import tax from america ???????

[magicmistertea]

is it normal to pay import tax on a 1991 bike frame posted from america ?
for some reason i thought as it was second hand goods, i wouldnt have to pay it !!
am i just mistaken ? or should i phone customs and tell them to sort it out ?
the frame and forks and mc1 came to about £225 posted, and now apparently i have to pay about £40 import tax on it !!
i dont mins paying if i have to, but do i ?
cheers

 

[South Bound]

Yep!

 

[jonnyboy666]

my boss just got a bill after he bought some srm power cranks 2nd hand from the US, they were 1900 dollars +postage, he got a bill for £172 VAT but no import tax, he was given a form from the post office to claim the tax back if it was allowed but he doesn't need to coz he can put them through the business and claim it back next quarter!

basically, you import something there will be a minimum of 17.5% vat on it atleast and the import tax potentially on top of that.


it's an arse.

 

[magicmistertea]

basically, you import something there will be a minimum of 17.5% vat on it atleast and the import tax potentially on top of that.


it's an arse.

potentially.......so does it not allways get added ?

 

[South Bound]

SOmetimes items slip through, but they are not meant to - you should pay tax. So allow for paying it and if it gets through you can buy something else sparkly or some flowers for MrsMT

 

[magicmistertea]

So allow for paying it and if it gets through you can buy something else sparkly or some flowers for MrsMT

something sparkly it is then !!!

 

[Augustus]

basically,

UK customs add up the cost of the bike+shipping+insurance on shipping. Then slap a 14% (in the case of bikes, new or 2nd hand) duty on it. Then add that new total up and charge 17.5% of that on top for vat. New total = :shock:

:roll:

 

[cherrybomb]

And companies like Fedex have a habit of invoicing you for the import duty months after delivery, so just cos' you didn't get stung when they knocked on the door don't mean you're safe. In short, don't be too quick buying them sparklies

 

[Thorpie]

Just received a letter from Parcelforce stating they have a package from America for me. VAT - £21.07 Parcelforce Clearance Fee - £8, total - £29.07! Makes you wonder if it really is worth buying from the US, should be a mint pair of XTR cranks though for my Explosif. Rear mech still to come, how much is that going to be?

Trevor.

 

[Tallpaul]

VAT and import duty are a fact of buying anything from overseas. You should budget for them when looking at the total cost of an import. If the price of the item, shipping AND duty mean it's too expensive then no, buying from overseas isn't a sensible alternative.

That said, i've bought loads of stuff from Hong Kong, Holland, France, USA etc and they've worked out very reasonably even with the extra costs. Plus every so often you get away without the duty