Working out Tax and Duty ordering outside the EU

jenniewb

I know there used to be a thread or some sort of calculator on here somewhere to calculate additional fees for ordering abroad but I can't seem to find it anywhere!


I want to order an item from Etsy, (hand made) the item is £15 and is from outside the EU (It's from Japan). I have no idea how much taxes/duty/anything else will add to it and if it's even worth the hassle.


I've ordered from the US before, second hand hair straighteners for £60 and got whacked with a bill for over £60 in charges, I don't want that to happen again so am trying to work things out first.

sarah1972

jenniewb wrote: »

I know there used to be a thread or some sort of calculator on here somewhere to calculate additional fees for ordering abroad but I can't seem to find it anywhere!


I want to order an item from Etsy, (hand made) the item is £15 and is from outside the EU (It's from Japan). I have no idea how much taxes/duty/anything else will add to it and if it's even worth the hassle.


I've ordered from the US before, second hand hair straighteners for £60 and got whacked with a bill for over £60 in charges, I don't want that to happen again so am trying to work things out first.

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

jenniewb

So to confirm; I wont get any additional charges because my item is less than £15?


The reason I ask is that I bought an item (as I mentioned) costing me £60 but it was an item with an RRP of more than £120 so Royal Mail charged me tax on £120 despite me not paying that initially (it was listed as having an RRP of £120 in the title and listing of the item). The item I want is less than £15 but does this cover me if someone else estimates it as costing more than this?

custardy

jenniewb wrote: »

So to confirm; I wont get any additional charges because my item is less than £15?


The reason I ask is that I bought an item (as I mentioned) costing me £60 but it was an item with an RRP of more than £120 so Royal Mail charged me tax on £120 despite me not paying that initially (it was listed as having an RRP of £120 in the title and listing of the item). The item I want is less than £15 but does this cover me if someone else estimates it as costing more than this?

You probably wont get charged. Its up to HMRC
Just as it was for your previous purchase. HMRC decide on duty due.
Simple point is the sender likely declared the value as £120,ergo the VAT was calculated on that. Also once VAT is payable,the shipping costs are added to the value for calculation purposes.

JAG

jenniewb wrote: »

The item I want is less than £15 but does this cover me if someone else estimates it as costing more than this?

They use the figure put on the customs declaration form.

If the sender puts a value higher than £15 then you are likely to get charged import duty/tax, as well as the handling fee (£8 from the Royal Mail).

You say the item is from Japan, so I presume they will declare the value in their own currency, so you may get caught out by the currency exchange rate. HMRC publish the exchange rates each month for imports.