Import duty/tax on items shipped from UK to US?

Tricky · July 20th, 2006, 02:18 PM

As the title says, is there any? If so, are there ways to *ahem* avoid it? (not that I would, of course).

caverkevin · July 20th, 2006, 02:29 PM

take a trip to the USA and bring it back in your baggage or have a friend bring things over for you.

From talking to people about Gavins and rebreathers, pretty much across the EU you are going to pay close to 20% duties on the value of the goods. Then you are going to pay your countries VAT rate on the goods, maybe the shipping and duty.

It is not cheap. That is why I am waiting to buy my Classic KISS on a return trip home. It is also why I figure used gavins, tubes and other US products are worth a little more once in the EU.

What are you after, something big or small? Could ask the shipper to put the wholesale cost of the item on the paperwork and not the retail price that you paid. Could ease the pain a little.

Cheers!!

Kevin

**jb2cool** · July 20th, 2006, 02:30 PM

When items come from US to UK you may have to pay VAT. It really depends what it is.

I have bought loads of stuff from the US and only cot caught once or twice. If it's brand new and boxed you are more likely to get charged than if it's second hand.

How to avoid it...you could try getting the seller to mark it up as a gift, that sometimes helps.

Tricky · July 20th, 2006, 02:37 PM

Thanks but I'm all up on what happens from the US to the UK, but what happends the other way round (UK to US)?

wilbo · July 20th, 2006, 03:23 PM

I am sure I saw somewhere that the import duty not only relates to the value of the import - but also the 'type' of import - with different types attacting different rates of duty..

will have a ferret about...

caverkevin · July 20th, 2006, 03:28 PM

Is this for your regs?

If you send it UPS or a commercial service like that, they will have to clear customs. There will be a rate based on what ever you list the value.

If you go regular mail, keep it small and light. Say gift or something that does not indicate a sale, you should be OK.

Cheers!!

Kevin

Woz · July 20th, 2006, 03:32 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by wilbo)

I am sure I saw somewhere that the import duty not only relates to the value of the import - but also the 'type' of import - with different types attacting different rates of duty..

will have a ferret about...

You need the TARIC code. Have a shuftie on the interweb. For importing into the UK (probably works similar to the US) you pay the import duty at whatever the TARIC rate is (usually about 2.5% for diving kit) and VAT at 17.5%. If they have no idea what it is they'll slap a flat 10% import rate on.

If you want to take the risk and try to avoid it then send it as a gift or commercial samples.

GLOC · July 20th, 2006, 03:34 PM

The other issue is that if it goes walkies, for whatever reason, then you can only claim the value that was declared...bummer if it was something very expensive...

Martin Burnard · July 20th, 2006, 03:38 PM

Both the UK and US government a keen to raise revenue at present (the cost of wars!), and I here from vehicle importers that they are going for everything, general mail, shipped, and even gifts if there is any doubt!

Go on holiday buy it, use it, then ship it back is the one that appears to work best, remeber you can claim the tax back in the supplying country with the right paperwork, so it will sort of balance itself out.

Tricky · July 20th, 2006, 03:50 PM

IO was thinking that marking it as a gift might help. At least it could thne be marked with the appropriate value. I found a US gov website that lists their tax codes - I'll have to see if I can find one that's suitable for scuba gear.

July 20th, 2006, 02:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tricky(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posts: 555	Import duty/tax on items shipped from UK to US? As the title says, is there any? If so, are there ways to ahem avoid it? (not that I would, of course). __________________ "I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant." "Make me one with everything" said the Mystic to the Hamburger vendor. UK Diving Forum Sryth: A Free Online Text RPG Join the Adventure! Fallen Sword: Free online RPG

July 20th, 2006, 02:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
jb2cool(Offline) Padawan learner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire Posts: 797	When items come from US to UK you may have to pay VAT. It really depends what it is. I have bought loads of stuff from the US and only cot caught once or twice. If it's brand new and boxed you are more likely to get charged than if it's second hand. How to avoid it...you could try getting the seller to mark it up as a gift, that sometimes helps. __________________ http://jb2cool.bulldoghome.com

July 20th, 2006, 02:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tricky(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posts: 555	Thanks but I'm all up on what happens from the US to the UK, but what happends the other way round (UK to US)? __________________ "I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant." "Make me one with everything" said the Mystic to the Hamburger vendor. UK Diving Forum Sryth: A Free Online Text RPG Join the Adventure! Fallen Sword: Free online RPG

July 20th, 2006, 03:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
wilbo (Online) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 873	I am sure I saw somewhere that the import duty not only relates to the value of the import - but also the 'type' of import - with different types attacting different rates of duty.. will have a ferret about... __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

July 20th, 2006, 03:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
Woz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nottingham Posts: 246	Quote: (Originally Posted by wilbo) I am sure I saw somewhere that the import duty not only relates to the value of the import - but also the 'type' of import - with different types attacting different rates of duty.. will have a ferret about... You need the TARIC code. Have a shuftie on the interweb. For importing into the UK (probably works similar to the US) you pay the import duty at whatever the TARIC rate is (usually about 2.5% for diving kit) and VAT at 17.5%. If they have no idea what it is they'll slap a flat 10% import rate on. If you want to take the risk and try to avoid it then send it as a gift or commercial samples. __________________ www.kitfondle.co.uk Lots of shiny diving tatt for you to spend money on

July 20th, 2006, 02:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
caverkevin (Online) Doing It Caverkevin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Kackilackie Posts: 361	take a trip to the USA and bring it back in your baggage or have a friend bring things over for you. From talking to people about Gavins and rebreathers, pretty much across the EU you are going to pay close to 20% duties on the value of the goods. Then you are going to pay your countries VAT rate on the goods, maybe the shipping and duty. It is not cheap. That is why I am waiting to buy my Classic KISS on a return trip home. It is also why I figure used gavins, tubes and other US products are worth a little more once in the EU. What are you after, something big or small? Could ask the shipper to put the wholesale cost of the item on the paperwork and not the retail price that you paid. Could ease the pain a little. Cheers!! Kevin

July 20th, 2006, 03:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
caverkevin (Online) Doing It Caverkevin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Kackilackie Posts: 361	Is this for your regs? If you send it UPS or a commercial service like that, they will have to clear customs. There will be a rate based on what ever you list the value. If you go regular mail, keep it small and light. Say gift or something that does not indicate a sale, you should be OK. Cheers!! Kevin

July 20th, 2006, 03:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
GLOC (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,963	The other issue is that if it goes walkies, for whatever reason, then you can only claim the value that was declared...bummer if it was something very expensive... __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

July 20th, 2006, 03:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Martin Burnard(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Plymouth, UK Posts: 580	Both the UK and US government a keen to raise revenue at present (the cost of wars!), and I here from vehicle importers that they are going for everything, general mail, shipped, and even gifts if there is any doubt! Go on holiday buy it, use it, then ship it back is the one that appears to work best, remeber you can claim the tax back in the supplying country with the right paperwork, so it will sort of balance itself out. __________________ I once enjoyed a sado-masachistic frenzy of total tintintabulation leading to a state of metampsychosis... or did I make that up? www.bananafrogcars.co.uk

July 20th, 2006, 03:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tricky(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posts: 555	IO was thinking that marking it as a gift might help. At least it could thne be marked with the appropriate value. I found a US gov website that lists their tax codes - I'll have to see if I can find one that's suitable for scuba gear. __________________ "I know that you believe that you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not what I meant." "Make me one with everything" said the Mystic to the Hamburger vendor. UK Diving Forum Sryth: A Free Online Text RPG Join the Adventure! Fallen Sword: Free online RPG