Buying a watch on the internet abroad

Bisoy

Hi Guys! I don't know if this the right board but kindly move this if it isn't.

I've been looking for seiko kinetic watch and have come accross https://www.superchrono.com it looks to me a genuine website. The product is ship from Singapore. My question is do I have to pay additional taxes in UK if I decide to buy one?

Cheers

John_Gray

Undoubtedly. Here's somewhere to start... And a thread on the same topic. Potentially the taxes could equal the price you paid in Singapore...

John

Bisoy

Thanks John that's been very informative. But how about a relative fo mine who lives in Singapore and buy one and send it to me as a present. Will I still incur UK taxes?

amcluesent

>do I have to pay additional taxes in UK<

You can ask the supplier to declare the value of the goods on the customs form as being less than £18 tax threshold. It might get through with no tax, or HMRC might open it and you'll be clobbered by VAT and import duties.

John_Gray

You can ask the supplier to declare the value of the goods on the customs form as being less than £18 tax threshold. It might get through with no tax, or HMRC might open it and you'll be clobbered by VAT and import duties.

That's the risk you take, and if the value has been mis-declared, then they might go after the supplier, and perhaps you!

I'm not sure whether you'd get away with it as a present from your relative, with a customs declaration of its true value (presumably a few hundred £s?).
You could try ringing up HMRC and asking...

John

rachel44_2

I bought a seiko watch from amazon.com for $220 in feb 06, it was delivered by DHL. Never thought about taxes really as I've bought lots of goods from overseas before and never been charged, but only yesterday I received a bill from DHL for £19.81 for the tax. The watch still worked out far cheaper than it would have cost here so I'm not really bothered but it was because it wasn't sent as a gift I think.

sra

*** Board Guide Note ***

Hi

I think I'll risk moving this over to the ebay and other auctions board.

Although it's not about an auction, that's where they're most likely to know about international buying

thanks

maniac886

I have bought a few diesel watches from the USA, they all came fine and tax free!

Hintza

maniac886 wrote:

I have bought a few diesel watches from the USA, they all came fine and tax free!

Lucky you!

Best bet is to get your relative to buy it and post it to you that way you get the higher limit. Have you looked at the Singapore sellers on EBay? I have bought a few from there good prices, worth checking out if nothing else . Go in via EBay.com and not .co.uk.

Hope that helps

mike230652

Reading HMC&E it makes no difference if it's a present from a relative...tax is still payable albeit possibly slightly less.

I doubt any reputable seller would illegally describe the goods as being WAY below their market value......if they get trapped doing this once...they'd be singled out for future attention...and why should they lie when they're an honest and genuine business??

All you can do is either be honest up front and pay the taxes...or try and get away with it.

Mike

Hintza

mike230652 wrote:

Reading HMC&E it makes no difference if it's a present from a relative...tax is still payable albeit possibly slightly less.

I doubt any reputable seller would illegally describe the goods as being WAY below their market value......if they get trapped doing this once...they'd be singled out for future attention...and why should they lie when they're an honest and genuine business??

All you can do is either be honest up front and pay the taxes...or try and get away with it.

Mike

And to follow up on that, if item gets lost you can't really claim for a £180 watch when you said the value was £17.99.