ChatterBank0 min ago
how much will it cost? us to uk?
11 Answers
Hi, I want to buy a dress from america. can anyone tell me approximately how much it will cost? just a rough idea will do. the dress would probably be the weight of a pair of jeans. thanks :)
Answers
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I've done some odd things to answer AB questions but today's the first day that I've ever put my jeans onto the kitchen scales!
The weight was about 1 lb 3 oz. I've used imperial units because that's what the US postal website uses:
http://ircalc.usps.gov/
The range of possible prices is quite wide, depending upon the service used. However, airmail parcel post is quoted at $21.10 (about a tenner).
Remember that it's not the postage which is the big expense when importing goods from outside of the EU. It's the duty, VAT and customs examination fee which can really add up.
Let's suppose that the dress is advertised for sale at the UK equivalent of �50. The postage will be around a tenner. (that's assuming that the vendor doesn't charge for 'packaging'). So you pay �60.
When the dress arrives, HMRC will calculate the duty to be paid. This is normally 12% on most clothing items but, because the USA is currently in breach of World Trade Organisation rules on subsidies to US cotton farmers, the UK government is adding an extra 15% on as a form of trading sanction. So that means that you'll have to pay 27% of �50 in duty (=�13.50).
HMRC then calculate the VAT to be paid. You pay VAT (at 17.5%) on the dress, the postage and on the duty. (Yes, you have to pay tax on a tax!). So, the VAT is 17.5% of �73.50. (= �12.86).
Then, to add insult to injury, you have to pay a flat-rate fee (�8) for the privilege of having HMRC examine your goods and charge you money!
So, when the postman calls, he'll demand payment of �34.36 before handing over your dress. That means that your �50 dress will have cost you �94.36.
Chris
The weight was about 1 lb 3 oz. I've used imperial units because that's what the US postal website uses:
http://ircalc.usps.gov/
The range of possible prices is quite wide, depending upon the service used. However, airmail parcel post is quoted at $21.10 (about a tenner).
Remember that it's not the postage which is the big expense when importing goods from outside of the EU. It's the duty, VAT and customs examination fee which can really add up.
Let's suppose that the dress is advertised for sale at the UK equivalent of �50. The postage will be around a tenner. (that's assuming that the vendor doesn't charge for 'packaging'). So you pay �60.
When the dress arrives, HMRC will calculate the duty to be paid. This is normally 12% on most clothing items but, because the USA is currently in breach of World Trade Organisation rules on subsidies to US cotton farmers, the UK government is adding an extra 15% on as a form of trading sanction. So that means that you'll have to pay 27% of �50 in duty (=�13.50).
HMRC then calculate the VAT to be paid. You pay VAT (at 17.5%) on the dress, the postage and on the duty. (Yes, you have to pay tax on a tax!). So, the VAT is 17.5% of �73.50. (= �12.86).
Then, to add insult to injury, you have to pay a flat-rate fee (�8) for the privilege of having HMRC examine your goods and charge you money!
So, when the postman calls, he'll demand payment of �34.36 before handing over your dress. That means that your �50 dress will have cost you �94.36.
Chris
The sender of an international package has to attach an 'CN22' declaration to it. This must, among other things, state the value of the goods in the package.
If a package is sent without the CN22, HMRC have the right to seize the package. It is the recipient's responsibility (and not the sender's) to ensure that the CN22 is properly filled in and attached to the package which they order. i.e. if the vendor was to state a value lower than the real one, the recipient could be prosecuted under anti-smuggling legislation.
Chris
If a package is sent without the CN22, HMRC have the right to seize the package. It is the recipient's responsibility (and not the sender's) to ensure that the CN22 is properly filled in and attached to the package which they order. i.e. if the vendor was to state a value lower than the real one, the recipient could be prosecuted under anti-smuggling legislation.
Chris
PS: Further to your question, "Is this always the case?", these rules apply to all goods imported from outside of the EU. (You can import anything you like, apart from things like alcohol and tobacco, from any EU country without paying these charges).
The rates of duty vary between different types of goods. For some items, duty might only be charged at 1% or 2%. For other items, it can be much higher. A few items, such as books, are free of duty charges.
VAT is charged at 17.5% on most items although a few items (such as books) do not have VAT charged on them.
The �8 inspection fee is a flat-fee which applies whenever there's any duty or VAT to be paid. (There is actually a higher fee for very high-value items but, unless you're importing something like a car, this wouldn't apply to you).
However, there are exemptions for low value items:
(i) if the value of the item is less than �18, the duty is waived;
(ii) if the VAT comes to less than �6, this is waived;
(iii) if there's no duty or VAT to pay, the examination fee is waived.
In practice, this means that you can order items costing less than �18 from non-EU countries, without paying any charges. As soon as the value exceeds �18, it's usually not worth it.
Chris
The rates of duty vary between different types of goods. For some items, duty might only be charged at 1% or 2%. For other items, it can be much higher. A few items, such as books, are free of duty charges.
VAT is charged at 17.5% on most items although a few items (such as books) do not have VAT charged on them.
The �8 inspection fee is a flat-fee which applies whenever there's any duty or VAT to be paid. (There is actually a higher fee for very high-value items but, unless you're importing something like a car, this wouldn't apply to you).
However, there are exemptions for low value items:
(i) if the value of the item is less than �18, the duty is waived;
(ii) if the VAT comes to less than �6, this is waived;
(iii) if there's no duty or VAT to pay, the examination fee is waived.
In practice, this means that you can order items costing less than �18 from non-EU countries, without paying any charges. As soon as the value exceeds �18, it's usually not worth it.
Chris
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