jaapv Posted May 9, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just had a long talk on the telephone with our local import duty expert at Fedex. It turns out that there are NO import duties on parts and accesories of DIGITAL camera's in our country. That may well be the case in other EU countries as well Packages from the USA should be clearly marked and declared as "for digital camera still/video" to avoid charges. Now as most RF gear fits on either the M8 or RD1.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 9, 2007 Posted May 9, 2007 Hi jaapv, Take a look here No import duties!!!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
spylaw4 Posted May 9, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 9, 2007 Remember there is a difference between Import Duty and VAT. I"ve just had a look at the labyrinthine (pause to check spelling in OED) website of HM Customs and find that there is also no Duty on digital still cameras. There is duty of 4.9-14% on Camcorders, 4.9% on film cameras, and webcams, and 6.7% on camera lenses. All are then subject to VAT at 17.5%. This is obviously different to Holland. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted May 9, 2007 Share #3 Posted May 9, 2007 Probably an EU thing as this has been the case in the UK for a number of years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted May 9, 2007 VAT obviously must be paid, but can be reclaimed if one has a business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 9, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 9, 2007 VAT obviously must be paid, but can be reclaimed if one has a business. ... and use the gear for their business... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMB Posted May 9, 2007 Share #6 Posted May 9, 2007 In the EU, all duties are set by the EU, and thus the same in all Member States. VAT is a national matter, and as pointed out by others, is to be paid on top of any applicable duties. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted May 9, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 9, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) ... and use the gear for their business... There's an obvious reason why Leica's customer base consists of an incredible number of doctors, dentists ... not only the VAT can be reclaimed, I believe one can actually write off 2 or 3 cameras and a bucket of lenses over a couple of years as business expenses - what magenta cast and green blobs, they're all covered by tax payers' medical insurances. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted May 9, 2007 There's an obvious reason why Leica's customer base consists of an incredible number of doctors, dentists ... not only the VAT can be reclaimed, I believe one can actually write off 2 or 3 cameras and a bucket of lenses over a couple of years as business expenses - what magenta cast and green blobs, they're all covered by tax payers' medical insurances. LOL Not doctors and dentists over here - they are end users for VAT purposes.Charge no VAT, just pay, so no recovery And tax writeoff, well if you do hope they don't come along to check your records. Veterinarians now - they are businesses under tax law. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted May 9, 2007 ... and use the gear for their business... So sell one photograph a year;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johannes Knightworth Posted May 9, 2007 Share #10 Posted May 9, 2007 What Jaap said about selling one photograph a year amybe a laughable matter ..... but this does work. I sell maybe for 2500€ on a yearly basis, I keep the books in order and all my other tax records and I can get the VAT back even if this exceeds the annual income. Obviously the income is not taxed because I make a loss... this loos I can (partly) deduct as an investment from my other companies (affiliated) income .... it's all perfectly legal, 100% in each and every way .... Howeevr you need to register the company, and preferably have another company amongst you "company inventory" I actually have four companies (not bragging, I just get by) 3 of them affiliated in some manner, the things you can do with EU tax laws are amazing.... not only photogrpahic equipement, but 99% of all technology expenditures.... furniture, decorations, HiFi equipement, computers and IT technology .... meals, driks, clothing .... all you need to do is get a good accountant and see that the savings are higher than the accountant cost .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johannes Knightworth Posted May 9, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 9, 2007 There's an obvious reason why Leica's customer base consists of an incredible number of doctors, dentists ... not only the VAT can be reclaimed, I believe one can actually write off 2 or 3 cameras and a bucket of lenses over a couple of years as business expenses - what magenta cast and green blobs, they're all covered by tax payers' medical insurances. LOL And then ofcourse, the size of any M camera permits it to fit into the mouth of most Dutch people :-) so it would be a justifyable expense Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flatfour Posted May 9, 2007 Share #12 Posted May 9, 2007 If you import new or almost new items into the UK from a non EU country you have to pay VAT. There may also be a small duty. However the point to watch is that the delivery company will try to charge you for getting the item through customs - effectively getting VAT agreed. You do not have to pay this charge as you have no contract with the delivery company but you will have to pay the VAT. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjr Posted May 9, 2007 Share #13 Posted May 9, 2007 I just had a long talk on the telephone with our local import duty expert at Fedex. It turns out that there are NO import duties on parts and accesories of DIGITAL camera's in our country. That may well be the case in other EU countries as well Packages from the USA should be clearly marked and declared as "for digital camera still/video" to avoid charges. Now as most RF gear fits on either the M8 or RD1.... Import duties are virtually zero within EEC. There is no escape from the dreaded VAT.You will also find that ''proper'' digital cameras i.e. Nikon D200 WILL NOT be shipped from US to Europe and in fact they are of the same price.Gone are the good days ! With regard to Leicas and their lenses they have always maintained similar prices everywhere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share #14 Posted May 9, 2007 And then ofcourse, the size of any M camera permits it to fit into the mouth of most Dutch people :-) so it would be a justifyable expense I work near the city of Rotterdam. No need for the compactness of the M cameras. A Canon DSLR does fine... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
S. Wong Posted May 10, 2007 Share #15 Posted May 10, 2007 Here I was complaining about local taxes in CA at 8.25%. purchased out of state (inside USA), nothing is taxed If you're lucky, the website will also offer free shipping, so there's no additional cost to you You can't get certain items, depending on the laws (ie: buying an AK47/M16 for California, not legal) I don't know about international purchases. I remember getting a DVD from Canada, but I can't remember if there was an import/export duty, or just shipping. edit: According to p. 2212 of HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE Of the United States (2007), USITC PUBLICATION 3902 there is no import duty on any film camera, with the exception of 5.8% on "parts and accessories" -Steven Wong Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted May 10, 2007 Share #16 Posted May 10, 2007 I have been finding if you use insured trackable postal express as opposed to courier services (Fedex UPS etc), due to the volume of transactions engendered by eBay and other world-wide Internet trading, it seems like a number of European postal authorities have given up on VAT collection. The last three lenses I have bought from Japan and Hong Kong have arrived in my hands without any tax collection demands in UK and France. It takes a couple of days longer via post rather than courier but to save 17.5% in the UK and 19.23% in France on close to €3,000 worth of lenses, I don't mind. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 10, 2007 Author Share #17 Posted May 10, 2007 I have been finding if you use insured trackable postal express as opposed to courier services (Fedex UPS etc), due to the volume of transactions engendered by eBay and other world-wide Internet trading, it seems like a number of European postal authorities have given up on VAT collection. The last three lenses I have bought from Japan and Hong Kong have arrived in my hands without any tax collection demands in UK and France. It takes a couple of days longer via post rather than courier but to save 17.5% in the UK and 19.23% in France on close to €3,000 worth of lenses, I don't mind. Wilson Not quite given up- they collect randomly, or depending on the size of the parcel. I had to pay up yesterday:( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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