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b4rs 04-05-2007 07:21 AM

import charges?
 
i want to purchase a few items from associatedparthouse.com and it amounts to $33 approximatly, which is really good price. but will customs tax me or charge me for them? has anyone else bought something from APH.com? did you get charged? what do oyu normally get charged for?. its just i dont want to be paying like half price which is basically what they are in america, and then be charged when they get to the u.k making me have paid more money in the long run.
thanks
Alex

Lee 04-05-2007 07:23 AM

If it comes in an envelope you usually miss customs;)

If it comes in a box ie a car etc then they usually nail you, it is still cheaper though

b4rs 04-05-2007 07:27 AM

well its some tyres,springs,screws,washers etc really i think the biggest thing im getting is tyres

bigred5765 04-05-2007 07:41 AM

listen u wont pay import duty, get it listed as scale model parts none import taxable, and will only pay vat 17.5% in uk dos so 33 dollars 16 quid time 17.5%

greyfox 04-05-2007 07:45 AM

Go here for full details:-

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...yType=document

BenG 04-05-2007 08:07 AM

I got a box of B4 bits from the US, It was RCBoyz.

It came in 1 week, and I got no charge for it.

sosidge 04-05-2007 08:15 AM

$33 dollars right now is £16.62.

VAT and duty are only due on goods over £18, so in this instance you should not have to pay anything at all.

Bear in mind though that the customs value is calculated INCLUDING shipping. So, if the shipping cost an extra $10 on top of the $33, then you will go over the £18 limit.

The VAT will be next to nothing on that - but what will kill you is the customs clearance fee of between £8 and £13.50. Your $33 of parts could easily end up costing you £35, not £16, probably a lot more than buying in the UK, but without the backup.

Oscar 04-05-2007 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee (Post 37289)
If it comes in an envelope you usually miss customs;)

If it comes in a box ie a car etc then they usually nail you, it is still cheaper though

Nonsense ! :eh?:


Simple, if its declared over GBP£18 you pay, if its under you dont !
Yes it is possible for a more expensive item to "Slip through", but its rare, after all royal mail make between £8 and £13 for every parcel they collect a charge on, so they have a vested interest in taxing wherever possible;)

BenG 04-05-2007 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscar (Post 37302)
Nonsense ! :eh?:


Simple, if its declared over GBP£18 you pay, if its under you dont !
Yes it is possible for a more expensive item to "Slip through", but its rare, after all royal mail make between £8 and £13 for every parcel they collect a charge on, so they have a vested interest in taxing wherever possible;)

ahhh.

isn't that charge going up too? They told me last time I had to got heckmondwike for my parcel.

chrispattinson 04-05-2007 08:59 AM

Fancy a job as an accountant sosidge?

losixxx 04-05-2007 09:08 AM

lee is very correct,

if package comes via royal mail postman type delivery you have a 80% - 90% chance it will come through no problem, parcel force seem to be the only one's who impose charge's on almost everything.

Markoxx4 04-05-2007 09:12 AM

I picked up a nokak brushless yesterday from the Leeds depot, i had a nice £25.08 charge waiting for me. £13 release fee and the rest as VAT.

I asked for a breakdown of what they did for £13 and they couldnt tell me. so i asked to see a manager and he couldnt tell me.
I equated it to bank charges in the fact any charge has to be itemised to validate it . Sent them a letter today giving them 14 days to prove the £13 is valid or i will be making a claim.

I would sugest to anyone to do the same as all they have to do is sign a bit of paper to accept it. Not worth £13!!!!

BenG 04-05-2007 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markoxx4 (Post 37313)
I picked up a nokak brushless yesterday from the Leeds depot, i had a nice £25.08 charge waiting for me. £13 release fee and the rest as VAT.

I asked for a breakdown of what they did for £13 and they couldnt tell me. so i asked to see a manager and he couldnt tell me.
I equated it to bank charges in the fact any charge has to be itemised to validate it . Sent them a letter today giving them 14 days to prove the £13 is valid or i will be making a claim.

I would sugest to anyone to do the same as all they have to do is sign a bit of paper to accept it. Not worth £13!!!!

I asked this once.

I think the guy worked as like a free lance delivery dude for UPS.

They wanted £50 for a replacement part that was free.

He said that they open the box, and re-seal it.

thats it.

Also, he was that good, he actually opened it up, let me replace the new part with the broken part, then sent it back, as I had refused it.

