Buying from USA

jamesflood

I've been after a camera in the UK for a while, but looking on American eBay they seem to be so much cheaper, but I gotta be careful of tax is that right?

Iveuus read tha if I buy from a registered company, I will pay tax. If I buy from joe blogs, I don't have to,

Can anyone shed some light on this?

James

bobthedambuilder

I bought a bit of electronic stuff from a US company last year, shipping paid to the UK, and before the courier company (UPS) would deliver it I had to pay an import duty bill to them - they sent me an invoice to pay.

I'm not saying it will happen every time.

Lovelyjoolz

Doesn't matter if you buy from a registered business or a man in the street, you will most likely have to pay standard rate VAT and import duty on anything you buy from outside the EU.

Four out of the last five things I've bought from USA have incurred these charges.

jamesflood

Ok.

So if for example I had a friend in America who wanted to post me a basketball for example, even tho I haven't bought it...I'd still have to pay this end?

bobthedambuilder

If your friend put on the US customs declaration that the goods had "no commercial value", I would guess they'd get in without extra duty. My son has sent me presents from the US so labelled, and I haven't had to pay anything on those But that can't happen if it's a company selling you the goods.

nikki1520

And it's an offence to declare an item as a gift when it isn't. And gifts over a certain value are still subject to duty and vat- if the value is underdeclared, the insurance won't cover it if anything happens

Check out http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document

nickcc

Bought a camera a few years ago off seller on eBay USA, thought it was a bargain until I ended up having to pay UPS driver vat, import duty and collection charge when he delivered, would have been cheaper buying from Jessops.

jamesflood

Ah I'd best leave it then. cheers guys