USA Customs Charges?

andy768

Hi,
I have seen a nice watch I want to buy from USA (to be delivered here in the UK). It is $170 and $39.99 postage. The seller says I may have to pay customs charges on top of the $209.99 when it gets delivered. Would this be the case and if so how much would it be? Would there be any other charges on top of that as well?
Thanks

pennylane99

customs duty will be around 5% plus Vat charges of 17.5%

if it is sent through the mail, the Post Office may also charge for clearing the package through customs and they collect all charges on delivery

A charge label will be affixed to the package at the Customs Postal Depot. This will show the amount of Customs charges to pay as well as any Royal Mail fee applicable.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&propertyType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

everythingblogcast

Ask the seller how much would it cost to have it sent by UPS. Since UPS fees include customs and the fact that Royal Mail does not get £8 for doing nothing.

martindow

VAT is charged on the cost of the item and the carriage charge. I would add 20-25 per cent to the total and see if it still seems good value. If so go for it. Sometimes things comes through without incurring charges and if so that is a bonus.

I would try to get them to use USPS (American Post Office) as that is most likely to get through without a charge. UPS and Fedex have options for the sender to pay import charges but clearly your seller is not going to be doing this. These two carriers will always charge import duties and VAT usually by invoicing you after delivery.

Flexible_Friend

Yes, my experience is that USPS (American Post Office) is much cheaper and just as quick as UPS and less likely for some reason to be hit by customs charges. UPS handling charges are higher than the Royal Mail. Ask the sender to under declare the value slightly.

andy768

Thanks for all the replies. I've bought it now so fingers crossed. Although even with a 25% markup its still good value.

pennylane99

even items marked as "gift" are not free of import duty and VAT if the value of the item is more than £36

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document#P66_5558

everythingblogcast

Flexible_Friend wrote: »

Yes, my experience is that USPS (American Post Office) is much cheaper and just as quick as UPS and less likely for some reason to be hit by customs charges. UPS handling charges are higher than the Royal Mail. Ask the sender to under declare the value slightly.

Thats against the law. Well it will be the sender breaking it and not the buyer.

andy768

I've just received an email with the tracking information. The courier is FedEx. Does anyone have experience with these receiving from the US? Also, will the customs charge be collected by the delivery driver or will they just bill me?

molar

I have just had a package delivered by FedEx. The bill was posted and came around a week later. It included a £4.75 admin fee.

Flexible_Friend

Drivers are not usually authorised to take payment. You will be requested to pay in advance (as with Parcel Force, UPS) or invoiced at a later date. Sometimes you can open an account.