imports from amazon US?

[finyuk2005]

Anyone bought anything from amazon US recently?
Needing a propshaft for a CanAm quadbike, ordered one from a UK company, for a Total of £220, but got a refund with no explanation!

This one on Amazon is much cheaper, but its from the US

703500986 Rear Propeller Drive Shaft Compatible with Can-Am Renegade Outlander 450 500 570 650 800 850 1000 705501406 705501415 : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

Buy 703500986 Rear Propeller Drive Shaft Compatible with Can-Am Renegade Outlander 450 500 570 650 800 850 1000 705501406 705501415 at Amazon UK. Free delivery on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

Am i likely to get hit with loads of import tax? or is there still a limit for lower cost imports that dont pay import?

I cant seem tot find the part in the UK!

cheers

 

[steveo3002]

think its below the tax threshold

 

[finyuk2005]

I'll give it a go, Cant seem to find much other choice anyway!
cheers

 

[Kram]

think its below the tax threshold

No such thing anymore, online patforms are supposed to charge anything relevant automatically.

See here, if you click the vat breakdown at checkout:

108.85 - 25.17= 83.68

This happened from 2020, a stealthily implemented tax change. Prices had a big jump, no one seemed to notice or care. That is a hell of a lot of tax revenue that was not previously collected. (Items under £130)

 

[finyuk2005]

No such thing anymore, online patforms are supposed to charge anything relevant automatically.

See here, if you click the vat breakdown at checkout:
View attachment 525925

108.85 - 25.17= 83.68

This happened from 2020, a stealthily implemented tax change. Prices had a big jump, no one seemed to notice or care. That is a hell of a lot of tax revenue that was not previously collected. (Items under £130)

I did wonder, i thought that only changed very recently though! Oh well, it will be interesting to see how much tax is on 85 quid of import

 

[julianf]

You have always had to pay VAT on imports of paid for stuff. Its only duty that has had its threshold lowered / removed.

Its generally VAT (20%) thats the killer, not duty (which is normally way cheaper)

But...

Have a look at the wording of the ad. Most of those marketplace things now collect the vat from the customer at time of sale (ie its included in the price)

 

[Kram]

Their estimates are usually correct.. 18.15 on your £69.73 item.

You have always had to pay VAT on imports of paid for stuff. Its only duty that has had its threshold lowered / removed.

Its generally VAT (20%) thats the killer, not duty (which is normally way cheaper)

But...

Have a look at the wording of the ad. Most of those marketplace things now collect the vat from the customer at time of sale (ie its included in the price)

Before 2020 it was not collected at sale and most low value items escaped through customs, unchecked under "de minimis" - "the law does not concern itself with trifles."
Now that it is automated at point of sale, the govenment is getting a huge additional revenue.

I prefered it before!

 

[Rannsachair]

I ordered a Milwaukee hammer drill in a sale last year. just paid total to Amazon. nothing else to pay.

 

[Redsailor]

Just bought some items from Amazon US and also Temu for a plasma table build and noticed that VAT was added to the order. Items were still cheaper than buying locally here in the UK.
I have just met up with an old mate who now lives over the great pond and was wondering if there was any advantage in him buying stuff locally and shipping it over as a "gift."

 

[hotponyshoes]

Just bought some items from Amazon US and also Temu for a plasma table build and noticed that VAT was added to the order. Items were still cheaper than buying locally here in the UK.
I have just met up with an old mate who now lives over the great pond and was wondering if there was any advantage in him buying stuff locally and shipping it over as a "gift."

The value of the 'gift' is still subject to import duty.
The sender could under-declare the value but it's you (the recipient) that will have issues if you get caught.
I suppose the chances of getting caught depends on how easy it is for customs to identify and value the item being sent.

Also, go onto one of the us carriers websites and see how much postage costs.They can be quite expensive.
For big or heavy stuff it's usually cheaper to get your mate to list it on ebay (at whatever value) and use the global shipping programme to pre-pay the duty and shipping

 

[Kram]

I may be wrong but it also looks like a Chinese pattern part and listing, you may be able to find it much cheaper going direct by ali.

I do not want to supoort the US by buying their products. I'd much rather buy from China! Recent evens make that even more so.

 

[ajlelectronics]

The sender could under-declare the value but it's you (the recipient) that will have issues if you get caught.

It also means that it can't be insured in transit for a greater value than that declared.

 

[MattF]

Before 2020 it was not collected at sale and most low value items escaped through customs, unchecked under "de minimis" - "the law does not concern itself with trifles."
Now that it is automated at point of sale, the govenment is getting a huge additional revenue.

I prefered it before!

However, you don't risk having to pay the handling fee on top of duty, with it being taken at PoS.

 

[MattF]

I do not want to supoort the US by buying their products. I'd much rather buy from China! Recent evens make that even more so.

It's weird times we live in, when one hears that sentence. True, but weird.

 

[Craig-S]

my tungstens came today, didnt even realise they came from the US, obviously far too cheap for duties etc.

and yes the world has gone mad but i have popcorn and a welder, so im good ta

 

[Kram]

You can keep the popcorn.

 

[frank horton]

Dont ever by from eBay.US.....
when they ship using ebays postal serv u get hit with duty and taxes.....
I bought a speedo for a 1918 Indian.....obv secandhand...so for a used personal import it was supposed to be free of duty n tax.....
cost me around an extra £50 to get it thru customs.....
If the guy sent it direct I would not have to pay....he took the easy way using ebay post arangement....
PS the speedo was $500 and buying it privately saved me another $500 from a dealer. so I should not complain...
But I hate customs.....

 

[Dapph2]

Dont ever by from eBay.US.....
when they ship using ebays postal serv u get hit with duty and taxes.....
I bought a speedo for a 1918 Indian.....obv secandhand...so for a used personal import it was supposed to be free of duty n tax.....
cost me around an extra £50 to get it thru customs.....
If the guy sent it direct I would not have to pay....he took the easy way using ebay post arangement....
PS the speedo was $500 and buying it privately saved me another $500 from a dealer. so I should not complain...
But I hate customs.....

It's the same with Amazon US.. so be sure when you log in you have your details correct for Amazon UK and a UK address & phone number. For some reason a few months ago I some how got transferred to the US site ..it was only a day or so later when my lass questioned the cost & I checked only to find almost £27 for P&P when I was expecting it to be £4 to £5 .

 

[bricol]

I may be wrong but it also looks like a Chinese pattern part and listing, you may be able to find it much cheaper going direct by ali.

I do not want to supoort the US by buying their products. I'd much rather buy from China! Recent evens make that even more so.

So that means you support the much worse behaviour of the Chinese government?

Crazy . . .

 

[Kram]

We can disagree, I find the Chinese behaviour quite acceptable.