Ordering camera from US, to be sent to UK, how much duty/tax do i have to pay?

[cloud monkey]

If i ordered, say, a 5D from the States, what would the procedure be on it's arrival in the UK?

Does it get held by customs? and then what sort of tax are we talking about to get hold of it?

 

[mark allen]

...as far as I'm aware there's no import duty on digital cameras but you will have to pay VAT, if you buy lenses then you have to pay both and I dare say there will be some handling fees.
--
regards, Mark

http://www.pbase.com/mark_allen

 

[cloud monkey]

any idea what rates we're talking about here?

and would a 5D kit (ie +24-105) count as a digital camera or seperate lenses...?

 

[carl english]

I have bought from the US in the past but to be quite honest after paying VAT and sometimes being clobbered by Customs its not much different than prices here. Its when things go wrong with equipment we can hit snags. I went to USA last year hoping to grab a "bargain" but decided the savings (if any) was too small.

 

[richardplondon]

...as far as I'm aware there's no import duty on digital cameras but
you will have to pay VAT, if you buy lenses then you have to pay both
and I dare say there will be some handling fees.

This is probably a little out of date, but I believe the duty is a little over 7% on camera lenses, that this may be waived if the wind is in the right direction for still digital or film cameras including camera + interchangeable lens kits shipped in a single box (IIRC), and the duty is charged on the full invoice cost including shipping. Rules were different again for video equipment. Then 17.5% VAT is charged on the whole lot. Handling fees may be added by the shipper, not sure about HMRC...

I tried to find out more exactly on the UK Customs website, and also directly by phone, 18 months ago. I soon entered a Kafkaesque maze of mystery and frustration, from which I emerged (at length) doubting my own name.

RP

 

[ericN2]

If i ordered, say, a 5D from the States, what would the procedure be
on it's arrival in the UK?
Does it get held by customs? and then what sort of tax are we talking
about to get hold of it?

The biggest problem without doubt - one that is very often hinted at or even firmly pointed out - but which is often just not taken too seriously - you will NOT have a UK Warranty .. now on some things that may be quite inconsequential - with such as lenses it may just not matter AS MUCH .. but with a 5D I'd say you are taking a lot of value at your peril without a UK Canon Service Depot to turn to in dire need.

Cameras of ANY sort are not faultless, by any means .. is it really worth that gamble when the likely unavoidable additions to get it here are perhaps severely cutting the cost differences on paper.

--
eric-UK

 

[David Banner]

If i ordered, say, a 5D from the States, what would the procedure be
on it's arrival in the UK?
Does it get held by customs? and then what sort of tax are we talking
about to get hold of it?

Buy a mac international warranty while you're at it.

If you don't insurance and send it as gift they probably won't even inspect it. But you risk being out a lot of money should it get lost, stolen, or damaged.

 

[iMac therefore iAm]

No reputable seller will send it as a 'gift'.

If you don't insurance and send it as gift they probably won't even
inspect it. But you risk being out a lot of money should it get
lost, stolen, or damaged.

 

[guus_nl]

EU regulations specify the amount that can be imported tax free for personal use when travelling. This limit will be changed in december to over 400 euro.

One bigger problem you have is guarantee. The current practice of many manufacturers is to give regional guarantee only. That means a canon product bought in the USA is without guarantee in the UK. So you have to ship it back to the states if you have an issue and get 3x the shipping and handling cost. you have to decide for your selve if this hassle is worth the effort for saving a few pounds initially if it appears that you are not happy with the shipped goods.

The following text is from the HM Revenue and customs site it states explicitly that you have to pay duties and vat starting with goods value of 22 UKL

If you buy goods online from a country outside the European Union, for instance the USA, Canada, China, Australia

You will be charged:
Customs duty if the amount of duty is €10 (£7)* or over
Import VAT if the value of the goods is €22 (£18)* and over

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_001454&propertyType=document

happy shopping

 

[David Banner]

True, but a family member or a friend would.

I'm thinking the best bet is to fly to new york and make it part of a vacation. The money saved will pay for the plane ticket.

If you don't insurance and send it as gift they probably won't even
inspect it. But you risk being out a lot of money should it get
lost, stolen, or damaged.