Import Duty, etc

[Geoff Deakin]

I am trying to work out some costs.

Does anybody know what duties, taxes, VAT etc are involved in importing a kit or parts from Sweden?

I have searched the minefield known as the Custom and Excise site, and am no wiser.

All help gratefully received.

Cheers,

Geoff.

 

[Jos]

I hope I get this right :

Sweden is in the EU therefore no import duty

The Vat situation depends on whether purchaser and/or supplier are vat registered in each country

Swedish VAT registered supplier would have to charge UK non-registered customer Swedish VAT - but then no further VAT payable

If UK customer can provide Swedish registered company with their UK VAT no then Swedish co does not need to charge vat

If a non-registered Swede sells to a non-registered Brit then no vat payable (effectively private transaction)

 

[Ian Anderson]

Geoff

Rough estimate would be
Take price of parts
Add freight
Add insurance
Sub total

On his sub total expect to pay Duty at 5% (for countruies not in the EC)
And then the "rip off" VAT at 17.5%

The stinger is if Goran is VAT registered and you are not then he will have to charge VAT on the invoice and you get clobbered for VAT on the VAT.

If that happens then you need to find a friendly VAT registered company in the UK and have Goran sell to them, as they can supply a VAT number Goran does not charge VAT. They then get charged the VAT and duty on import and pass the charges on to you.

All crazy but that is the EC for you!

Ian

 

[Ian Anderson]

The option to have a UK company import is also a good idea as Sweeden is 25% VAT rate and UK 17.5% so a small saving.

Ian

 

[David Morton]

I believe that Swedish VAT can be reclaimed on export from Sweden/Denmark/ Norway. If it is a complete car, then I also believe
that car imports from outside the EEC are taxed before VAT is added as well either at the country of destination or the point of first import.
I believe Japanese grey imports had this sort of problem as well. I'm not sure about importing them into the EEC - for example would the VAT have to be paid in the first EEC country en route or the VAT paid in the UK ? A visit to the local Customs and Excise office may be the best way forward.

 

[JimmyMac]

Surely all you have to do is ask the seller what are the final costs including shipping and duties payable in the UK ? To your destination point or otherwise.
You are the purchaser and he is the seller, so should you not make him earn his corn ?

 

[John W]

Not as simple as that Jimmy. If the goods come by a courier the courier company may well inspect and charge duty.
I know both UPS and FedEx do this, depending on what the shipping ticket on the outside of the package/crate says the value of the goods are.

Geoff, i would suggest your best bet would be to take a long weekend, hire a panel van and go collect the parts in person. The cost to do so will likely be less than the shipping costs with duty.
If your lucky you won't get stopped, but incase you do consider asking the seller for a lower valued sales receipt to reduce the impact

 

[Geoff Deakin]

Thanks for all the advice.

Where would we be without the Forum!

Cheers and Seasons Greetings to all.

Geoff.