Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/04/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]No, the duty and VAT are due on used as well as new equipment, whether sold by a merchant or a private seller - and on gifts. There is a lower limit of about USD20 value (USD40 for gifts) below which nothing is charged. And the *recipient* is responsible for accuracy of the customs declaration! On 4/17/10, Jeffery Smith <jsmith342 at gmail.com> wrote: > Can't one sort of state that the equipment is "used"? > > Jeffery > > > On Apr 17, 2010, at 1:09 PM, Joseph Yao wrote: > >> Nathan, >> >> Thanks for all the theoretical bits which I am well versed. You play the >> academic/lawyer and I am the businessman. >> >> I just make sure my UK customers don't have to pay import duties and VAT. >> >> Joseph >> >> >> On 18/04/2010 12:57 AM, "Nathan Wajsman" <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote: >> >>> Joseph (and others), >>> >>> When someone resident in the EU buys something from a merchant outside >>> the EU, >>> the rule is that the recipient must pay his local VAT on delivery, plus >>> any >>> duty that may be applicable. In the case of photo equipment, the duty is >>> small: something like 4% on bodies and nothing on lenses, or the other >>> way >>> round. The VAT is much more substantial, e.g. 17.5% in the UK if I am not >>> mistaken. >>> >>> It is the job of the delivery company to collect the VAT and duty. Now, >>> sometimes I have been lucky and the post office has simply delivered the >>> product to me without any charges. This has happened both in the >>> Netherlands >>> and (much more frequently :-)) here in Spain. But it is an act of >>> negligence >>> on their part, albeit one in which I happily acquiesce :-) >>> >>> The private delivery companies like UPS or Fedex are much less likely to >>> commit such an act of negligence, and they often charge additional fees >>> for >>> doing the customs paperwork. For that reason, whenever I buy from the US, >>> I >>> specify the USPS as the carrier and will simply not do business with >>> merchants >>> who insist on using UPS etc. >>> >>> Cheers, >>> Nathan >>> >>> Nathan Wajsman >>> Alicante, Spain >>> http://www.frozenlight.eu >>> http://www.greatpix.eu >>> http://www.nathanfoto.com >>> >>> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0 >>> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws >>> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Apr 17, 2010, at 6:40 PM, Joseph Yao wrote: >>> >>>> What Import Duties? >>>> >>>> I have been selling photo equipment to the UK for over ten years and >>>> none of >>>> my customers has ever had to pay import duties or VAT. >>>> >>>> I am sure fellow UK LUGger Jem Kime can confirm. >>>> >>>> Joseph >>>> >>>> >>>> On 17/04/2010 12:48 AM, "Eric Calderwood" >>>> <eric.calderwood at btinternet.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I contacted the seller yesterday, however with him being in Canada and >>>>> Import Duties etc being what they are here in the UK it would make it a >>>>> rather expensive proposition, otherwise I would have already snapped it >>>>> up. >>>>> >>>>> Cheers >>>>> >>>>> Eric >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >