Buying Guitar from US - Import tax?

Lillys_mum

I am thinking about buying a guitar from the US for my husband.
Would I have to pay Import Tax on it, I don't know about these things.

It is not included in P & P as they offer free postage - Uk included.

Many thanks

LM

mrtg0525

I have bought a guitar from the US before, but it's over there with my wife. That said, after the conversation with the seller, I'm a bit surprised that anybody would offer free shipping to the UK. To give you some kind of idea of the cost involved, the guitar I bought came with a hard plastic case and shipping both to the UK would've cost around USD300, compared to USD25 shipping inside the US...

Anyway, that aside, normally you'll pay import tax on the item and P&P (HMRC can advise how much that will be, they're rather helpful) , and then VAT on the cost of item, P&P and import tax.

steveo3002

yep chances are you will pay duty/vat plus a collection fee from the delivery company

sometimes they slip through but dont count on it

ormus

afaik.
duty is only about 2% on a guitar. then vat on the total amount. and a brokerage fee. (8 quid if its the RM).

Avoriaz

In theory you have to pay import and other taxes for any purchase from the USA over a certain amount.

In practice it depends whether your parcel is picked up as liable to tax when it arrives in the UK. Small parcels often escape the net but a large parcel such as a guitar will almost certainly be picked up and your chances of evading the tax are small.

What guitar is it? Is it not possible to get it here?

Most US guitars are widely available in the UK and it is probably cheaper to buy it here than to pay the delivery costs and the tax on an American personal import.

ormus

and thats fraud!
be careful out there.

b14ck

ormus wrote: »

and thats fraud!
be careful out there.

no it isn't ! only unless you and you along are going to use the guitar and no member of your family will ever be able to touch it.

grow up ormus :rolleyes:

mrtg0525

AFAIK gifts that have their value declared properly aren't exempt from duty and VAT, despite this "suggestion" being bandied about on the Internet countless times. And it appears that HRMC agrees. Surprise . Have a look at point 2.4 ...

soolin

In case the thread suddenly doesn't make sense it is because a post has been removed.

Can I please remind all users to read the forum rules about suggesting illegal actions on this board. Suggesting a fraudulent action is not allowed on this forum and all posts suggesting such will be removed.

custardy

and just to add you can declare what you like on the customs label :re what its use is.
doesnt mean customs will accept it,i see plenty charged that way

Lillys_mum

Thanks for the advice.

The one on Ebay is priced at £558.24

To buy it here in the UK the cheapest I can find is one on sale at £649