Ordering items from USA (to the UK)

[good_egg]

just wondering. . If i order some items of clothing from a store in the USA, to be delivered to me in the UK. Do i have to pay some sort of import tax/duty? If so, at what point do i pay that, and to whom? And is the whole process relatively straight forward? or complete nightmare best avoided?

[bravejordy]

It depends on the value of the items you are ordering. I've ordered quite a few items from the US over the past eight years or so (mostly DVDs) and never been stung for any import tax/duty. However, it might be different when you're buying clothing. You could check out the following link for more info:

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebAp p/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_page Label=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_001454&pr opertyType=document

Also, I read somewhere about a guy who bought a watch for �430 and received a letter from Parcelforce saying he'd have to pay import duty of �51 before they could deliver the watch.

Personally, I wouldn't say it's a nightmare best avoided, especially if the clothes you're ordering still work out a lot cheaper (even with import duty included) than what you'd pay here for them.

Another link you might find interesting:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread .html?t=759541

Hope this helps.

[good_egg]

Thanks for your reply and the links. i think i would have to pay 12 percent standard duty rate and 17.5 percent VAT, payable on delivery. Im not shopping for a bargain as much as trying to source a specific item. but i think i will look in the uk for a little longer first.

matey on the link getting iphones for 130 quid makes you think tho, dont it!

[spudqueen]

I received a t-shirt I'd ordered from the states a couple of weeks ago and didn't pay any import tax/duty. It was only worth $20 though.

[amonty1144]

I've really been stung in the past on clothing, it was delivered by Royal Mail an I couldn't get it until I paid the duty and vat.
It depends on how it is packaged and labelled.

[Buenchico]

Import Duty on most types of clothing, from outside of the EU, is (as you state) usually 12%. However, the USA is currently in breach of a World Trade Organisation ruling relating to subsidies to cotton farmers. The UK is therefore applying sanctions against the USA, in regard to imports of cotton-based products. That means that the current rate of import duty is 27%. (Duty is waived if it comes to less than �7).

VAT is charged, at 17.5% on the value of the goods, on the carriage charges and on the duty. (Yes, that's a tax on a tax!). VAT is waived if the value of the goods is less than �18.

If there's no duty or VAT to pay, you don't have to pay a Customs examination fee. Otherwise you pay �8.

Let's suppose you buy cotton based clothing for $200 (�100) and you pay $40 (�20) for the carriage. Here's how the sums work out:

Duty = 27% of �100 = �27
VAT = 17.5% of (�100 + �20 + �27) = �25.73
Examination fee = �8

Total to pay the postman = �27 + �25.73 + �8 = �60.73.

Chris

[good_egg]

thanks for the advice, the items are initially priced at 25 dollars each, so two would be 50 dollars, plus 20 dollars shipping. Sadly, they're made of cotton, so 27 percent of 70 dollars is. . . . . . . (10 minute pause). . . . 18.90. . . i think. Plus the 8 dollars (or was it pounds?) gawd im lost already???? call it 16 dollars checking fee, comes toooo 104.90, bear with me. so now i have to add 17.5 percent. . . . call it 18 dollars, lol. . which is 122.90. which is roughly 61.45 in pounds. 30.70 each for items that should cost 12.50 each. . . . dont think i'l bother now

[good_egg]

Okay, so i paid vat on the examination fee. . lol