AMG Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Right, i am thinking of buyins some wheels from the US. I have read most of the threads about import duties etc but would just like to confirm things. If i get the sender to mark the wheels up as gift, will this reduce my import tax or will this have no chance of working as they are large parcels. If that will not work, what else could he mark it as that will suit four big parcels to reduce the chances of customs getting suspicious? Prototype maybe or second hand car parts? I will get him to devalue them, but to what price? I just want to maximise my chances of getting a bargin without getting stung. Dont want to devalue them that much that customs start getting nosey. Hope that all makes sense and i know by doing this i am taking a chance but just weighing my options up at the minute to see if it is worth the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I'm looking at the last thing (TRD strut braces) I had sent over from the US and the blurb that came from FedEx says to be classed as a gift... The total value must not exceed $50!! And HM Costumes & Excuses have the final say. The crate will be worth more than $50. GOOD LUCK!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mk47 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I never thought about this! im bidding on some wheels at the moment in USA aswell so will be watching this topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voo51 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Right, i have just gone through this too. On importing wheels from the usa, you have to pay the price of the wheels plus postage, then add 4% on then add the 17.5 %. i only know this as i rung up customs and excise the other day to verify. I also found that renting a us address was the cheapest option as you pay the least postage which decreases your customs charges if you get caught, which is most likely if you go through a well known courier as everything gets checked by them(from what dhl, parcels to go, ups and bax global told me) also, bax global are the cheapest importer, however, they only import brand new goods from a us repitable business address and wont import anything thats a gift or personal. I would say as they are such huge parcels i think customs will 99.9% see them but thats just what i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil tt Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 The other thing you could use is samples, as this is quite possible:) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 You should accept that you do need to pay some duty. Just get the seller to declare that they are worth a little less than you are paying I purchased some wheels from the States, bax global was used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 The other thing you could use is samples, as this is quite possible:) . Possible but highly unlikely like quite a few things are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMG Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 You should accept that you do need to pay some duty. Just get the seller to declare that they are worth a little less than you are paying I purchased some wheels from the States, bax global was used. How much tax did you end up paying? I dont mind paying some but if it is silly money then they are no longer a bargin when you get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewie Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 How much tax did you end up paying? I dont mind paying some but if it is silly money then they are no longer a bargin when you get them. With a $/£ exchange rate at nearly 2:1 there has never been a better time to buy from the US. It's a bargain even if you paid the duty. Prices in the UK are such a rip-off. You're paying extra for somebody else to take the risk of late or non-delivery. And only a remote risk at that. Those TRD strut braces were on sale in the UK for £180 to £250!! I got them for £80 each. The duty was bugger all. I bought two and flogged one on eGay for £150. KERCHINGGG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 How much tax did you end up paying? I dont mind paying some but if it is silly money then they are no longer a bargin when you get them. I'll send you a pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mk47 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I'll send you a pm. can you send me the same pm too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gadget Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 With the wheels I ordered last year they came from USA, I had to pay tax on the rear ones because they came in seperate boxes but not for the fronts they got delivered to my door. The wheels were just over 600 and the tax was 30 or just over for one rear so just over 60 for all of them through UPS. Personally it was alot cheaper than I was expecting, but definatly worth it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Is there a difference depending if it's brand new or second hand private sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terawua Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 AFAIK you have to pay VAT on all goods entering the UK for the first time irrespective of whether they are new or used. I got stung for importing a mountain bike, and ended up paying 16% import duty (the rate varies depending on the type of item) as well as 17.5% VAT ... what a mare - so a total of 150 quid just to bring it in.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bismarck Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 AFAIK you have to pay VAT on all goods entering the UK for the first time irrespective of whether they are new or used. I got stung for importing a mountain bike, and ended up paying 16% import duty (the rate varies depending on the type of item) as well as 17.5% VAT ... what a mare - so a total of 150 quid just to bring it in.... I run an international courier company and this is a problem most people find it hard to get their head round. You are absolutley right. One of the only things that avoid tax are when moving personal belongings from one country to another and even this requires a personal belongings declaration form. When declaring an item as a gift there is usally a maximum value allowed before duties are charged and this will vary from country to country. Anything over about £20 will be considered a high value shipment are will be subject to duties. Also be careful how you get your items shipped as large bulky shipments will often go on freight flights which can be subject to seperate handling and clearance charges. Always make sure that the shipping price you are quoted is door to door to avoid any unpleasant suprises. It all depends largely on who you use and how they prepare the customs invoices when sending the shipments. I imported a load of stuff from MVP using my own people in the US and payed no duties whatsoever however when Dusty sent my exhaust over using Bax I got stung for duties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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