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Import Tax, nyarg!

TubeTube Registered User admin
edited February 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
I'm ordering some supplements from a US company, and to offset the delivery cost I'm buying a shitload. The only problem is, I can't for the life of me work out the import tax I'm going to have to pay. I'd rather not end up getting stung for another 200 quid or whatever, so I'd like to find out beforehand. I also find any and all tax legislation completely incomprehensible. I think the answer is here somewhere http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000230&propertyType=document#P55_5965

but I'll be fucked if I can find it. The price of the goods (in US dollars) is $439.81, and postage is 122 dollars on top of that. Any help? I'm completely lost.

Tube on

Posts

  • CrashtardCrashtard Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    I don't know if this helps, but I sold a guitar on ebay that someone from Canada purchased. I paid 60 american pesoes to ship it via UPS and she got an import bill of $85 on top. The declared value of the guitar was 250 bucks. Just from that I would guess, vaguely, that your import bill is going to be in the range of $150 or so.

    Crashtard on
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  • TurgorTurgor Registered User regular
    edited February 2008
    Well, a little digging and I found your answer. It looks like you will be paying 12.8% VAT on the retail cost of the goods.

    I found this handy chart of common internet items and their applicable duties. Now, there is no promise that the taxman won't try to sod you for more under some obscure rule that only bureaucrats and barristers comprehend. Apparently you can also contact your local Postal Depot and speak to the Customs person to get information on the taxes that will be due. Further, make sure your seller isn't collecting the duties at the time of sale. There are many companies that do.

    You can look at the chart yourself at the link below.

    http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_009989&propertyType=document

    Good luck. And I hope those "supplements" aren't going to be something that are being delivered to "U. W. Anker" for plausible deniability and will draw the interest of the canines inspecting the packages. :P

    Turgor on
  • TubeTube Registered User admin
    edited February 2008
    Awesome, thanks man. Looks like I'm set for an extra hundred bucks :(

    I also spent too much. stupid tube.

    Tube on
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Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum