Import duty and VAT

[turbanator]

Is there any legal way of avoiding taxes when importing a KISS?
Either by having it posted to you or collecting it yourself.

I don't want to do anything illegal and if collecting it would cost that same as delivery and taxes, then I'd rather do that as it would give me a chance to catch up with some friends in Canada. Similarly, could said friends buy it and pay Canadian taxes (6%?) and send it to me, thus avoiding VAT?

Somone mentiond earlier having it sent to some where like Lanzarote, how would that affect things if the final destination was the UK?

Is it if the unit has been used abroad, when does it become 'used' as opposed to new.

r
Paul

[Richie]

I don't think so - if you look at the signs in UK airports the tax free value for goods other than booze, fags etc is some £145 (ish).
The s/h or not bit wouldn't count unless it was an antique of some type of goods exempt or zero rated for VAT purposes.

I'm not a VAT expert so maybe a call to you're friendly Customs and Excise office would help - they are usually helpful and aimiable.

(Otherwise I have a friend sailing from Colombia who might be able to collect en route...........)

[Brass Monkey]

Screw them for everything you can get, the bastards screwed me out of the VAT on my Ybod.
Buy it yourself and bring it in yourself, dont decaliar it. This improt tax/Vat thing is bollox anyway. Don't you think you pay enough taxes as it is without giving them more. They tax the arse off you when you earn your money then they tax you again when you spend it. Illeagal what the government does should be illegal. Unless of course you like giving away money.


Dave.

[Brass Monkey]

Originally Posted by Richie(2)

I'm not a VAT expert so maybe a call to you're friendly Customs and Excise office would help - they are usually helpful and aimiable.

This has to be a joke, right? Those stern faced sphincter police, why oh why should we pay more than other countries for the same stuff?

Dave.

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Richie(2)

I don't think so - if you look at the signs in UK airports the tax free value for goods other than booze, fags etc is some £145 (ish).
The s/h or not bit wouldn't count unless it was an antique of some type of goods exempt or zero rated for VAT purposes.

I'm not a VAT expert so maybe a call to you're friendly Customs and Excise office would help - they are usually helpful and aimiable.

(Otherwise I have a friend sailing from Colombia who might be able to collect en route...........)

Sailing from Colombia eh. I think they might have a REALLYYYY good look around.

Adrian

[Richie]

Originally Posted by Brass Monkey

This has to be a joke, right? Those stern faced sphincter police, why oh why should we pay more than other countries for the same stuff?

Dave.

Dave - vaguely serious, the dealing that I've had with HMC&E have all been OK but then we've been talking serious big company money so perhaps I've been lucky and not had to deal with a jobs worth. The increased cost over other countries is usually the VAT rate compare the UK 17.5 % with the 19.6 % here in France and the 6(ish)% in US. There is also the greed factor in the sellers prices..
Boring but true.

[Dominic]

The only conclusion I've been able to come tp with import tax is they make it up as they go along - half the time they don't charge me a penny in tax, other times I wind up paying twice the value of the goods as tax.

The only thing I am sure of is the bastards also tax you for the fecking delivery costs - so at least if you collect it yourself they won't be able to tax you on the FedEx charge as well!

[scubadog]

Paul...A few months back whilst hunting for an Oly 5050, a few sites from importers/exporters where advertising that VAT would not apply as it would be brought into the country under the tittle of ´A Gift ´...maybe this is correct, maybe aload of bolx, hopefully someone may know more.

Pete

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Brass Monkey

Buy it yourself and bring it in yourself, dont decaliar it. This improt tax/Vat thing is bollox anyway.

It may be bollocks and you may not like Customs & Excise, but their powers are draconian - get caught and it will cost you.

As an example, bring in your unit and don't declare it or misdeclare it or its value to avoid tax and it becomes liable to seziure (i.e. the Customs will take it off you and it will then belong to them). They may return it to you (called restoration) but it will cost you the import duty and VAT originally due plus a fine - which can be up to 100% of the original value of the item.

OK if you get away with it, but if you don't, expect to find a dent in your wallet.

Oh, and by the way, they've seen all the scams and diversions known to man. Sending it via Lanzarote or somewhere else like that will not alter the fact that it is an import from outside the EU (third country) and therefore customs (import) duty and VAT are liable.

HTH

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Dominic

... other times I wind up paying twice the value of the goods as tax.

... then, either you are unlucky or look like a criminal!

Taxed at 100% of the value of the goods - that's quite a rate.

The typical rates of Customs Duty (not including VAT etc.) are between 1% and 15%