Anyone importing from the USA?

[VEX]

I want to buy a specialist bit of electronics from the USA, it is second hand and I need to get it into the UK properly.

I am VAT registered, but need to find the most effective way to ship it in and pay duty on it.

Happy to use someone here if they offer brokerage and shipping.

TIA

V.

[The Moose]

How physically large is it, what does it weigh, what's it worth and where in the USA is it located?

[VEX]

It is one of these.

http://www.quantumdata.com/products/804.asp

It is 3kg and about 9 x 42 x 16cm and is packed in its normal shipping carton. So I would guess that the carton will be about 20 x 60 x 36cm at worst.

Second hand I am paying $2300 as I am in a trade that uses these.

V.

[spikeyhead]

Any of the major carriers, UPS, Fed-Ex etc will manage that. Just make sure it's got the right paperwork on it. You'll be paying VAT on it as it comes into the country, and a fee to the carrier for handling the VAT and any import duty.

[Nick Grant]

I buy car parts from the US and use IParcel. You can pay all the duty at time of purchase and it comes straight to your door without having to make another payment when it arrives in the UK.

I tend to find that what you pay in $ + shipping + VAT + Duty = £

So a $200 part cost £200 by the time it hits my door.

[The Moose]

VEX said:

It is one of these.

http://www.quantumdata.com/products/804.asp

It is 3kg and about 9 x 42 x 16cm and is packed in its normal shipping carton. So I would guess that the carton will be about 20 x 60 x 36cm at worst.

Second hand I am paying $2300 as I am in a trade that uses these.

V.

And where abouts in the US is it?

[VEX]

It's in New England.

V.

[smack]

On my monthly work trips stuff like that I stick in my hardcases. TSA open them up every time and don't care.

[VEX]

I would to, but it is not in a flight case yet and I don't make trips to the US any more!

V.

[RickRolled]

Get them to send it via ups/dhl/fedex, once here they will clear it through customs and you will pay duty and vat. Obviously you can claim VAT back. If you want, ask seller to send it with lower value invoice, although they might not agree to this. Carrier will not check / care about this.

[spikeyhead]

RickRolled said:

Get them to send it via ups/dhl/fedex, once here they will clear it through customs and you will pay duty and vat. Obviously you can claim VAT back. If you want, ask seller to send it with lower value invoice, although they might not agree to this. Carrier will not check / care about this.

It's a $5000 fine for a US citizen to put a low value on export documentation. That's tends to make most reluctant to do it.

[RickRolled]

True, after claiming back the VAT the only cost on top will be duty and postage, so relatively small.

Edited by RickRolled on Sunday 10th August 22:58

[rich1231]

We have a US subsidiary and forwarding address and good direct arrangements for shipments by air.