I would like to buy a watch from the US via ebay, which costs 70 pounds. How much will i have to pay in total to customs? And how will it be done ...i.e. will the post office contact me?
2007-09-06 19:26:20 · 4 answers · asked by Nirmala 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United Kingdom
i have heard that the practice of marking valuable things as gifts is risky for BOTH the seller and the buyer. it this true.
2007-09-07 04:38:20 · update #1
The cost of duty and VAT will be based on the total cost of the goods, the shipping and insurance. The VAT will undoubtedly be 17.5%, the duty is based on the item itself.
Only if the total cost is less than £18 will no VAT and duty be
charged (If marked as a gift the value doubles to £36).
If it is being sent through a courier company, they will pay the duty and VAT up front then invoice you for it, plus an admin fee.
If it is being sent through the standard mail system, Royal Mail will only release the item o you once you have paid the duty and VAT, plus an admin fee- usualy by visiting your local depot.
2007-09-07 10:12:36 · answer #1 · answered by brodnick82 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, US companies have no interest in allowing you to pre-pay UK customs .. so when the item arrives in UK, IF it gets 'inspected' (about a 50:50 chance it seems - they never bother with packages under about £35 & focus on the higher value ones first .. if the sender marks it $70 (rather than £70) chnaces are you will get away with it) THEN it is assessed for Duty etc.
The Courier Company will USUALLY pay the Duty on your behalf = they will then demand 'cash on delivery' (most will not accept cheques). There will be a (fixed) 'handling charge' on top of the %x duty & 17.5% VAT (depends on the Courier - can be anything from £10 to £25).
If you don't have the cash (or they don't pay the Duty for you) they will take the package back to their local depot and you have (I believe) 14 days to visit them & pay up (cash or cards only) before they auction it off (or return it to sender)
2007-09-06 19:43:58 · answer #2 · answered by Steve B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny you should say that! I have just bought one myself that cost me about £40 and when it arrived here as it was not marked as gift I had to pay the standard PO charge of £8 plus VAT of nearly £5.... not always worth it is it! If they mark it as gift they don't normally charge anything. Good luck, it's a lottery!
2007-09-06 21:31:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the seller marks your parcel as a gift you will not have to pay any postage duty on it.
Just get in touch with the seller and ask if they will mark it up.
Alot of people actually do it anyway
2007-09-06 19:40:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