usa imports no vat item

[ollie]

i am looking at getting some sails from the usa and was told that there no import duty / vat on them if this is ture what code will it need to be if i can get away with out paying vat or duty will make big big saving just for getting the right code on the box

[Poly]

mmm... i think you might have been given dodgy information. Sails sold in the UK would be subject to VAT (as far as I am aware) and so I can't see why there would be no import duty on them.

[Mollers]

Import duty and VAT! My ex imports skiwear from Asia and gets hit for every penny. If you lie about the contents of each consignment to pay less import duty the Taxman gets you for making more profit.

[MikeCC]

VAT and duty should be payable.

Items that come by post may slip through the net, but a package of sails will probably come by Fedex or UPS who are well-equipped to levy all charges.

Stating the obvious, if the expected total is still less than UK price, it's a good deal.

[Mollers]

I looked into importing a 30ft Searay out of Galveston, Texas a few years ago. It looked cheap and I liked the idea that it had only been used on a freshwater lake. By the time I'd added all the taxes and shipping it was hardly any cheaper than a similar boat in the UK. That was without going and having a look at the thing. Bought one out of Port Solent in the end.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by ollie

i am looking at getting some sails from the usa and was told that there no import duty / vat on them if this is ture what code will it need to be if i can get away with out paying vat or duty will make big big saving just for getting the right code on the box

Couldn't you say they are cloth for children's clothing - no VAT on them!!!

[ADS]

Best way to get sails back from the U.S is to find a sailing team that are shipping a container of boats/gear back and then stash them in there, has been done on a set of Norths for a J24.

[Hightower]

How about used items? Do they get hit by duties and taxes.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Hightower

How about used items? Do they get hit by duties and taxes.

Yep, anything that is vat applicable is liable once it's come into UK waters be it new or used. If you can prove that you have owned the thing for over 12 months prior to importing it,it is then considered a personal import and not liable. We had all this with a £1m yacht I helped bring to the UK from Hong Kong (not mine I might add ).

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

My ex imports skiwear from Asia and gets hit for every penny.

tel im hee neads a beter acowntant.

gArf

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by The Garfish

tel im hee neads a beter acowntant.

gArf

She, is an accountant.

[MikeH]

Sails for boats have tarrif No. 6306310000.

They are subject to 12% import duty from the USA. You can see all the different duty rates for all products at the EU web site here

http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_c...h=01&Year=2006

The value for duty purposes is the purchase price including freight and insurance.

The landed cost of the goods (Purchase price, freight, insurance and duty) will then be subject to VAT.

Originally Posted by codprawn

Couldn't you say they are cloth for children's clothing - no VAT on them!!!

Fabric for Kids clothes is subject to import duty and Vat. The VAT is reclaimed by the manufacturer and is not charged to their customer.

Its a black art getting the right tarrif code when importing some things (especially textiles) but in the case of sails it is pretty definite what the code is.

[MikeH]

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

Import duty and VAT! My ex imports skiwear from Asia and gets hit for every penny. If you lie about the contents of each consignment to pay less import duty the Taxman gets you for making more profit.

Plus you can get previous shipments re-examined and fined any unpaid duty and VAT and are at risk of prosecution for tax avaoidance.

[Mollers]

Could Mike be a member of Her Majesty's C&E Dept.? He's dead right. It's well risky to try avoiding it unless you have a mate whom is a freight handler. Fedex etc are well clued up on clobbering you for every penny.

[MikeH]

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

Could Mike be a member of Her Majesty's C&E Dept.? He's dead right. It's well risky to try avoiding it unless you have a mate whom is a freight handler. Fedex etc are well clued up on clobbering you for every penny.

Rest Easy, I buy textiles (among other things) for a living. We import about 5 containers a month of mostly towels & bed Linen.

I recently got a refund of over £25K by reclassifying one product but you have to do it in conjunction with HMCE. Its also useful to do your homework before hand to make sure that you get charged correctly. Its all too easy for the forwarder to get the codes wrong when making the customs entry.