Import Tax - I know it's not audio but bear with me!

freshvictims · Mar 7, 2005

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking about buying a tascam 1082 off ebay. The catch is that the seller (an ebay shop) is in the US and I live in the UK. Does anyone know the import tax situation on this? How much it is, what it applies to, etc? I don't want to find I get $300 added to a $700 item!

Thanks

fv

Dogman · Mar 7, 2005

Buying something international, I'm not sure how it is taxed. Do you pay tax in the UK on these items? Here, you might be liable for sales tax, and that is dependant on the state it's sold from, and the state I live in. Mostly, we would be liable for our own state sales tax. Mine is 6%, so if it's a $700 item, I'd owe tax of $42. You shouldn't owe much, but again, you need to find out what international procedures are. Maybe go to a government website that talks about taxes and tarrifs on international transactions, or maybe the ebay shop could answer it.

Anyway, best of luck.
Ed

Cheeky Monkey · Mar 7, 2005

I live in Canada, and maybe it's because of the US/Can free trade agreement, but I've never paid any taxes or customs duties on items I've ordered from the US. I doubt that will apply to you. I think your best bet (apart from another UK member who knows chiming-in) is to call a UK customs office to find out.

Kevin Deschwazi · Mar 7, 2005

If it's below the value of £30 and is a gift you won't pay VAT. So if you can get the seller to state this on the despatch sticker you'll be laughing (they prolly won't though).

UK VAT is 17.5% so if you end up paying it on a $700 item you're talking $752.50 in total.

It will get marked at customs and you'll have tp pay the excess when the courier arrives at your door. If you have no way of paying they will usually take it back to their depot and you have to pick it up when you have the cash (most of them take Switch as well).

Hope this helps

freshvictims · Mar 7, 2005

Death and taxes

So it's just the usual 17.5%? No hidden 500% import tax courtesy customs, ATF, homelands security or M15?

jamtheguitarman · Mar 7, 2005

I thought there was alot more to it than just adding 17.5(i cant find the damm percent key :mad:

)
I remember looking at importing an amplifier across,if my calculations were wright it was around £200 tax for a £600 amp.
then again, i could be compleatly wrong.

Kevin Deschwazi · Mar 7, 2005

jamtheguitarman said:
I thought there was alot more to it than just adding 17.5(i cant find the damm percent key )
I remember looking at importing an amplifier across,if my calculations were wright it was around £200 tax for a £600 amp.
then again, i could be compleatly wrong.

Possibly but I've bought quite a bit of gear from the states and all I've ever had to pay is the VAT and of course shipping.

If you really want to make sure why not contact HM Customs and excise?