Import Duty from the USA?

iandv

Hi

Hope this is the right forum?

Does anybody know if import duty on purchases from the USA has been raised, and if so how much is it at present?

The reason being is I am planning on buying clothes from a US website to get shipped to me in the UK, and wanted to know how much you can bring in without paying import duty etc.

TIA

bubblegumcola

I can't remember how much we were charged but we had a customs/import charge to be paid upon collection at our local sorting office and all my husband bought from the USA was three t-shirts. We weren't happy at all, it was hardly worth getting them from the USA by the time we paid that it cancelled out any savings he made. Wouldn't do it again. It was way back in March so thats why I can't remember the price we ended up paying.

If its something you really really like then bite the bullet and just pay, don't know if your local sorting office might be able to give you an idea of how much may be charged? Getting through to them at this time of year might be tricky though. How about looking on the Royal mail website?

blue_monkey_2

Duty has been raised but VAT (which is the main bulk of the cost) remains the same, albeit 15% now. Bear in mind you will also pay VAT on the postage charges. There will also be a 'handling fee' by the courier or Parcelforce.

I paid £22.00 VAT, Duty and Handling on a package worth $150 including postage (card charged £72). PF Handling charge was £8 so £14 was duty VAT. As VAT on £72 was £10.70 I am assuming that Customs duty is £3.30.

You can find more information here on Importing goods:
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&propertyType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

Import duty is such a small amount it is the VAT and Handling Charge they will hammer you with so beware of this. The Post Office probably will not know as Parcelforce deal with it. If the goods are sent by courier they will deliver the goods and you will receive and invoice in 7-14 days AFTER delivery, if it goes via USPS/Parcelforce then you will receive a letter saying how much to pay (you can do this online) and then the parcel is released for delivery. Ignore them saying it goes the day after you have paid, mine did not and when I questioned it the guy at PF told me that they were never cleared for postage the same or next day so make allowances for this.

akane_2

Depends on the items you are buying.
Childrens clothes are VAT free so there would be no charges on them.
Also depends on the sender, i won't name names but packages from certain retailers are 100% opened and checked where others are selected at random.

purplebutterfly

I get all my cosmetics from the US and it is hit and miss as to whether I pay duty or not.

The Royal Mail charge is often more than the customs duty. My last parcel cost £30 to buy initially, then there was an additional £12.95 to pay at the post office when I collected the package. Of that, £4.95 was duty and the rest was Royal Mail's own handling charge.

The lady behind the counter said she thought it was disgusting the way the mail is pretty much holding people to ransom in this way. If you don't pay their charge, you don't get your parcel.

Mind you, I've had loads of items from the US - including electricals - and only been charged for duty that once. My wedding dress came from China and that wasn't charged either.

iandv

thanks all - I think it is via UPS and I was planning on spending around $500, any ideas how much duty/charges etc this may be?