you pay for
EDITED_BY: likwid (1127251573)

Posted: 24th Sep 2005

Written by: polarity

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I got screwed when buying from the U.S. as I had to pay $18 shipping (no tax as it was under their ~£50 threshold). When the parcel arrived the postage label said $8, so I guess there's either a huge shortage of cardboard boxes and bubble wrap in the U.S., or I've found yet another company with a 'f*** you, you're not american' attitude.

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Lots of companies make stupid profits from the postage prices which is just wrong.

Import duty etc etc is so hit and miss its unreal.

Have faith in what you can do and respect for what you can't