Import Duties

[VetteG]

Are these the same throughout the EU? For example if I was to import and engine part from the USA I would generally pay 6% import duty on the cost of the part and the shipping plus VAT on all 3, i.e. cost, shipping + import duty. I know that VAT is different from country to country, are the import duties different? What I'm actually asking is, would it be advantageous to import to one specific EU country over another?

G

[Stu R]

It does indeed vary from country to country. Unless you're living between two countries or the volume is so large a couple of % would be substantial, the costs of transporting the goods would wipe out any savings and then some normally.

The UK can be one of the cheaper places at the minute believe it or not. Depends what it is you're bringing in though obviously.

[sunbeam_alpine]

I'm in Belgium, and I buy and sell loads of things from other EU countries. As far as I am aware there are no duties applicable between EU member countries. If you are buying for a business (have a valid EU VAT number) then you don't have to pay VAT either. There are some exceptions to this VAT rule - mostly for services - e.g. if you employ a lawyer in another EU country you have to pay the VAT in the country where the service is provided.

There used to be a rule that if you bought something (I think max value €10,000) as a private individual (i.e. you could not provide a VAT number) you could choose where you paid the VAT - for example you could choose to pay in the country with the lower VAT tariff. I'm not sure whether this still exists.

[VetteG]

I am aware that no duty is payeable between EU countries, my question was to see if there would be an advantage to importing from a non EU country to one EU country rather than another.

G

[sunbeam_alpine]

Sorry, misunderstood the question. Can't help further - I only buy within the EU.

[Sam99]

Hello,

I bought two pairs of Levi’s from the States a month or so back.
Total cost inc P&P or shipping as they call it = $95:00.
Brilliant.
Fed Ex delivers a month or so later, and asks for £19:85 for Customs / Handling and general robbery.
Van-man wont take any form of plastic or a cheque, so its cash or nothing.
Nothing means I then have pay for it to be re-delivered.
I scraped together £19:85 in all sorts of coinage.
He was not happy.

Today $95:00 is £59:00.
Customs / Handling and general robbery = £19:85 which is approx 33% of my purchased items.

Importing from the States?
Beware.
Customs are trying to resolve the National Debt their own way ……

A good price for two pairs of Levis though ..

Sam.

As for querying it??????????
Press 1 for …
Press 4 for …
Press 99 for …………………
Your call is important to us ………. GAK !!!

[lockhart flawse]

So far as I am aware and I import a lot into the EU, the duty is the same regardless of the EU country you ship to.

L.F.

[AndrewW-G]

As per others, for me the actual tax isnt that much of a problem, the real wee boiler is the admin fee charged by the like of FedEx, UPS, Parcel Force etc...... to the point that I've refused a delivery as the charges outweigh the purchase cost

[tubbystu]

lockhart flawse said:

So far as I am aware and I import a lot into the EU, the duty is the same regardless of the EU country you ship to.

L.F.

Import duties are harmonised, but VAT rates differ. Most are above UK levels, only Spain, Cyprus & Luxembourg are lower.

Austria VAT Rate: 20%
Belgium VAT Rate: 21%
Bulgaria VAT Rate: 20%
Cyprus VAT Rate: 15%
Czech Rep VAT Rate: 19%
Denmark VAT Rate: 25%
Estonia VAT Rate: 18%
Finland VAT Rate: 22%
France VAT Rate: 19.6%
Germany VAT Rate: 19%
Greece VAT Rate: 19%
Hungary VAT Rate: 20%
Ireland VAT Rate: 21%
Italy VAT Rate: 20%
Latvia VAT Rate: 18%
Lithuania VAT Rate: 18%
Luxembourg VAT Rate: 15%
Malta VAT Rate: 18%
Netherld VAT Rate: 19%
Poland VAT Rate: 22%
Portugal VAT Rate: 20%
Romania VAT Rate: 19%
Slovak Rep VAT Rate: 19%
Slovenia VAT Rate: 20%
Spain VAT Rate: 16%
Sweden VAT Rate: 25%
UK VAT Rate: 17.5%

If its enough to make it worthwhile for the OP it could save a £ or two, but cost of forward shipping to UK would need to be considered to see if it is enough.

You may also require the paperwork showing it has had EU duty paid when you try to bring it into the UK, otherwise you may have to pay it again or forfeit the goods. The HMRC do not muck about when they can effectively legitimately make you pay on the spot. Or abandon the goods.

Caveat emptor.

[Tom_C76]

Sam99 said:

Hello,

I bought two pairs of Levi’s from the States a month or so back.
Total cost inc P&P or shipping as they call it = $95:00.
Brilliant.
Fed Ex delivers a month or so later, and asks for £19:85 for Customs / Handling and general robbery.
Van-man wont take any form of plastic or a cheque, so its cash or nothing.
Nothing means I then have pay for it to be re-delivered.
I scraped together £19:85 in all sorts of coinage.
He was not happy.

Today $95:00 is £59:00.
Customs / Handling and general robbery = £19:85 which is approx 33% of my purchased items.

Importing from the States?
Beware.
Customs are trying to resolve the National Debt their own way ……

A good price for two pairs of Levis though ..

Sam.

As for querying it??????????
Press 1 for …
Press 4 for …
Press 99 for …………………
Your call is important to us ………. GAK !!!

Some of the 33% goes to the courier for processing the duty and VAT on your behalf though, and if you bought those jeans in a shop in the states you'd pay around 15% sales tax on top of the ticket price.