Whats the rules on importing stuff from the EU now and China or America?

I saw someone saying if it was under a certain amount you don't pay tax but other places were saying you still had to pay VAT?
Has anyone bought anything from there recently?How did they work out what you had to pay?

Reply 1

TheStupidMoon

Seriously, has no one has looked at what the costs are now especially with people in Britain getting ripped off compared to other countries?

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 2

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

Depends what it is and where it came from:

https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7208/~/help-with-paying-customs-fees

I generally avoid importing stuff nowadays as I can't be bothered unless the seller specifies that UK customs are already paid.

Reply 3

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Pretty sure you've always had to pay VAT on imported things from the US? Plus customs charges, plus whatever stupid extra fees Fedex or UPS add on...plus the shipping costs themselves. Always a pain buying stuff from the US, it's why I so rarely do it (usually if I can I wait for my mum to be visiting family there and get stuff delivered to her to bring back with her on the plane!).

Reply 4

TheStupidMoon

In some cases it works out the same or cheaper or access to products which aren't sold here and that includes shipping and taxes.
A fair amount of US products are sold about a 3rd cheaper over there and that's with the poor UK vs US currency exchange rates.Importing from China is the same but with more risks.

Looking further into this, some of the larger shops like Amazon add taxes and currency exchange onto the cost automatically when it's shipped by themselves instead of 3rd party shops so there shouldn't be any questionable costs from UPS.
Others add VAT but I don't know about if they add taxes on items over £135.
There is a gov website where you can check them.
https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/find_commodity

The other webpages here which repeat the info in this thread.
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty
https://www.gov.uk/vat-rates VAT is 20% and as we are out of the EU the UK could lower it.It says it was formerly 17.5% but I'm sure it was 15% before that.