Customs charges, grrr

Just for clarity, if you bring something second hand in (for example, a used car/bike that actually has some mileage on it) from abroad, is customs tax (whatever the correct term for it is) based on the value:
a) Here
or
b) Where it came from

and

c) What it was worth when it was new.
or
d) What it is worth now.

and if d), what it's worth here, now, or what it's worth in the country that it came from, now?

I have a had a few things from the states, marked as 'gift', didn't have to pay duty on that.

It just puts me off buying anything from abroad, got stung once, never again

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Baph

There's an argument between two of the guys in the office here at the moment (religion, law, order, hitler, NHS, tax system etc etc).

I'm trying to stop myself laughing at them at the moment.

I'll be back to my usual self later

EDIT: Now it's moved on to immigrants and I quote "F*ing Hitler did some good things, even though he was the anti-christ."

Invoke Godwins Law on them :P

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Invoke Godwins Law on them :P

better still, sign them up to the forum

*sigh* here we go again

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Bought an $80 item from the states, which has arrived at the local post office. I got a nice letter through the door to let me know, with a demand for £14 customs charge.

How the hell can I be charged 35% of the value of the item? Incorrectly marked, or is extortion standard practice for importing good?

It would be 3.5% duty, 17.5% VAT and whatever the COURIERS [NOT Customs] admin charge is.

Originally Posted by Ed

It's such a rip off. Customs duty stinks. More money for doing nothing whatsoever. I want to know where all this stealth tax is going. I don't see any of it that's for sure. I just collect piles of £££ for the government for no payment back, and if I'm a day late I get clobbered with a £100 fine. I hate them.

Ok, lets presume services were the same situation as goods. How would you feel if no-one employed you because a solicitor in France could massively undercut you? Whereas anyone using them would have to pay a charge for doing so to even up the cost so that made you as competitive as them? Actual fact that IS what the reverse charge does in VAT - stops partially exempt businesses who cant reclaim VAT from only ever using non-UK suppliers which would be a detriment to this country.

Dutys are there to even up the playing field so companies in this country can still compete against massively cheaper foreign companies. People would lose their jobs if this wasnt the case. Are you really suggesting thats a good thing?

Why is it people are so short-sighted on the issue? They only see the tax paying side of it and not the implications about WHY duty is there to protect home trade. Thats why EVERY single country in the world has duty on imports. Its not like the UK is the only one. Gods dammit I need a dozey smiley!!!

Originally Posted by Stu

I though there was no duty on less than £50. Would be worth looking into.

Duty is waived when its less than £7.

Originally Posted by Viney

Quit yah whinging and pay the money before Lyn comes and gives you a long explination

Originally Posted by wyrdness

Correct. I was charged about 50% duty for something I imported a couple of years ago, so consider yourself lucky that you were only charged 35%.

Duty varies according to the goods. If its over £290 then you pay the tariff rate. Anything under its 3.5% duty unless the tariff rate is less than that.

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Yeah Lyn posted a link in another thread a while ago (can't be bothered to search ). You pay the duty of 3% (IIRC) then VAT on the total like with petrol. Bad luck getting noticed, often you get away with it.

not quite like petrol. Most imports only have Customs duty and VAT. Perfume, alcohol, fuel, tobacco have additional Excise duty on top.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Just for clarity, if you bring something second hand in (for example, a used car/bike that actually has some mileage on it) from abroad, is customs tax (whatever the correct term for it is) based on the value: a) Here or b) Where it came from

Customs will convert the amount you paid for it to sterling and that will be the value for duty and tax purposes.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

c) What it was worth when it was new. or d) What it is worth now.

What you paid for it ie d - what its worth now.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

and if d), what it's worth here, now, or what it's worth in the country that it came from, now?

Think you may know the answer to this one by now

Originally Posted by DoubleD

I have a had a few things from the states, marked as 'gift', didn't have to pay duty on that.

*sigh* that does not always work. In fact, labelling as a gift these days is more than likely going to increase the chances of it being stopped and looked at.

There is a limit on the value of gifts at £36. So dont be daft and try getting someone to send a $500 exhaust system in as a "gift" as some genius was suggesting on visordown

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Viney

Quit yah whinging and pay the money before Lyn comes and gives you a long explination

You was warned!

Originally Posted by lynw

It would be 3.5% duty, 17.5% VAT and whatever the COURIERS [NOT Customs] admin charge is.

Does the admin charge come about because of customs dealing with the item?

Jordan its the couriers handling charge and down to them how they operate it.

I think it may well be chargeable regardless of whether customs check the item. Basically goods come into the country and have to be cleared before they can be delivered. Most will get automatic clearance if value is low, size is small etc. But until the lists submitted to HMRC they have to be stored until clearance is given. And part of the couriers admin charges is covering that storage. However, it would also cover rewrapping and addressing fees if the goods are opened and checked.

[timwilky]

It is about time we scrapped all these stupid duties and make markets truely free. In this day and age customs officers should not be worried about a few items for personal use and should be 100% engaged in the battle to stop drugs, guns, people smuggling etc.

Why should we not buy overseas if cheaper. Level playing field rubbish. It is just an easy source of revenue to the exchequer