Shipping lenses from USA - how much tax/duty ?

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Coolasblu - 22 Feb 2004 12:45 GMT

I remember reading a previous post whereby someone said that lenses were
necessarily subject to customs duty etc.

Can someone post therir experiences on ordering lenses from the USA to the
UK and say if they were charged extra duty etc ?

Thanks

Ravi

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Daniel Taylor - 22 Feb 2004 13:41 GMT

> I remember reading a previous post whereby someone said that lenses were
> necessarily subject to customs duty etc.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Ravi

If the lens are sent via USPS and Parcelforce at this end, you will always
pay duty and then VAT on the cost and duty.

If you use UPS or Fed Ex you can sometimes get away it.

Also bear in mind that you will have to pay for the Courier to handle the
VAT and duty payment.
Parcelforce / The Post Office will tack around ?10+ for this privilege. The
more the duty, the greater the charge.

HTH
Daniel

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David - 22 Feb 2004 15:12 GMT

Nice one,

I know VAT is 17.5% but what is the extra % for the import duty?.

cheers,

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Daniel Taylor - 22 Feb 2004 15:35 GMT

If you look on Customs web site there is a Southend number for tariff
enquiries. If you phone them up and get the right tariff number Custom
Advice Centre will give to the duty rate.

It is likely to be around 10% but I don't know for certain.

> Nice one,
>
> I know VAT is 17.5% but what is the extra % for the import duty?.
>
> cheers,

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Simon Smith - 22 Feb 2004 15:17 GMT

Duty on Lenses is 6.7%
Parcel force charge ?13.50 handling fee.
VAT is charged on the declared value of the lens+6.7%+?13.50+cost of
postage.

Items that are declared as less than ?18 or "Gifts" of less than ?36 are tax
& duty free.

Signature

E-mails to the return address will not be read.
E-mails can be sent to jodel at tiscali dot etc for a UK company.

> I remember reading a previous post whereby someone said that lenses were
> necessarily subject to customs duty etc.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Ravi

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David - 22 Feb 2004 15:22 GMT

Thanks Simon,

I was wondering why those importers on eBay had the gift deleivery option.
Allthough it would be a bit of a gamble insuring the package for ?35 to get
away with the duty. Then to find the package has gone walkabouts in the
post.

David.

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