What a guy. ;)

mark christopher 04-05-2007 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscar (Post 37302)
Nonsense ! :eh?:


Simple, if its declared over GBP£18 you pay, if its under you dont !
Yes it is possible for a more expensive item to "Slip through", but its rare, after all royal mail make between £8 and £13 for every parcel they collect a charge on, so they have a vested interest in taxing wherever possible;)

if you know how to get it shipped you can avoid all charges ;) , i have so far a 100% free record

jimmy 04-05-2007 09:31 AM

wrapped in a condom and swallowed? :o

jcb 04-05-2007 09:51 AM

Import charges are only due on items with a value of the equivalent to £36 (around $70) and excluding postage or more. This is the value at which items can be gifted so generally there is no charge on anything up to that value.

Above that amount you are liable for VAT on the excess and more than likely a handling charge from your local post office. These are paid when you visit your collection office to pick up your parcel.

I generally order between $50 and $60 of stuff at a time from the US (at the shop mentioned) and have never had a problem with customs or the postman.

The bit the shops won't like is that even if you do get caught for import duty and a handling charge the items will still work out cheaper than you can buy them in the UK :wtf:

losixxx 04-05-2007 09:53 AM

charge's are due on good above £18 not £36 jon

jcb 04-05-2007 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark christopher (Post 37319)
if you know how to get it shipped you can avoid all charges ;) , i have so far a 100% free record

Thats also illegal, and can land you and the person doing the shipping a hefty fine or imprisonment :(

losixxx 04-05-2007 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcb (Post 37330)
Thats also illegal, and can land you and the person doing the shipping a hefty fine or imprisonment :(

can't get you into trouble only the person who send the package. there's no way they can do anything to you when you had nothing to do with the customs form labelling!

mark christopher 04-05-2007 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcb (Post 37330)
Thats also illegal, and can land you and the person doing the shipping a hefty fine or imprisonment :(

its only illegal if
1/ they catch you
2/ they can prove its not a warranty return item

speeding is ilegal, so is drinking under age but everyone has done it! and how many buy good on a holiday over the limit and dont declair it?


sorry but i pay enough taxes 25% on wages, 17.5% on most stuff i buy, road tax, fuel tax, council tax, think its only fair i get a bit back

jcb 04-05-2007 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by losixxx (Post 37329)
charge's are due on good above £18 not £36 jon


You used to be able to gift something up to the value of £36. So say your relation in the USA wants to send you something over to the value of £30, the parcel can be marked as a gift and there is no charge payable. Looks like i'm a bit out of date on my legislation :p

mark christopher 04-05-2007 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy (Post 37321)
wrapped in a condom and swallowed? :o

the b4 went in as a kit and came out built, hurt like hell comin out the other end tho lol

losixxx 04-05-2007 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark christopher (Post 37337)
the b4 went in as a kit and came out built, hurt like hell comin out the other end tho lol


thought that would be the easy part for you mark :D :D :D

(sorry could'nt resist)

Lee 04-05-2007 10:07 AM

As illegal as it is mark, i look up to you:D

After what i have just been taxed this week on my wages right now i hate gordon brown:wtf:

jcb 04-05-2007 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark christopher (Post 37335)
its only illegal if
1/ they catch you
2/ they can prove its not a warranty return item

speeding is ilegal, so is drinking under age but everyone has done it!


sorry but i pay enough taxes 25% on wages, 17.5% on most stuff i buy, road tax, fuel tax, council tax, think its only fair i get a bit back

On payroll you actually get your taxable allowance which for most people is £5225 tax free, then your next £2230 charged at 10% and the following amount of £32370 at 22%, if your lucky enough to earn more than £34600 you get to the dizzy heights of 40% tax, but at least you pay less NI then. Oh and NI is chargeable after you start earning more than £5225 and thats another 11% off your wages.

Trust me the VAT office is worse than most for deciding what you can and can't do, I have to deal with them nearly every day of the year and most of the time it just depends on how good or bad a day the person is having as to what the answer is.


Easiest way is not to worry about the charges, it will be cheaper than the UK whether you get caught or not.

bigred5765 04-05-2007 10:15 AM

it isn't illegal, if you get the sender to declare the goods as scale model replica kits or spares, they are outside the impost duty bracket no matter how much they cost. u will pay vat but no import duty, trust me i know this to be true and legal, and thats from a guy that deals with import duty

Lee 04-05-2007 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcb (Post 37341)
On payroll you actually get your taxable allowance which for most people is £5225 tax free, then your next £2230 charged at 10% and the following amount of £32370 at 22%, if your lucky enough to earn more than £34600 you get to the dizzy heights of 40% tax, but at least you pay less NI then. Oh and NI is chargeable after you start earning more than £5225 and thats another 11% off your wages.

