Customs/Tax charges question.

[Gary72]

Anyone know how import duty tax/custom charges is worked out. Thinking about getting a new frame and it's approx £250 in the states plus postage at approx £37. Would I only pay charges on the frame itself and not postage. I know if it comes via The Post Office there is a £8 handling fee
It's a £400 frame over here. What rate do you get charged at?
Cheers
Gary

[gossa]

You should be charged import duty and VAT on the whole amount (including shipping). I think the duty on bike parts is 4.8%.

What frame is it?

[gossa]

Oh and get it on an insured service just to be safe.

[Gary72]

It's a Fit Aitken S4.
I have friends in the States, Do you get charged on gifts? Postage is free within the States. So I could have it shipped to our friends and cover the cost of them posting it insured as a GIFT

[gossa]

It's a Fit Aitken S4.
I have friends in the States, Do you get charged on gifts? Postage is free within the States. So I could have it shipped to our friends and cover the cost of them posting it insured as a GIFT

You might get away with it, luck of the drawer I think mate but freight on that won't be cheap so you have to compare worstcase scenario, freight, insurance, customs charges and then compare to what deal you could get it for here.

[ED209]

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document#P40_4237

2.4 Gifts

Goods sent as a gift that are over £40 in value are liable to import VAT. Customs duty also becomes payable if the value of the goods is over £135 but is waived if the amount of duty calculated is less than £9.

To qualify as a gift:

    * the customs declaration must be completed correctly
    * the gift must be sent from a private person outside the EU to a private person(s) in this country
    * there is no commercial or trade element and the gift has not been paid for either directly or indirectly
    * the gift is of an occasional nature only, for example, for a birthday or anniversary.

Note: if you purchase goods from outside the EU to give as a gift to a relative or friend, whether or not addressed to that person, is treated as a ‘commercial consignment’ for which the import VAT relief threshold is £18 (paragraph 2.3 refers).

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=143065.0

[john4130]

have them mark it as a warranty replacement, might work.

[kalex]

i'm sure you get charged duty etc on the value of goods and not postage.

but i'm sure i've also seen on the hmrc website that if the goods are sent via an express postage service duty will then be charged on that as well

[brettypeeps]

You get charged on the lot.

 I had my Master about 2-3 years ago of similar marked value and it cost me £110 to the Tax man

[kalex]

all completes i've had sent from the USA via USPS i have only paid duty etc on the value of the goods marked on customs slip and not shipping value. the 1 complete i had sent via fedex express i got charged the value of goods plus the value of there express service.

[gossa]

You should be charged vat on the whole amount.

[Glynnyboy]

Here you go, check this out.
 It arrived Tuesday this week.
The charge was actually ammended in the final letter from parcel force dropping the import duty so i had the only the VAT and the PF handling fee to pay £116 something in the end.
As already mentioned gift makes no odds on something like this, if they are busy and your lucky you may get away with it but that is becoming a thing of the past.
So on something costing inc postage $776 or £486 you can expect a charge of £116, so be prepared. 

[Gary72]

Fook. Might give Stodgy a call and find a best price