Import charges.

[Drawweight]

I’m unsure where to post this.

Mods feel free to move it if necessary.

Q. If I was to buy an item online from Germany (crash helmet) for £300 what would I be looking at in charges , if any.

I’m asking rather than looking it up because I believe sometimes it’s pot luck if you get charged or not. Some personal experiences would be good.

[GreatGranny]

https://www.thelocal.de/20210222/what-you-need-to-...

Suggests you should but some posters may have actual experience.

[clockworks]

You'll have to pay VAT on the sales price + shipping cost. You may have to pay duty - varies by the type of item, some have zero duty.

You'll also have to pay a handling fee to the courier. Royal Mail is the cheapest, around £9 the last time I imported something. This is generally a flat rate fee for them to collect any tax due and pass it on to HMRC.

If you are buying from a seller that is geared up for international shipping, you should be able to get their local VAT knocked off the purchase price.

[Jim1064]

From Germany there is VAT to pay, plus the courier's handling fee for customs clearance.

It depends on the courier how they do it. UPS emails you in advance so you can pay the bill and receive delivery as planned. If that fails, the driver presents you with the bill and a credit card reader.

Other couriers just deliver and send you an invoice afterwards.

In other cases, the freighter emails you to tell you VAT is due and they give you a reference with which you can do a BACS to HMRC who then releases the shipment from customs.

I'm sure there are other ways, too. This is just my experience. Very confusing but hey-ho we voted for Brexit

[catso]

From UK Parliament website; https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brie...

"Protective helmets for wear by someone driving or riding a motor cycle are charged a zero rate of VAT"

So, you shouldn't be charged VAT on a crash helmet.

[23.7]

I'm confused too

Goods under £135 no duty, then further down all goods (except gifts under £39) duty is due.

Am I reading this correctly? Am I confusing duty with vat?


https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-...

[mmm-five]

23.7 said:

I'm confused too

Goods under £135 no duty, then further down all goods (except gifts under £39) duty is due.

Am I reading this correctly? Am I confusing duty with vat?


https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-...

If you're buy something for yourself then it's 'goods' (so a £135 limit)

If you're sending something (i.e. non-commercial transaction) to someone else then it's a 'gift' (so £39 limit)

[Panamax]

I believe that, in theory, since VAT was paid in Germany that VAT can be reclaimed in Germany because the goods have been exported outside the EU. But whether that's practicable is another matter.

[23.7]

mmm-five said:

23.7 said:

I'm confused too

Goods under £135 no duty, then further down all goods (except gifts under £39) duty is due.

Am I reading this correctly? Am I confusing duty with vat?


https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-...

If you're buy something for yourself then it's 'goods' (so a £135 limit)

If you're sending something (i.e. non-commercial transaction) to someone else then it's a 'gift' (so £39 limit)

So say £100, clothing ordered from Spain do I pay additional UK VAT?

[mmm-five]

23.7 said:

So say £100, clothing ordered from Spain do I pay additional UK VAT?

You shouldn't have to pay 'additional' VAT in any case.

You only pay the correct VAT that is owed. The retailer in Spain should charge you the VAT-free price and when it gets to the UK you will be billed by the courier (unless it's below the £39 gift allowance).

I said "shouldn't" in the first line because if the retailer in Spain doesn't remove the VAT and/or declares the total value then you may have to pay 'additional' VAT and try to reclaim the Spanish VAT somehow...which I don't believe is likely to be successful at the moment - despite the EU VAT Refund system (for businesses) and/or 13th Directive process (if you can't use the EU VAT Refund system).

https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/guide-vat-re...

The VAT is worked out on the total cost of the item, postage & packing, insurance & duty.

But for gifts below £39 and non-excise (i.e. not tobacco or alcohol) items under £135 you won't pay any DUTY!