Trust me the VAT office is worse than most for deciding what you can and can't do, I have to deal with them nearly every day of the year and most of the time it just depends on how good or bad a day the person is having as to what the answer is.


Easiest way is not to worry about the charges, it will be cheaper than the UK whether you get caught or not.


Or you could Create a ltd company in which you pay just over £100 a week as a directors fee in which your NI and tax @22% comes out of and the rest is all taxable at 20% (corporation tax) minus expenses;)

Saves me a fortune!!

jcb 04-05-2007 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee (Post 37345)
Or you could Create a ltd company in which you pay just over £100 a week as a directors fee in which your NI and tax @22% comes out of and the rest is all taxable at 20% (corporation tax) minus expenses;)

Saves me a fortune!!


Thats the advantage of being a director and not an employee, I suppose you take the rest of your earnings out through dividend's and directors loan accounts?

Lee 04-05-2007 10:43 AM

Exactly! and split the dividends between and the Mrs so i can earn twice as much before i hit 40%

I reckon it saves me about 20k a year in total

BenG 04-05-2007 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark christopher (Post 37335)
its only illegal if
1/ they catch you
2/ they can prove its not a warranty return item

speeding is ilegal, so is drinking under age but everyone has done it!

Not me :D

modelimages 04-05-2007 12:51 PM

as a shop owner i clearly have have issues with people buying from america etc, however i live in the real world and accept that you have the choice and why should you pay more just to feed me, that said major importers like cml,horizon etc don't get the opportunity to defraud the vat by declaring the large container of parts from associated as "gift". i accept that you order the items and if they get through without a charge thats not your fault, however if you deliberatly declare the goods as something there not to avoid the charges due that is clearly wrong.

as a second point how can you come onto a forum and explain how you avoid charges whilst carrying a shop name in your signature line. if your supported by that shop in your racing surely you should be supporting them back. telling people how to get goods cheaper from somewhere else does not seem the way to do it.

BenG 04-05-2007 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modelimages (Post 37389)
. i accept that you order the items and if they get through without a charge thats not your fault, however if you deliberatly declare the goods as something there not to avoid the charges due that is clearly wrong.

I agree with that, you cant ask the company to mismark the package. However, many times over have i received a Parcel from the US, Switzerland, and Hong Kong, and unbeknown to me, they have marked the value at stupidly low prices.

How can we stop that? What happens if I customs found out. Who gets into trouble? :confused:

philly 04-05-2007 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy (Post 37321)
wrapped in a condom and swallowed? :o

Jimmy...I worry! lol

BenG 04-05-2007 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philly (Post 37406)
Jimmy...I worry! lol

Tell me about it.

If Jimmy didn't have this site to let out his oOplely madness, goodness knows what would happen.
(sorry Jimmy, but like you said the other day, you love me :wtf::o;):D)

sosidge 04-05-2007 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispattinson (Post 37306)
Fancy a job as an accountant sosidge?

Wouldn't mind the salary and the shiny new Audi... :D

...but I can live without all those numbers... make my head hurt.

emzy 04-05-2007 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy (Post 37321)
wrapped in a condom and swallowed? :o

... OUCH.

sosidge 04-05-2007 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee (Post 37351)
I reckon it saves me about 20k a year in total

You must have one hell of an accountant then :o.

jim76 04-05-2007 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modelimages (Post 37389)
as a second point how can you come onto a forum and explain how you avoid charges whilst carrying a shop name in your signature line. if your supported by that shop in your racing surely you should be supporting them back. telling people how to get goods cheaper from somewhere else does not seem the way to do it.

well said John. Hopefully the shops will be reading this!

jim76 04-05-2007 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sosidge (Post 37417)
You must have one hell of an accountant then :o.


you need to earn over £150k a year in order to save £20k on tax through this method.
And if you earn that much you shouldn't really need to shop abroad to save the odd £20 on gear!!

bigred5765 04-05-2007 02:52 PM

without being to funny about it, horizon that own Losi sell Losi car's online cheaper than you can buy em from any shop in the UK, and that includes import duty and vat, although import duty should not be paid on any scale model or replica kit apart from trains and thats from UK customs them selfs, and thats not listing anything as there not, just plain simple facts. yes you should and still do have to pay vat,but with that and postage a xx4 is 40-50 quid cheaper than here in UK,xxxcr 30-40 quid,i would love to support our great British shops, and suppliers but some one some were is making a killing and if it isnt the shops then who??, i have my own ideas but what do you guys think.??


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