Amazon - Buying goods from an international seller

w00519772

I am thinking about buying a few small items on Amazon i.e. this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01ALLS4TG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DUB5KOCL63QZ and this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DZPJNPY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1YUKQV8AXD4S9.

Both sellers have international business addresses so I emailed and asked them both:

1) Will I be importing their item?
2) Will I have to pay any additional charges e.g. import tax?

Both answered yes to question 1. Both answered no to question 2 - one said that they would be responsible for import tax. Is that correct?

steveE2

The VAT free limit for UK imports is £15 as both items are under this there is no VAT due,import duty starts at £135

RFW

steveE2 wrote: »

The VAT free limit for UK imports is £15 as both items are under this there is no VAT due,import duty starts at £135

As above. If over £15 you'll be paying VAT and a courier/post surcharge.
That also means if you buy 2 items at £10 and they were sent together you'd be paying it too.
In general I'd be dubious about the seller saying they would be paying any import tax, they can't ever be responsible for it, it's always the buyer. They may ship to a UK centre and then redistribute within the UK.

theonlywayisup

w00519772 wrote: »

I am thinking about buying a few small items on Amazon i.e. this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01ALLS4TG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3DUB5KOCL63QZ and this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01DZPJNPY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1YUKQV8AXD4S9.

Both sellers have international business addresses so I emailed and asked them both:

1) Will I be importing their item?
2) Will I have to pay any additional charges e.g. import tax?

Both answered yes to question 1. Both answered no to question 2 - one said that they would be responsible for import tax. Is that correct?

It isn't quite as clear cut as you may think. It is fair to expect that if you shop on Amazon.co.uk and pay in GBP then the item should be in UK and you shouldn't have any charges to pay. Some of these sellers do have UK stocks which they have in huge warehouses and ship direct from there. Some don't and you may find if you order a large amount it could be coming from China with the associated charges/fees as given above.

If you are planning on buying a large amount, why not do a small order first to see if it comes from the UK.

w00519772

RFW wrote: »

As above. If over £15 you'll be paying VAT and a courier/post surcharge.
That also means if you buy 2 items at £10 and they were sent together you'd be paying it too.
In general I'd be dubious about the seller saying they would be paying any import tax, they can't ever be responsible for it, it's always the buyer. They may ship to a UK centre and then redistribute within the UK.

If the items are bought from two different sellers then I guess this will not matter? i.e. if they arrive at customs at the same time. I am only spending about £20.