just wanted to make sure i`m not being taken for a ride by the government.

 

just bought a vented panel for my Z from the states. It cost me $155 including postage. anyway when the postman came to drop it of he said i had to pay a customs & excise charge of £25. i was a bit shocked as i have bought a few things from the states and a few have been heavy and large (like my blow up doll) and i`ve never paid any taxes.

 

Is this right?

 

How come i have to pay for this and not for other stuff? (postman said "some stuff get through whilst other stuff s charged!!!!!)

 

I`m a bit narked as it has turned out to be a bit on the expensive side, although with the exchange rate being good it still doesnt matter.

 

so should i just accept it or make a fuss?

 

cheers.

On car parts from the states, you should be paying around 7% (I think, correct me if I'm wrong) import duty plus 17.5% Vat on the item AND the duty.

If you've not had to pay before just consider yourself fortunate.

If you kick off saying "I've not payed before" you might end up getting taxed on your previous orders....

you have to accept it im afraid! ( postman too :D ) Normally the way it works is that whoever sends it has to put down whats in the package, as far as i know things like gifts and second hand stuff etc dont get tax charges whereas things you buy from a shop will do. You can sometimes get away with it by getting the person on the other end to label it as a 'gift' but if it gets checked by customs you'll still get charged.

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=29629

 

This covers where you stand with reguards to tax and VAT on imported goods from the USA

Rc951,

 

Sounds about right to me, I recently paid £30 on $180.

You really did not think you would get it imported for free did you ?

Unless the sender lies about the value on the customs declaration form (and hope you dont get caught) you will pay the vat + a nominal customs duty surcharge.

Most legitimate dealers (like Courtesy) will accurately list the contents value.

 

John

Imagine how p***ed off i was when i had to pay £67 for a £210 MP3 player from the states. :mad: :mad:

ok so i have now accepted the fact that i have to pay £14 for taxes but Parcel force charged me £10 for "clearence fee" now what the f**k is all that about.

 

by the way thanks for making me feel better skyline dave!!

I send all over UK to my customers stuff but i only use EMS. U should ask them to ship via EMS to avoid the taxes. What shipping method did u used?

Ive always asked the companies to write "gift" on the products - or just not to print their company name over the box, and ive never been taxed! Touch wood

 

Then again, if im buying something really big, (ie - carbon bonnet) my mate in the states buys it, and sends it anyway - so technically it is a gift.

Ive always asked the companies to write "gift" on the products - or just not to print their company name over the box, and ive never been taxed! Touch wood

 

Then again, if im buying something really big, (ie - carbon bonnet) my mate in the states buys it, and sends it anyway - so technically it is a gift.

 

 

read my link, you arnt actually usually covered with gifts