Overseas purchasing and import duty

[bloodline]

If I were to buy a peice of computer equipment from the United States of America for around $179.99.

How much would the import duty be to get it delivered to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

I'm assuming 5%, but I really have no idea.

[Cyberus]

Import duty on computer equipment is 0%, but you will have to add UK VAT @ 17.5%, I looked into this before as I wanted to get a machine from Japan.

There is a government site and a customs and excise helpline, but I wouldn't be able to lay my hand on them just now...

[bloodline]

Cyberus wrote:
Import duty on computer equipment is 0%, but you will have to add UK VAT @ 17.5%, I looked into this before as I wanted to get a machine from Japan.

There is a government site and a customs and excise helpline, but I wouldn't be able to lay my hand on them just now...

Ok, but that is probably just for Japan :-? (or is it?)

The Exchange rate $->£ is so good even with VAT I will save around 50%!!! assuming no import taxes...

[MaDDuck]

Back in the 'day' I ordered some Amiga hardware from the UK and the bloke that sent it listed it as a gift and I was not charged any duty, etc..
I don't know if that's an option that the seller is willing to explore or if it's even possible...

[bloodline]

MaDDuck wrote:
Back in the 'day' I ordered some Amiga hardware from the UK and the bloke that sent it listed it as a gift and I was not charged any duty, etc..
I don't know if that's an option that the seller is willing to explore or if it's even possible...

My Girl Friend's father lives in Canada so there isn't any problem, getting it sent as a gift, but according to the (!Uselss!) Customs and excise website I would still be charged Import duty and VAT etc...

[Cyberus]

bloodline wrote:


Ok, but that is probably just for Japan :-? (or is it?)

Oh no, it doesn't matter where the goods come from. Do a search around for the government taxes and excise site, it has a huge list of different categories. It's a gov.uk site, but I can't remember the URL

[aardvark]

The Exchange rate $->£ is so good even with VAT I will save around 50%!!! assuming no import taxes...

Yeah, but the other way :boohoo:

I just bought some aminet disks (sets 6&11 and 15) off a guy in Germany for EUR 5,01 and he wants EUR 35 for shipping, which he said was the cheapest amount. That works out to $65.00 Canadian for everything.  For that kind of money I could go to MacDonalds about 15 times ordering my favourite combo special. :-?

I guess I have to cough up the cash because it's a contract, but I'm not too happy about it.

[Cyberus]

See here

8471       Automatic data processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, not elsewhere specified or included

edit: the url was spilling across the page making it too wiiiiide

[bloodline]

Cyberus wrote:
See here

8471       Automatic data processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, not elsewhere specified or included

edit: the url was spilling across the page making it too wiiiiide

And that covers Sound Cards?

Also do I have to get any special forms or will I just be sent a bill from the nice VAT people after I get my package delivered?

[Cyberus]

bloodline wrote:

Cyberus wrote:
See here

8471       Automatic data processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, not elsewhere specified or included

edit: the url was spilling across the page making it too wiiiiide

And that covers Sound Cards?

Also do I have to get any special forms or will I just be sent a bill from the nice VAT people after I get my package delivered?

Well I'd be guessing sound cards are '....units thereof', but to be honest, I'd find the number of customs and excise and talk to to sb in person

[bloodline]

Cyberus wrote:

bloodline wrote:

Cyberus wrote:
See here

8471       Automatic data processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, not elsewhere specified or included

edit: the url was spilling across the page making it too wiiiiide

And that covers Sound Cards?

Also do I have to get any special forms or will I just be sent a bill from the nice VAT people after I get my package delivered?

Well I'd be guessing sound cards are '....units thereof', but to be honest, I'd find the number of customs and excise and talk to to sb in person

Sound card actually fitted in nicly into the I/O category within the number you gave me. Thanks :-)

But I have to know, so I need to fill out any forms or somthing? Or is that handled by the Customs and excise themselves.

[AccyD]

AFAIK customs will not release the goods until the VAT/duty has been paid - can't remember the exact details.

Try posting an question on the Accounting Web site in its Any Answers section - you are bound to get an accurate response within a day or so.

[NightShade737]

You will get your item stright away.
AccyD is right in that Customs wont release the item till it is paid for, so the courier pays it and then the Courier will charge you when it arrives (on the door in 99% of cases. Only FedEx seem to send you an invoice at a later date).

[DrBlue]

It is something that would be nice to know.  A1 boards seem cheaper overseas but would it end up being more expensive getting them imported to the UK?

[NightShade737]

Depends on two things. Firsly postage cost and secondly Import. Remember, YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET CHARGED! It is pretty much random, you may, or you may not get charged, depends on how they feel at the time apparently.