A few observations from an ebay addict... I get caught all the time but I don't mind as it's still cheaper to buy from the USA. the thing that really hacks me off though is paying VAT on the postage charge, that I cannot understand. In my experience things arriving in jiffy bags are much less likely to be 'customs-ated' than things in boxes. Also different courier companies collect charges in different ways, Fed-ex by letter, UPS by phone, the PO by letter, or if the charge is small, direct to your postman. I hate that, I never have the right change! I did the majority of my Christmas shopping last year from the US (mainly ebay) and even with customs charges on some items I still saved a fortune:D
Personally I'd suggest taking it up with the company that sent the item out in the first place.
Quite often there is very small print somewhere contained in the website stating that the person purchasing may be liable to pay import costs. From one site I use:
Customs and Import Duties
Your order may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once your package reaches your country.
<name here>does not collect duties and taxes and cannot predict what your particular charges may be. If you do incur these additional charges, they must be rendered in order for your package to clear customs.
For more information regarding your country's custom policies, please contact your local customs office.
Is it true that you may pay VAT,customs duty and a P.O. fee to the postman ?
There is a table somewhere on the Customs or Revenue website that shows the duty payable on goods. Some have VAT plus customs duty. you could end up paying quite a lot. Sorry I can't find the link, but I did read it recently.
I have never had to pay charges on the delivery cost of my stuff!!!
i have now had 3 very large orders from the us sent by United States Postal Service each have been around the $300 with a delivery charge of $150!! and delivered here by Royal Mail but i would only get charged the duty on the $300 which from what the postie told me was all they can charge you on they cant charge you on the delivery charges too!!
There is a table somewhere on the Customs or Revenue website that shows the duty payable on goods. Some have VAT plus customs duty. you could end up paying quite a lot. Sorry I can't find the link, but I did read it recently.
The rates of certain items can be tricky - ie food is exempt but luxury foods are standard rated (17.5%) therefore if you import plain biscuits there is no VAT but chocolate biscuits have 17.5% VAT (v. interesting McVities case a while ago as chocolate cakes are exempt and they had to determine whether a Jaffa Cake was a biscuit or a cake).
I have never had to pay charges on the delivery cost of my stuff!!!
i have now had 3 very large orders from the us sent by United States Postal Service each have been around the $300 with a delivery charge of $150!! and delivered here by Royal Mail but i would only get charged the duty on the $300 which from what the postie told me was all they can charge you on they cant charge you on the delivery charges too!!
I think they charge taxes on the delivery charge as well,not just the cost of the goods.
Depending on the product duty may be levied as well as VAT, and of course VAT on the levy
But for ebayers, remember this, if the goods originated from within the EU in the first place and are second hand not duty or VAT is due. However it will be charged in the first place as customs have no way of knowing this. Send them the relevate pages from ebay, they will then open the package to confirm and drop the charges.
The £18 limit is crucial, note that tesco now send CD's from outside the EU (Jersey I think) so that VAT isnt levied, so their prices arent as generous as they seem
Comments
Quite often there is very small print somewhere contained in the website stating that the person purchasing may be liable to pay import costs. From one site I use:
Customs and Import Duties
Your order may be subject to import duties and taxes, which are levied once your package reaches your country.
<name here>does not collect duties and taxes and cannot predict what your particular charges may be. If you do incur these additional charges, they must be rendered in order for your package to clear customs.
For more information regarding your country's custom policies, please contact your local customs office.
There is a table somewhere on the Customs or Revenue website that shows the duty payable on goods. Some have VAT plus customs duty. you could end up paying quite a lot. Sorry I can't find the link, but I did read it recently.
i have now had 3 very large orders from the us sent by United States Postal Service each have been around the $300 with a delivery charge of $150!! and delivered here by Royal Mail but i would only get charged the duty on the $300 which from what the postie told me was all they can charge you on they cant charge you on the delivery charges too!!
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageExcise_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000199&propertyType=document
The rates of certain items can be tricky - ie food is exempt but luxury foods are standard rated (17.5%) therefore if you import plain biscuits there is no VAT but chocolate biscuits have 17.5% VAT (v. interesting McVities case a while ago as chocolate cakes are exempt and they had to determine whether a Jaffa Cake was a biscuit or a cake).
I think they charge taxes on the delivery charge as well,not just the cost of the goods.
But for ebayers, remember this, if the goods originated from within the EU in the first place and are second hand not duty or VAT is due. However it will be charged in the first place as customs have no way of knowing this. Send them the relevate pages from ebay, they will then open the package to confirm and drop the charges.
The £18 limit is crucial, note that tesco now send CD's from outside the EU (Jersey I think) so that VAT isnt levied, so their prices arent as generous as they seem