ebay and china

[john2tzh]

on ebay various items of jewellery are from China with the purchaser having to pay import duties etc. how does this work? who do you pay and how much? can you find out in advance? any help appreciated

[Buenchico]

Import duties are a nightmare to explain!

Here's a summary:
If the value of the goods is less than £18, there's nothing to pay (except upon alcohol, tobacco products, perfume or toilet waters, when excise duties apply).

If the value of the goods is over £18, but less than £135, you have to pay 20% VAT plus an £8 handling fee. (For example, a £30 item would incur £6 + £8 in charges = £14. A £100 item would attract charges of £20 + £8 = £28). It should be noted that, when assessing the amount of VAT payable, the cost of the carriage can be included in the calculation as well (i.e. you can be charged VAT on the carriages charges, as well as the price of the goods).

If the cost of the goods exceeds £135 then, before any other charges are calculated, Import Duty is calculated using the 'Standard duty rate' column here:
http://customs.hmrc.g...propertyType=document
However, if the amount comes to less than £9 it's waived. Then VAT is calculated, based upon the price of the goods, plus the cost of the carriage, plus the import tax (if any). Then the £8 handling fee is added.

So (for example) a £70 DVD recorder, with £20 carriage, would incur these charges:
Import duty = 14% of £70 = £9.80
VAT = 20% of (£70 + £20 + £9.80) = £19.96
Handling charge = £8
Total = £37.76 (You'd receive an invoice for that amount from Parcelforce Worldwide. When you'd paid it, you then be sent your goods).

Chris

[heathfield]

In my case, I've generally had the Parcel Farce guy turn up on the doorstep demanding cash before handing over the item. And if it's UPS instead of Parcel Farce, they charge me a whacking £11 rather than the £8 for acting as your clearing agent at Customs.

[Dee Sa]

Parcel Force charged me £12 handling fees plus vat for a pair of shoes from the US, altogether with shipping it cost £29 to get a pair of £50 shoes, never again.

[boxtops]

I've had this from the States as well, you have to pay the delivery agent or you don't get your goods.

[JimmyCooper]

Email the seller and get them to put a low value on the customs declaration