Is there any way of working out roughly the amount of import duty and tax when ordering bits from the states and does it make a difference if someone sends it as a present?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

The trick is 'No commercial value'

 

Clearly written on the parcel, often works.

 

Tim

I think Duty is about 4% and Tax is 17.5%

I try and get stuff sent over marked up as either a "gift" or "free sample". Failing this get the sender to put a lower value on the packaging. However if it`s insured and goes missing you can only claim back the value on the package.

 

Bob

If buying from states, allow yourself 20% to be on safe side, if your hit for taxes and duty, it won't add up to more than this, if your not hit, then it's a bigger bonus for you, but better be safe than sorry, the price you see add that 20%.

smithy

Aso try to insist they send the goods by mail, not courier.

 

Couriers always seem to collect, but postie often forgets.

 

 

cheers guyz.

The courier forgot about the tax and duty on my 60k kit. Saved me a fortune.

 

Very naughty !!!!

 

 

Regards,

 

HM Customs and Excise

VAT Central Unit, Southend-on-Sea X

 

 

Originally posted by The RingMaster:

Very naughty !!!!

 

 

Regards,

 

HM Customs and Excise

VAT Central Unit, Southend-on-Sea X

 

 

Think JF has been fantasisng again !

 

 

I don't see what's naughty about it!

 

The courier company will have paid the vat and duty on my behalf (as the value of the goods was clearly marked on the box). The fact that they didn't bother to charge me is not my problem.

 

[This message has been edited by Dave Marley (edited 23-01-2002).]

What's naughty is falsely declaring the value of the goods. Some companies actually inflate the value thinking that they're doing somone a favour should it get lost and the insurance pay out (not the insurance company obviously), unfortunately when it comes to collecting the duty we get stung. I always encourage the sender to us US airmail or surface mail for heavy objects. The post office is far less efficient at collecting duty than the courier companies.