Import Duty to UK

[Grizzly]

Has anyone any experience of importing goods into the Uk that have been purchased from outside of the EU. Sometimes I see goods on USA websites that I may be interested in purchasing but am wary because I dont want a large duty bill to arrive in the post from HM Customs.

I have already done a search on the forum and although I can find plenty of not so good stories about US customs or Fedex charges I cant find anything regarding UK taxes.

[Rab]

Can be hit or miss, think anything over £37 is liable for import tax there might also be handling/admin charges unless you get someone to send it as a gift, then you should be ok I think.

[MikeS]

I'm sure someone else will have more specific information, but...

I sent a package to a FaceBook friend in North Yorkshire recently. It contained a US flag, Confederate flag, and 3 magazines about the royal wedding. I paid $79 for the stuff and sent it as a gift. She told me she paid £44 for the duty.

[Peter Lowe]

Go to HMRC.GOV.UK
Under INDIVIDUALS & EMPLOYEES click more topics.
In left hand column click on SHOPPING ON THE INTERNET.

That should give you all the information.

Peter

[davidg]

It is very hit and miss. If the value is under £18 then there will be no duty payable. Over that value you may have to pay customs duty, VAT and a carrier handling fee

If the item arrives via Royal Mail (i.e. USPS) then they will ask for payment before delivery, if it arrives by carrier you MAY get a bill some weeks (or months) later. 50 to 60% of the item value is not unusual and the value INCLUDES the cost of carriage, which can itself be quite substantial

Some people seem to escape any charges, others get hit hard. There seems to be no way of telling what will happen and if you do get hit hard there is a problem recovering those charges if you want to return the item. It is possible to do so but complicated

It has been possible for some years now for retailers in the US and elsewhere to register for UK (or other European) VAT. If you buy from these retailers then you will have already paid VAT so will not be liable for any import duties whatsoever. Unfortunately not too many register, usually only software and music vendors, but they are the only ones I buy for if I am buying anything over US$30

[Laird_M]

I got some brogues from Geoffrey in Pakistan and didn't have to pay anything extra.
I think it really depends on how its sent.

[davidg]

I got some brogues from Geoffrey in Pakistan and didn't have to pay anything extra.
I think it really depends on how its sent.

If that is all you purchased then I would not have expected you to pay import duties. Geoffrey's brogues are $24.95 which is well below the limit required to trigger duty. His buckle brogues are $29.95 which again is below the limit and, even if adding carriage costs in, are borderline depending on the exchange rate that day. Any duty due would have been pennies and likely waived

[cessna152towser]

I have imported several kilts from USA and Canada, brand new and second hand.
As others have said it is very hit or miss. On one occasion I was hit with quite hefty customs duty of around £50 on a kilt but I can't recall being charged duty on any of the other kilts which I imported.

[Pleater]

We were hit twice for import duties on the same item, which was sent back as it did not work and the suppliers sent the same one again so it was returned - the third time we were asked to pay import duty we protested and produced the paperwork from the last two deliveries, and all the correspondence, and it was never seen again.

We don't import computer parts any more.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Redshank]

Customs will charge an fee for imported goods, the fee is dependant upon the catagory of goods imported, everything from Elephants semen to Cowboy hats has a duty rate, these are listed in the import dury rates tariff, the calculations for the amount payable are reached by taking the value of the goods plus freight, multiplied by the duty rate, then multiply that amount by 20% to add the vat, but the costs dont end there, a customs clearance fee is usually charged.
As has been pointed out these charges can be avoided if the sender declares a low value and that the item is a gift, but that means the sender will be making a misdeclaration and breaking the laws of both the country of origin and the country of destination.
Bottom line, if you cannot get the item of your desire in the UK, then be prepared to pay these extra charges.
I have over 20 years in the Import / Export business so if you need to know more, pm me