Import Duty

[chiffer]

Sorry if this has been asked before. I am going to buy some bits for my engine from the states, much cheaper. What is the percetage import duty payable and can they be delivered direct to any address. Shipping charges, I assume, will depend on weight.

[Bigblock]

Duty depends on what part it is, some bits go from 2.5% up to 4%. then vat on top of that lot. However hold on to every bit of paper going, even cut the bits off the box. I am trying to get the vast amount of £35 back from C&Excise as I sent back a wrong part. Duty was paid as the bits were delivered to me, C&E have the paperwork to say it was paid, however because I don't have the original reciept from Parcel Force I cant get my duty back. C&E know it was paid and agree, but no reciept (they have a copy) no money back. Jobs worth people.

[chiffer]

Bigblock

Thanks a lot

[Robin427]

If you have a friendly supplier in the States, they could always underdeclare the value of the goods. This is, of course, illegal...

... but so is speeding

[TR Mike]

Originally Posted by Robin427

If you have a friendly supplier in the States, they could always underdeclare the value of the goods. This is, of course, illegal...

... but so is speeding

It's tempting but if they check your credit card payments there could be a problem later on. You could pay via a bank such as paypal then I doubt they could check where your money went. They can also do mail intercepts looking for late receipts. The odds are in your favour but it would be a criminal offence.

Getting stuff shipped by boat helps bring costs down a lot or use ordinary air postage instead of UPS.

[madjohnny]

Don't know if it's true but I have heard that another problem with under valuing a shipment is that if that shipment goes missing etc the insurance only pay out to the value stated on the shipment.

Not to bad for only a few parts, but imagine halving the value of an engine and it going missing!!!