Import duty and Vat when buying form the USA?

[duncan99210]

I recently bought 100m of braid on braid rope on eBay. Didn't realise it at the time but it came direct from the German makers: cheaper by about 15% than the next cheapest offer, so well pleased, although it's something of a reverse for euroland to be selling stuff cheaper than UK.

 

[Neil_Y]

Any company changing invoices and statements to say gift to avoid Duty and VAT charges is in serious trouble. What's wrong with paying the duty and taxes?

 

[Heckler]

Any company changing invoices and statements to say gift to avoid Duty and VAT charges is in serious trouble. What's wrong with paying the duty and taxes?

Americans are very serious when it comes to things to do with their post, plus if they get caught doing wrong, they go to clink!
The other thing I would worry about, as pedantic as their officialdom can be, think about extradition! See Brit biz men in nick over there. Doing what they can do over here but with a US connection, chokey here we come!
S

 

[VicMallows]

What's wrong with paying the duty and taxes?

Nothing. It is paying Royal Mail (or other carrier) an exorbitant fee to collect what may (literally) be only a few pence tax which I object to.

I recently opted to place two separate orders for batteries from China - at slightly greater cost - simply to ensure that both packages would be below the minimus import value.

 

[David2452]

Thanks for the replies, I've asked for the package to be marked as a gift, I've heard that sometimes works.

Isn't that tax evasion?

 

[JumbleDuck]

What's wrong with paying the duty and taxes?

It costs more. Rich people don't pay taxes; why should I?

 

[Neil_Y]

Jumble duck, Clearly you are rich, you have a yacht, so you're probably exempt from taxes.

 

[prv]

I recently opted to place two separate orders for batteries from China - at slightly greater cost - simply to ensure that both packages would be below the minimus import value.

Almost certainly unnecessary - I buy loads of stuff from China via eBay and have never had any of it dinged for customs. I don't generally look at the customs sticker on the parcels but I assume they all cheerfully lie about the value and commercial status. Some of their eBay listings announce that they will do so, as a selling point.

Stuff from America I would expect to be correctly labelled and to more-likely-than-not have to pay duty on, though some does get through unmolested.

(This is with Royal Mail; couriers in my experience will apply customs procedures every time whatever the origin.)

Pete

 

[bert49uk]

just received a second hand radar head from US total with carriage was £220 arrived in about a week USPS Delivered Royal Mail £45 to pay which £8.00 was post office handling,still made it a cheap part

 

[Robin]

In reverse I had a new mainsail shipped to the USA and had no duty or extra tax to pay, sail was better made (in Hydranet by Crusader) and quite a lot cheaper than a US sold made in china rag would have been even if I could wait long enough.

PS before moving to the USA I had lots of stuff shipped over, mostly from West Marine USA and only once had to pay duty, charges and VAT. T the time it seemed it was value based, like sub 100 quid was not bothered with?