Duty charges from the US - have I just been unlucky?

[Stevemorg]

Just receved a card from Parcelforce re. my Borah bivi - an extra £30ish in charges (VAT and clearance) - is that par for the course or have I been unlucky?

[Cheeky Monkey]

Sounds like it might be right. IIRC, it's something like 5% on the goods (rates varying depending onthe item), then Vat (20%) on everything (goods + tax + delivery charges). Then add the handling fee of the courier (usualy £12 o £15).

Someone might actually know how it works properly but it seems, sadly, about right. Stings, doesn't it :evil:

I'm still waiting for a rake of hammock gear from Warbonnet in the States. I think that's really going to smart :evil: I may wish I'd paid full price and waite dfor a US relative to bring it over.

Whether or not you get caught is a bit of a lottery.

[Dan_K]

Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't!

I got stung with £40 duty when I got my tarptent from the states. My quilt was marked as a repair when it got sent so I didn't get charged duty on that...

[Bearbonesnorm]

I think you've had a spot of bad luck really Steve.

I tend to ask any US suppliers if they'll mark any package as below $40 value ... 95% are happy to help and it seems to make a real difference to whether they bother to charge you and if you do get stung, it's for a lot less.

[Taylor]

http://www.dutycalculator.com

[Mart]

i asked John from Borah if he could help. Said he would mark it down a bit
Will let you know the outcome when it arrives
Mart

[Stevemorg]

He said he'd mark it down but it came through as $90!

[johnnystorm]

Tax dodging is only bad when its Jimmy Carr & Starbucks, eh?

[Cheeky Monkey]

He might have forgot, who knows. I don't know what the potential implications are to a vendor of being "creative" with their declarations of value / types of work :?

Fair play if they don't feel like playing funny beggars with the tax man given they're a business and all 8-)

I'm pretty sure I got hit when I got a bivi from John. Around the same time I got some bits from Dutchware. That really smarted as with the handling fee it was nearly the same in duty etc as I'd paid in $ for the stuff itself.

I've never checked the duty applied was right. Different things have different rates and it's applicable to some parts of the "value" and not others. TBH I figured I'm breaking about even withthe stuff that's been missed.

[Stevemorg]

The duty bit is fair enough though I thought $80 (which is what I paid for the bivi) just came in under the threshold - the £13.50 to Parcelforce is dfferent though!

[Mike]

yeap brought a msr ti kettle from states thinking id saved money then got stung by royal mail for handling fee?? WTF!! so actually could of brought it in the uk for cheaper....lesson learnt there!

[Dan_K]

I always ask if the seller will mark things down but I guess there could be implications for them if they get caught. I don't buy from the states that often though. Part of that is because of the duty.

I'm toying with the idea of getting a Lunar Solo but might end up ordering it from Germany. Shame SMD don't have a UK outlet. Stu, why don't you ask them to supply you via you bivvy gear sales?!

[Cheeky Monkey]

Handling charges are pretty standard, whatever courier it is. I think they vary a bit between different firms but when they've got me it's always been £10+.

TBH, they're a business, it must take time and money to process, collect, pay the tax man etc. Whether what they charge is "reasonable" I don't know. I'm not sure but they might have to pay the tax man up front (someone tell me if they know better). If so it's no surprise they charge.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Just seen this on the UPS tracking for my stuff from Warbonnet

Payment of charges - Item being held, addressee being notified

Oh happy days

[Taylor]

Just seen this on the UPS tracking for my stuff from Warbonnet

Payment of charges - Item being held, addressee being notified

Oh happy days

Be sure to inform us how much it is.

[Ian]

I don't know what the potential implications are to a vendor of being "creative" with their declarations of value / types of work

Effectively it's tax fraud, and misrepresentation of value could result in fine/ jail I think. I don't have one to hand, but if you read the terms stated on the customs declaration, I think it sets it out fairly clearly.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Be sure to inform us how much it is.

I think we can safely say, given the rake of gear I've ordered, it's going to sting like chilli in the eye

[Taylor]

Good job you've got a Bear Burrito Oven coming cheap then.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Aye 8-)

[Bearbonesnorm]

I think we may find it's only classed as tax fraud once you've been caught ... until then it's just common sense

[Dan_K]

I think we may find it's only classed as tax fraud once you've been caught ... until then it's just common sense

Like murder then?

[Cheeky Monkey]

Got fed up of waiting for the charge notification so called Parcelforce. Total bill (inc. handling fee) was £32.60. This seems very reasonable 8-)

Fingers crossed and snow permitting the gear might finally arrive tomorrow :D

[Taylor]

I'd say you got off lightly considering the amount of stuff Brandon sent!

[Cheeky Monkey]

sssshhhhhhh

[Dusza]

This time I got stung myself ordering some Revelate bits. Only VAT though, not duty... phew :)
All in all around 30GBP.