Import Duty on Internet Orders

BFG_2 · 17 June 2005 at 4:58PM

VAT is a tax on already taxed money.

SO you work and pay 'PAYE' tax on your earnings, then you invest the money in a building society, and you pay tax on the interest, then you use the interest to buy something, and you pay VAT (3 taxes!!). Oh and don't forget that seller will pay tax on their profits (your money taxed again!!!)

Now you see where the gov gets all the money to waste on aircraft carriers or NHS investments with no returns.

Politicians, dontcha just luv 'em!!!

R0CKY · 17 June 2005 at 6:33PM

BFG wrote:

VAT is a tax on already taxed money.

SO you work and pay 'PAYE' tax on your earnings, then you invest the money in a building society, and you pay tax on the interest, then you use the interest to buy something, and you pay VAT (3 taxes!!). Oh and don't forget that seller will pay tax on their profits (your money taxed again!!!)

Now you see where the gov gets all the money to waste on aircraft carriers or NHS investments with no returns.

Politicians, dontcha just luv 'em!!!

Thanks BFG now I feel even worse!

I'm waiting on Customs telling me if I'll have VAT to pay on a book import as their website is unclear.

MJSW · 17 June 2005 at 6:56PM

If you need more information on whether a book is standard or zero rated for VAT, take a look at http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/downloadFile?contentID=HMCE_CL_000102 , in particular page 15 onwards. This should contain almost everything you could ever want to know about VAT on books!

If it's just a normal book for reading, it will almost certainly be zero rated. The standard rated type 'books' are things like cash books, exercise books, notebooks etc which are intended for writing in rather than reading and are classified as stationery.

R0CKY · 17 June 2005 at 9:23PM

MJSW wrote:

If you need more information on whether a book is standard or zero rated for VAT, take a look at http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/downloadFile?contentID=HMCE_CL_000102 , in particular page 15 onwards. This should contain almost everything you could ever want to know about VAT on books!

If it's just a normal book for reading, it will almost certainly be zero rated. The standard rated type 'books' are things like cash books, exercise books, notebooks etc which are intended for writing in rather than reading and are classified as stationery.

Cool, thanks for the info, my Karate book should be zero rated then. Remarkable pdf, 21 pages about VAT on books!

Chillout · 15 July 2005 at 9:38PM

Import duty is slapped on goods over £19 outside the EU but is that per item you import or does it include multiple items?

eg if one item costs £15 (under the limit) and another item you put in the same order is worth £10 (also under the limit) thats £25 total which is over the limit. Do I have to pay customs duty on the total package?

aeuerby · 16 July 2005 at 8:07AM

In short Yes. Duty is paid on the total value of the order in the same box and not individual items. Don't forget as well as the duty you will also have to pay for the carrier to collect the money. Eg Parcel farce will charge £8.00 :eek:. Dhl charge considerably less - I think we paid around £2.00 on an order worth around £100.

Angela.

terriermama · 16 July 2005 at 10:53AM

What?!!! I paid £25 to the Fedex courier last month on a package worth £150. I'll be ringing them up now.

sarah1 · 17 July 2005 at 7:44PM

When we buy from abroad we always ask them to put on the paper work either 'used' or 'second hand' and luckily we have never been charged any import duties ever. try it, it may work for you too.

gravesy_2 · 16 August 2005 at 1:09AM

I am looking to purchase several small items from the USA but am not sure about where I stand with import tax etc etc. The items are all the same and under the £18 threshold for imports. Can anyone tell me if I ship these all individually whether or not I will avoid being charged and tax even if each parcel contains exactly the same item?

Cheers.