Import taxes importing private used gear from US to EU?

[plasticman]

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Privately buying a used item in the States and importing to the EU using UPS or similar - does this incur import duties?

I'm pretty clueless about that sort of stuff, I'm afraid.

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[plasticman]

Apparently the answer is yes - duty has to be paid 'at a fair market value'.

[earleygallery]

Yes - I think it will be VAT and other duties, you certainly need to take it into account when you see a 'bargain' on e bay!

[farnz]

Mani,

 

It depends which European country your importing it into I think. For example, in the UK it would depend whether it was a film or digital camera because digital cameras don't attract import duty unless they can record video in which case they're classed as a digital video camera(?!) and will attract customs duty.

 

In the UK it makes no difference that it's used gear except that its value will be lower so the import duty will be less than for a new item.

 

Pete.

[plasticman]

Yeah, thanks guys.

Bottomline: we're always screwed.

[farnz]

Yep. And btw you'll also get screwed by the courier company's fee for clearing it through customs.

 

Pete.

[lct]

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There is always VAT to pay at the rate in force in the country of importation. Customs duties depends on the latter's legislation and tolerances.

[gwelland]

Yep. And btw you'll also get screwed by the courier company's fee for clearing it through customs.

 

Pete.

 

This is a license for the couriers to basically print money and charge what they like. I've sent many items back to the UK and it seems that Fedex/UPS/Parcel Farce seem to make up the fee amounts as they go. The problem is that the recipient is essentially screwed and their items held hostage until you pay.

[roydonian]

For stuff arriving in the UK from outside the EU, you are liable to be charged:

 

1 customs duty

 

2 the 17.5% value-added tax that would have been payable had the item being purchased in the UK

 

3 an additional fee to cover the time and effort involved in imposing the first two charges.

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

[wlaidlaw]

Until this year, the UK had virtually given up collecting import duties. However since the government had to spend all our tax revenues in bailing out the banking system after their casino splurge, they need every penny they can get. They are now charging import duty on everything, plus as others have said, collection fee, processing charge, and VAT on the whole lot. With the level of current air fares, If you were buying something like a Noctilux, it would be cheaper to fly to the USA and buy it, stick it on your camera and bring it back. I bought an old Rolleiflex recently and the taxes and charges amounted to about 35% of the value - thanks banks - we love you.

 

Wilson

 

PS In France it is still a lottery if you get charged. Last year it was about 1 in 10 for me. The only courier which always charges is Fedex.

[wattsy]

With the level of current air fares, If you were buying something like a Noctilux, it would be cheaper to fly to the USA and buy it, stick it on your camera and bring it back.

 

At current exchange rates it's cheaper to buy the Noctilux here (unless you buy it from the Mayfair shop). If you are VAT registered, it is significantly cheaper to buy it here.

[wlaidlaw]

At current exchange rates it's cheaper to buy the Noctilux here (unless you buy it from the Mayfair shop). If you are VAT registered, it is significantly cheaper to buy it here.

 

Ian,

 

I had forgotten our magic shrinking pound.

 

Wilson

[rob_x2004]

Mani, it might seem a novel solution, but why not enquire at Customs. Not sure what its like in the third world but a lot of countries also have a customs web site with specific information. Horses mouth, rather than rumour. The only thing you would have to ask your mates about is the application of taxes when using international post. Freight forwarders, couriers will probably be tied electronically into your tax collect and report system and you will get slugged. The post office mail handling tends to be on the look out for dangerous goods, concealment of contraband, fauna, and they are very good, but may not be bothered to be very active in the business of collecting taxes and duties on comparatively minor items.

[plasticman]

Mani, it might seem a novel solution, but why not enquire at Customs. Not sure what its like in the third world but a lot of countries also have a customs web site with specific information. Horses mouth, rather than rumour.

 

Yeah I know Rob - I actually wasn't sure about the rules when it came to used equipment. The customs here in Sweden are really hard on everything new that gets imported - for instance, I got whacked on a single book that I imported from the States: the customs impounded the book for three weeks (I needed it for work, and it wasn't available in Europe), and they then not only charged me the tax (which was about 10 dollars) they also imposed a fine, which if I remember right was about another 30 or 40 dollars.

That was a very expensive book.

[rob_x2004]

You got off light. We also get customs assessment fees, though I think these might sometimes be by the freight forwarder to defray his costs. Should find out I guess. Our stuff gets dealt with pretty efficiently and effectively within a day or two, though it is really annoying to waste hours in a day sorting stuff out because the clowns at solms screwed up the paperwork again. I swear there isnt a brain anywhere. What you got now Mani, M9 and X1?

[ptarmigan]

I think you'll find your costs into the UK will be:

 

Whatever you pay for the goods and shipping..... plus

 

• 4% Inport duty on the cost of the goods
  
• 17.5% VAT on everything you paid including shipping!
  
• At leat £10-£20 for our nice Royal Mail people to 'clear customs'
  

 

Recently cost me nearly 35% on top of a second hand OM2n I bought on eBay from the US! Bugg@.

 

Not sure about Sweden though.

[wlaidlaw]

I think you'll find your costs into the UK will be:

 

Whatever you pay for the goods and shipping..... plus

 

• 4% Inport duty on the cost of the goods
  
• 17.5% VAT on everything you paid including shipping!
  
• At leat £10-£20 for our nice Royal Mail people to 'clear customs'
  

 

Recently cost me nearly 35% on top of a second hand OM2n I bought on eBay from the US! Bugg@.

 

Not sure about Sweden though.

 

If you do the cost of a half litre of beer equivalence, it would probably be twice as expensive in Sweden ;-}}

 

Wilson

[lct]

The standard VAT rate is 25% in Sweden. If you have some family in Luxemburg you could save 10% as the VAT rate is only 15% there.

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Hallo,

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[plasticman]

Rob - just an M8 these days. But I'm gonna need a film camera again to scratch that itch before too long. Why don't I derail the thread totally by saying: I don' t see the point of a P&S with a fixed lens that costs more than most DSLRs out there.

 

Anyway, although I decided against buying in the US this time, I was shocked to see that even maintenance done outside the EU on your own gear racks up taxes and duties when reimported.

[lct]

...I was shocked to see that even maintenance done outside the EU on your own gear racks up taxes and duties when reimported.

Not sure if you would pay duties but VAT would be due the same way if maintenance is done in Sweden or elsewhere. Unless works are paid by your office of course in which case the latter would not pay VAT or it would be reimbursed to it.