Import from Europe but not the EU? Im confused

jeffuk

https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/arrivals-from-eu-countries

z1a

dlusman wrote: »

Canary islands are not separate countries - they are part of Spain, and so are in the EU ( as are the Balearics )

I know they're Spanish, but they aren't financially part of EU. Hence the non EU limits on imports.

TripleH

I think Kosovo uses the Euro. I find NZ and Australian companies trade in US dollars or accept them as payment (Australia probably less so now).

Companies either pick a more stable currency than their own to minimise losses on exchange or if they buy lots of raw materials from overseas as well, again it saves on currency exchange fees.

Sometimes large financial institutions don't deal in lesser currencies because its also not worth their effort.

dekaspace

martindow wrote: »

I regularly import from China where companies invoice in Euros or US Dollars. An Indian company invoices in GB Pounds. So the currency is unrelated to the country involved.


Regarding Andorra, their VAT rate is 4.5% or even lower for some categories so even though you will pay UK VAT it should have started out at a very good price.

Its a specialised hand made item Costing about £200, I did check with another buyer across in Canada who only was charged 33 Canadian dollars tax, not sure why mine was so steep.

molerat

What is charged by Canadian customs has no relevance on what UK customs charge. 20% VAT on £200 is £40 for starters. Canadian GST, pretty much the same type of duty as VAT is only 5%.

Spoonie_Turtle

molerat wrote: »

What is charged by Canadian customs has no relevance on what UK customs charge. 20% VAT on £200 is £40 for starters. Canadian GST, pretty much the same type of duty as VAT is only 5%.

And once over £135 then there are customs duties on top of the import VAT; the rate of that depends on what category the goods fall under.

dekaspace

molerat wrote: »

What is charged by Canadian customs has no relevance on what UK customs charge. 20% VAT on £200 is £40 for starters. Canadian GST, pretty much the same type of duty as VAT is only 5%.

I know I meant in a purely logical way they get it for a fraction of the price.


In some ways im more miffed at the seller, he is from the EU and only recently moved to Andorra and I didn't know why but since its a tax haven it makes sense