How Do You Go About Importing Goods From Usa And Do You Have To Pay Import Tax/duty?

[newcastle1]

I would like to import some goods which Walmart do. Just wondering how I would go about this and would I have to pay import duty/tax?

[TonyV]

When a friend sent me some T shirts from the States I had collect from local Post Office delivery centre and pay some import tax.

[barry1010]

You may have to pay import duty and/or VAT depending on the type of goods and the value including delivery charges.

[Old_Geezer]

If it's a single item it may get through without charge depending on circumstances, what it is, etc. Or you may get a knock on the door asking you to pay tax/duty.

In buying a lot for business reasons then you probably need to give more details on the law forum.

[Old_Geezer]

IF...

[Milo2]

My daughter ordered something from the USA and had to pay duty when it was delivered. She hadn’t realised this so something that she thought was a bargain wasn’t in the end.

[barry1010]

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

Useful guide.

[woofgang]

Keep in mind that as well as the VAT/customs duty as applicable, there is an £8 handling charge and whatever is levied on the VALUE NOT PRICE of the item is also levied on the shipping cost. I am not even sure that Walmart ship here. I have bought from the US when its something I really want, its almost never a bargain. Have you looked for the items elsewhere? Amazon might have what you want and they do a thing where they charge you a fee upfront and that covers shipping and import costs. Still not cheap but cheaper than doing it yourself.

[calmck]

If there is a friend in the US who could send the items to you have them repackage in plain box or envelope and remove bill etc.

[AuntPollyGrey]

You have to pay duty on commercial purchases and Customs will often open the parcels. Walmart will not ship to the UK. If you get a friend to post you items, and get them to mark the value down and put it as a gift, then its a lottery chance if they get opened or not. If they do you , and they believe the value is above their thresh-hold, you will get a card through the door to go to the Post Office to pay the duty -currently at around 22% I believe.

[THECORBYLOON]

There are various forwarding sites that allow folk based here to use an American address for delivery. Then then forward the items to the UK for a fee.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Private goods can still be opened by Customs and duty charged if they think its valued over their thresh-hold.
Some things are bargains though. I bought a saddle from Texas for a third of the price it would have cost in the UK. I had to pay £80 duty but it was still a bargain.

[Buenchico]

Walmart doesn't ship goods to the UK:
https://help.walmart.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/279/kw/shipping

If you buy from elsewhere in the USA though, here's how the system works:

1. When your goods arrive in the UK, Parcelforce Worldwide (who have the contract to carry out customs inspections on behalf of HMRC) start by assessing whether the value of your goods exceeds £135. (They're entitled to include the cost of carriage in their assessment too). If they do, you'll be charged Customs Duty at the relevant rate. (That can vary enormously. With some goods, such as books, it's zero. Electrical goods might only have Customs Duty charged at around 2½%, although it varies between different products. With cotton-based clothing it's currently a staggering 27%, due to the USA being in breach of WTO rules by subsidising their cotton farmers)

2. Parcelforce Worldwide add together the cost of your goods, the cost of the carriage and any Customs Duty you've got to pay (as above). Then, as long as the total come to more than £15, they charge VAT on the lot, at the same rate as if you bought the goods in the UK. (That's 20% for most things but nil on some items, such as books and children's clothing).

3. Parcelforce Worldwide don't get paid directly by HMRC for their work. Instead, they're entitled to charge a flat fee of £12 on any goods where there's any Customs Duty or VAT to be paid. (If neither have to be paid, there's no fee).

Some examples for you:

Example 1. You purchase a CD from the USA for (the equivalent of) £8 + £4 carriage. Because the total is less than £15, you have NIL to pay and your purchase will be delivered by your postie in the usual way.

2. You purchase electronic goods (of a type that incurs Customs Duty at a rate of 2½%) from the USA, for (the equivalent of) £200 + £20 carriage. You pay £5.50 in Customs Duty, £45.10 in VAT and the flat £12 fee, meaning you have to hand over £62.60 before you can receive your goods. (You'll be sent a demand for payment, which has to be paid before your goods can be sent on to you).

3. You purchase cotton-based clothing from the USA for £200 + £20 shipping. You pay £59.40 in Customs Duty, £55.88 in VAT and the £12 fee, giving you a total of £127.28 to pay before your goods can be delivered to you.