Buying from Japan
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Yes you will if you get caught etc.
Usually import tax and maybe admin fee charge by the courier.
I bought D7000k battery grip from malaysia and i been tax £13 and £10 admin charge by Fedex.
Cheap for me to import because the grip is £135 (£158 include tax etc) is still cheaper than UK which cost around £280-350 ........
Also it all depend how much the seller declare the value of good when send to UK, if he honest and put the full value of good then you will get tax quite abit depend on the product and value.
If he declare as gift and low value then you either won't get tax or have to pay very little tax.
Usually import tax and maybe admin fee charge by the courier.
I bought D7000k battery grip from malaysia and i been tax £13 and £10 admin charge by Fedex.
Cheap for me to import because the grip is £135 (£158 include tax etc) is still cheaper than UK which cost around £280-350 ........
Also it all depend how much the seller declare the value of good when send to UK, if he honest and put the full value of good then you will get tax quite abit depend on the product and value.
If he declare as gift and low value then you either won't get tax or have to pay very little tax.
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Everything I'v heard suggests that camera gear is generally more expensive in Japan anyway, most of the big importers seem to work out of Hong Kong.
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You get tax as soon as the goods arrive in UK ....... depend how much it cost to determine how much is the tax. Ebay import items you have to pay tax yourself unless is cheap and below certain amount.
Some HK company like digitalrev is a HK company so the price is include VAT so you be alright. Depend where you buying it from and read their policy etc.
There are no special tax concessions for importing from Hong Kong, although I believe there are one or two suppliers that guarantee to reimburse you if you are charged.
Importing may, or may not, be worth it for you. Factor in the costs, including courier fees and possible tax/duties, and the warranty implications and then decide. You're going to get different opinions on this.
Importing may, or may not, be worth it for you. Factor in the costs, including courier fees and possible tax/duties, and the warranty implications and then decide. You're going to get different opinions on this.
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i read that HMRC are getting wise to "gift" parcels and add on a hefty penalty for those misusing it.
Or customs will get suspicious, open it, realise the vendor is lying, attribute whatever market value they like to it and then tax you accordingly.
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my advice is don't risk on high value item, just buy cheap locally or the VAT is include on wherever you buying it from. I tend to buy say in HK when I visit their and then bring the back good but without package etc, so no tax need paying.
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Yep, what I've done before for stuff. But not going anywhere for a while and don't know anyone that is. But I think I'll look locally in the UK this time round.
Cheers all
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what you looking for anyway?
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35mm lens that will fit a Hexar RF....would also consider 28mm if needed.
Well, "losing" the packaging doesn't mean that the goods become tax free, but I know what you mean.................
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yeah ..... it does sound dodgy but thats the way most people do ......
Say if i buy a lens and leave all the box and package behind and put the lens in my camera bag and come back to UK, is not like they will charge me tax because i could say those are my personal belonging and i already had them etc blah blah.
I know, and I'm not criticising you! OTOH, I think HMRC do have the right to ask for proof of purchase in the UK - or that any tax/duty has already been paid - if they do pick it up? I've also heard that you can get a form, list everything you're taking out of the country, and get HMRC to stamp it on exit. Let's hope that this never becomes compulsory, the way it was in South Africa during sanctions, because it would be yet another hassle at the airport.
That is still the way in South Africa....there are big signs all over the airports there for locals to declare goods as they leave the country so not to suffer import tax when they come home. They still have very high import duty.
UK Customs can ask for proof of purchase but they can also seize credit card records and bank statements......
Pricing is pretty efficient globally now in my experience and it's not worth the risk of running customs when you look at all the costs and balance the downside....if you do get caught you become a marked person and they watch out for you.
I know someone who got caught with his girlfriend coming back from NYC quite a few years ago with a lot of expensive clothes. They both got stopped frequently for the next couple of years.
Hmm. I'm not very observant. I lived there for 30 years, and still fly in and out quite often, and I haven't bothered with this for a long time, or even noticed the signage. I'd probably be classed as a local too, because I have an SA passport as well as a UK one, and have to use it when I enter and leave.
Is the duty really that high? I seem to remember a lot of people blaming importer and dealer mark ups for the high prices.
MartynK said:
I was last there in 2009 and noticed the signs at Cape Town airport. I don't know what the duty is but given how much electronic goods etc cost there I can only assume so. I can't believe it's just down to dealer/importer mark up's the world has got a lot more competitive in the dot com age.
I've only flown into CT on domestic flights, not international, but I'd imagine it would be the same at OR Tambo? Just haven't noticed. I don't know about the marks ups. As I said, a lot of people put it down to agent/dealer profiteering, but I don't have any insider info.
SA pricing for consumer electronics isn't very competitive at the best of times. It's a tiny market with limited suppliers, and no internet competition to speak of. I still love it though.