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Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:47 am
by jonthomas83
Thought this would make a good topic, but more importantly, I need a very quick answer from anyone who can help.
I have bought an item from Japan, and the seller is asking what he/she should put on the package. For example, in this instance, they are asking whether it's ok to put the total value of the item on the package - hence it will be covered completely by uinsurance, BUT it WILL incur import duties when it arrives here, which means I will have to pay money on top of what I've already spent on the item.
What is quite nice about this seller, is that they are asking my permission and what special preferences I have. For instance, if I don't want to incurr charges my end, what would I like them to put on the package.
My problem is, I haven't got a clue what to say to them! Any ideas? I live in the U.K. and would like this to be completely protected but I don't want to get stung big time. Also, on a slightly different note, how should i get them to package it, they are asking what I want, so in your experience, what's best?
For the sake of the topic, as well as answering my questions, can someone explain the ins and outs of import tax and the general charges etc.
Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:04 am
by micster
Ask im if he can mark it as a gift meaning you shouldnt incourr import tax
Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:12 am
by jonthomas83
Thanks Micster, I thought that would be the case, I'll get right on it!
Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:42 am
by gixo
Almost everyone i buy from on ebay puts "gift" on the package, and write the value =D Except Amazon.com
But i didn't have to pay the tax anyway

Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:53 pm
by violentpig
In Canada I RARELY have to pay duty. What seems to slide:
- marked as gift
- value under $100, even if it's merchandise
- if the item is listed as "USED", I get Rinkya to put "USED GAMES AND TOYS" and even though it's insured for full value (usually $300-$600) still no duty
- books tend to slide as well, I get very valuable comics sent to me as "books" even insured in the hundreds of dollars and no duty
What nails you on duty in Canada:
- clothing, any apparel I buy online from a store (like NFLshop.com) gets nailed
- merchandise over $100, regardless what it is
- electonics
It's only 5% duty though. What bugs me is items that get hit for duty ALSO get opened and inspected. This adds a week or so to shipping time, and often packages are not repackaged as well as they were originally packed.
Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:41 am
by jonthomas83
Thanks for the help fellas, it's well appreciated!
I've set the specifications for the seller and he seems very accomodating toward my needs. I telephoned the Post Office Customer Service helpline here in the U.K. and apparently, because the YEN is so high compared to the POUND, it is very rare that items get stung in customs. However, it was made clear that anything over the value of £18 'could' be called up on Tax & Import duties.
However, importing from the U.S. can be more tricky because the DOLLAR is so weak compared to the POUND, it's for that reason people import from the U.S. so items are more prone to Import duties because they buy their items so cheaply.
So on that basis, I told the seller to just go ahead and mark it at whatever price it was worth, cos I was certainly not going to let it get marked for under £18, no way! But I have stipulated that he should mark it as either "USED" or "GIFT".
So when it comes through, I'll update this thread to let you all know if it worked or not. Hopefully this experience will help anybody else who encounters the same problems.
Thanks again guys!
Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:30 pm
by jonthomas83
It finally happened, the moment I'd been dreading.
I knew something was up when I'd not received an item from Japan within 4 days, they usually arrive within 3.
I've had a letter from Parcel Force (A U.K. (only?) Courier), stating that they are holding a parcel which HM Revenue & Customs have charged V.A.T. of £37.78, that's bad, but furthermore, because of the inconvenience, Parcel Force are charging me a further £13.50 for holding it.
A Grand Total EXTRA FEES of £51.28, add that to JAC's international shipping fees of near £30, I'll be paying over £80 (roughly $160) in shipping for...get this...posters, a couple of pieces of paper and a UDF figure!
That's probably the lightest items you could get delivered from anywhere in the world. So where the hell JAC have gone wrong I don't know. Obviously they don't mark as "GIFT", but they've not marked this up right at all. I'm SOOOO pissed off with them it's unreal.
Even furthermore, if I don't pay up within 20 days, it'll get shipped straight back to Japan!
I'm seriously considering not paying up and just letting the items go, but I'd be ultra gutted cos, I got some really nice stuff for cheap. I'm so dissapointed with it all!
Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:44 pm
by lance
jonthomas83 wrote:It finally happened, the moment I'd been dreading.
I knew something was up when I'd not received an item from Japan within 4 days, they usually arrive within 3.
I've had a letter from Parcel Force (A U.K. (only?) Courier), stating that they are holding a parcel which HM Revenue & Customs have charged V.A.T. of £37.78, that's bad, but furthermore, because of the inconvenience, Parcel Force are charging me a further £13.50 for holding it.
A Grand Total EXTRA FEES of £51.28, add that to JAC's international shipping fees of near £30, I'll be paying over £80 (roughly $160) in shipping for...get this...posters, a couple of pieces of paper and a UDF figure!
That's probably the lightest items you could get delivered from anywhere in the world. So where the hell JAC have gone wrong I don't know. Obviously they don't mark as "GIFT", but they've not marked this up right at all. I'm SOOOO pissed off with them it's unreal.
Even furthermore, if I don't pay up within 20 days, it'll get shipped straight back to Japan!
I'm seriously considering not paying up and just letting the items go, but I'd be ultra gutted cos, I got some really nice stuff for cheap. I'm so dissapointed with it all!
Sorry to hear this jonathan... I feel ya bro...

Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:11 am
by Sevket
Whenever I win an auction I ask the seller to write the value of the item as gift to save me from trouble at customs office.
In the past I have ordered 5 Gundam Master Grade kits from Hong Kong and their packages were at the size of a PS3 package each. So it was a huge box. The guy at customs office asked me to open the package and asked me the value of it. I said 10$ each and he said nothing and I have walked away happily.
When my US Collector's Edition Metal Gear Solid 4 with Limited Edition Strategy guide arrived to the post office the customs officer told me that I should have to pay the price almost half of the game as customs fee I asked him "I haven't paid anything in the past". Then we started talking about games (PS2/PS3, how you cannot play backups on PS3 (nobody likes to pay huge many for Non Back-Up games in North Cyprus except a few like me and things like that). And I didn't pay anything again.
My wife will start working in customs office soon so (fingers crossed) I won't be worrying about this in the future

Re: Import & Tax Duties
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:55 am
by jonthomas83
Sevket wrote:Whenever I win an auction I ask the seller to write the value of the item as gift to save me from trouble at customs office.
JAC specifically won't do that as they are a proper company and it is illegal to do so, so I an understand why! Everywhere else I've been are ok with it though!