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Anybody clued up on tax regulations?
Browser - 29/12/05 at 10:37 AM

Hi, I'm interested in buying a nearly new kite from a bloke in the States, value of about $225 and he says that he has exported to the UK before but some of the sent items have been subject to a 'gift tax'. Does anyone have any idea what this is and, if you do, is there any way I can avoid paying it?

JoelP - 29/12/05 at 11:38 AM

as far as i know, you state the value and pay an import tax on it. You can declare that it its a gift and avoid tax, but this would be illegal. Depends how you feel about breaking the law!

Jasper - 29/12/05 at 12:51 PM

Get it sent by USPS Global Express (this way you will get a tracking number) mail with a value of no more than $70 and it should come straight through with no duty.

steve_gus - 29/12/05 at 05:09 PM

ive bought stuff from the usa on several occasions and its a total lottery.

If they decide to look at your item at customs, budget to have to pay approx 20% of its value.

A couple ways around it is to declare it as a gift. The second is to get the seller to state is has a value of less than the taxable limit (i think its 22 quid or dollars). I think Jasper's 70 dollars would deffo get taxed, in my experience.


atb

steve

[Edited on 29/12/05 by steve_gus]

Ian Pearson - 29/12/05 at 05:32 PM

All items are taxed differently. If you go on the Customs and Excise website, they list what duties different items attract. Can't remember where the page is, but had a plasma cutter delivered from the US,and the Courier told me that the duty was a real hit and miss affair.

Jasper - 30/12/05 at 10:10 AM

quote:
Originally posted by steve_gus
I think Jasper's 70 dollars would deffo get taxed, in my experience.


atb

steve

[Edited on 29/12/05 by steve_gus]


Sorry to disagree Steve, but I get stuff for my business every week from the US, mostly off Ebay. It depends on the size of the package and the amount paid for postage. If the postage costs $100, there's no way they will believe the total value is just $20. I get parcels through all the time with an $80 amount, but they are usually medium sized boxes and the postage is usually around $50.

Ian is right, it's totally hit and miss, try the gift idea, but if it's been sent from a company not an individual they won't believe that anyway.

I've always found the best thing to do is to put a low, but not too low, value on the box, that way they don't think you're taking the piss and let it through. If it's a little box though, just $20 is fine.....

steve_gus - 30/12/05 at 08:47 PM

Im sure you have had more sent than me, so I bow to your experience

I have been 'caught' in the past with tax on a 40 quid object, but wasnt charged when i paid 500 dollars for a set of gauges for the car....

its totally random.....

nowadays, i always consider that whatever i buy from abroad could cop approx 20%. If the purchase cant stand the risk, i dont buy

atb

steve

Ian Pearson - 31/12/05 at 09:35 AM

All items imported attract a different tarrif. If you look on the Customs & Excise website, you'll eventually find out what duty your item attracts.

It's convoluted, and I can't find the correct link, but below is an excerpt from the site.

"2.3 Using the Tariff Classification Service
When using the Tariff Classification Service you will be given the opportunity to select the most appropriate route for your enquiry from a small number of options. These options represent 4 different categories of goods:

Option

Description


1.

electrical and mechanical


2.

textiles, garments, fabrics, headgear (this option also includes pottery)


3.

agricultural and Chemical (this option includes rubber and plastics)


4.

miscellaneous (this option includes footwear, toys, cars of historic interest, printed matter, metals, wood, furniture, glass and jewellery


0.

If you are not sure which sector your goods belong this additional option will help you to route your call correctly"