Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/02/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Frank Filippone wrote: >Robert White products, when impoorted into the USA, and shipped by UPS or >FedEx do get hit with US Duty.... about 3-4%. Plus the inescapable Customs >Broker charges of another $50 or so.... If you have it sent US mail, the >USPS does not exact its pound of flesh at all.. Basically duty free...... >The free duty is the English VAT that you do not have to pay... 15%... or a >rebate to you of 12%... Usually White already deducts that VAT when he >quotes you..... Actually, Frank, I'm not sure this is right. Lenses have a duty charge of 2.3%, but still camera bodies do not (the rate is 0%). If you'd like to look this up the information can be found here: http://www.customs.treas.gov/impoexpo/impoexpo.htm The HTS number for lenses is 90021190, for rangefinder cameras it's 90065290 and for SLRs it's 90065100. Be sure to look at the rates for NPT countries. Unless you are ordering cameras from Iraq, you shouldn't have to worry about the other. :-) Also, be aware that U.S. Customs and customs brokers do make mistakes which is why the shipper needs to be very clear in the product description. You have been paying $50 in broker fees? When I ordered a 35mm asph from Dr. Yao I paid duty plus a whole $5.00 in fees. I think you've been ripped off on that one! Now, as a separate issue, British VAT used to be 15% back when I ran a camera store there. But it's now 17.5% (according to Ffordes when I asked them about it a couple of weeks ago). They said that this is what it is on new equipment but you don't get to deduct as much on used equipment because "the rate is calculated on the profit margin." I used to sell used cameras at the store in the UK back in the 80s and this is a new one on me. Does anyone know if White does the same thing? Simon Stevens