buying an item in Europe as a private individual and importing it ?

Ian_Edwards

Ian_Edwards

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I'm considering buying an item (a hydraulic backstay tensioner) in the Netherlands, value about 2,000 Euros, and then getting it delivered to the UK.
I'm importing it as a UK national, I 'm not VAT registered.
The supplier seems to be willing to sell it EU vat free.
Shipping cost 55 Euros, insurance about 50 Euros.
I know that I'll have to pay VAT at 20% when it's imported.
I anticipate that there will be some customs/import duty, but I'm struggling to find out what that will be.

I used the "simple duty" calculator on the internet. that gives the duty as 0%
I've seen figures of 2.5%.
Perhaps I'm being pessimistic, but I suspect it's be more than that.
Most of the government website information seems to be as clear as mud. I see stuff about EU companies having to pay the UK vat .... or something like that ... and lots of stuff about codes.
Does anyone have special glasses that can see through UK government fog?
 
Under £135 the EU company has to register with HMRC, collect the VAT and forward it.to the UK.

Over, your shipping agent will calculate the value of the shipment (which may not be what you pay for it and includes shipping and handling fees) then charges you VAT and Duty (based on the description supplied), then adds a fee for working this out.
 
wonkywinch said:
Not suggesting anything untoward but it might be a lot cheaper to fly out on a day return and collect it.
Click to expand...

mmmmm 2000e item ... about 1670 UKP ...

Shipping and Ins 105e .. about 87 UKP

UK VAT 20% ? on top of total ... 1757 UKP = 351 UKP

New total before Agent commissions : 2108 UKP

As long as no x-ray of bags on return (assuming checked in bag contains item) .. then OK - but may take a bit of explaining if found !! Then saving of that 438 quid .. may start to look iffy ??
 
When I was building my boat in South Africa Isome times visited the UK to purchase equipment sone time from Bost Jumbles some tinrd from suppliers.

I would return and clain the VAT back and declare the import on return as part of my duty-free alliance as I was a private individual and not for business.

Daughter did the same from USA with a VHF Radio.

Made the mistage of not claiming state Tax on export
 
rogerthebodger said:
When I was building my boat in South Africa Isome times visited the UK to purchase equipment sone time from Bost Jumbles some tinrd from suppliers.

I would return and clain the VAT back and declare the import on return as part of my duty-free alliance as I was a private individual and not for business.
Click to expand...
The duty free allowance will cover about 20% of the cost.
 
There does seem to be a difference between exporting between EU <-> UK and EU/UK to elsewhere.

And to think at one time EU to UK was duty free, but thats another can of worms....

Start a campaign for UK to rejoin the EU anyone? 😜😝😁😱😧😂
 
I have bought quite a few specialist boat parts from EU post Brexit, in the Eur 500 + range.
Not been an issue - supplier invoices ex local VAT and courier sends note for paying UK VAT and any other costs. Always been quite reasonable. Indeed, solar panels bought from Germany were much cheaper than any UK supplier after all import costs.
 
st599 said:
The duty free allowance will cover about 20% of the cost.
Click to expand...
It won't on a single item. I had a mate who bought a box of widgets through the red channel in excess of the allowance but was charged full duty, the officer wouldn't accept that x of the widgets would be covered by the £390 allowance so just duty payable on the balance. They wouldn't accept this. With a single item over the allowance, full VAT/duty due.

If you go over your allowance you pay tax and duty on the total value of the goods, not just the value above the allowance.

Bringing goods into the UK for personal use
 
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