Import tax from US purchase

Coxy212

Hi, first post here.

My brother and myself are interested in buying some clothes from the US Abercrombie site and my friend from LA said she would buy them from her computer in the LA and arrange for them to be shipped to my house in London. Obviously, it is much cheaper (80%+ cheaper) on the US site which is why we dont want to use the UK site. We were wondering how much import tax we would have to pay if we had a purchase of around $200. Shipping will be around $55 which we dont mind when we pay half each we are just worried about getting charged ALOT of tax. Could anyone enlighten me on this as it is the only thing holding me back from getting some dirt cheap abercrombie clothes!

Thanks everyone.

nikki1520

Ok, so your customs value is $255 - about £190
Duty is between 7 & 12% assuming no leather goods, or shoes. So between £13 and £23.
Add this to the customs value, as well as the charge for processing the parcel ( royal mail charge £12 I think). add all these on to the customs value and then add VAT at 20%


Or hope that your parcel doesn't get stopped on the way in. Luck of the draw there really.

custardy

nikki1520 wrote: »

Ok, so your customs value is $255 - about £190
Duty is between 7 & 12% assuming no leather goods, or shoes. So between £13 and £23.
Add this to the customs value, as well as the charge for processing the parcel ( royal mail charge £12 I think). add all these on to the customs value and then add VAT at 20%


Or hope that your parcel doesn't get stopped on the way in. Luck of the draw there really.

£8 for RM
though given the value I would expect it to be by courier

nikki1520

Thanks custardy- that was the only bit I was unsure on!

Coxy212

So overall we are looking at around £30-£40? hmm considering how cheap it is and how much money im saving might well do it anyway, thanks guys.

Coxy212

Apparently if the value of the goods is under £135 then duty doesnt have to be paid, so just VAT and the charge for processing has to be pid then.

dzug1

custardy wrote: »

£8 for RM
though given the value I would expect it to be by courier

Couriers tend to charge more than £8

KxMx

Also shipping costs are added to the final value when calculating the charges, so $255 to be charged on, not just the $200.

JAG

This website will give you a good idea of the charges. Although it doesn't give you the handling charge made by the couriers or Royal Mail (£8).

http://www.dutycalculator.com