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Old 2nd Sep 2021, 6:53 am   #7
Gabe001
Octode
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 1,612
Default Re: Importing from Europe and us....

The way I understand it, which may or may not be correct, is that if I import something from Europe that's made in Europe, there should be no customs duty (whatever the value). There will however be VAT to pay. Whenever customs duty is applied the couriers also apply a handling fee which is in the region of 10-20 pounds, in addition to their normal fees

If I import something from Europe that's made in china or elsewhere, I pay customs duty (depending on value), vat and courier handling charge.

Of course in practice couriers don't know the origin of the item, so they will try to charge you customs duty more often than not, but I believe that there is a form you can submit to reclaim costs. Keeping the value of the item or items below the customs threshold saves you both the customs duty and the courier add on handling fees.

The same should apply in reverse

Regarding exports to the US, there was a thread on the forum that anything with valves could be blocked on the basis that they contain mercury. This is not rigorously applied.

Essentially when importing from the USA you get charged vat +/- customs duty (depending on value) +/- courier handling fee.

The best is to keep the value of the orders low so that they are kept below the customs duty threshold. Putting in separate orders some time apart when buying multiple items is permissible I believe, so that they are shipped separately and treated individually by customs.

I need to send a Philetta I've done for my dad who is in Malta and I haven't done so yet. I'm undecided whether to take it with me on the plane as hand luggage (but security may have a fit when they X ray it) or risk that he gets hit with excessive fees when it's delivered by courier or gets 'lost' or damaged in the post.

Gabriel
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