davidnormanuk

Looking at buying an intercooler from the States and have been told to watch out for extra charges from customs. has anyone had any experience of this?

Cheers
Dave

focusv8

Plenty of experience, at least 60 parcels.
Only escaped with a few, before the Revenue tightened up how Parcelforce deal with importing

Going to cost you about 4% on cost of parts and shipping, then 17.5% vat on that plus the shippers handling fee for dealing with the duty they have to pay for you to get customs to release the package.

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davidnormanuk

Doesn't look so cheap afterall. If the item is sent a s a gift do you still need to pay any fees?

Cheers
Dave

focusv8

You will struggle to get a trader to declare it as a gift.
Revenue have the right and the power to stick a valuation on it and demand duty if they think it's wrongly declared.
Duty applies to second hand goods as well.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...00014#P66_5558
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Doh

yeah ordered a lot of stuff from the states recently and most of it got charges... if you order from a proper store your screwed

however some ebay traders will mark stuff down even without asking! my brand new £250 aluminum flywheel only had a value of $20 aparently

marking as a gift only waves the import duty i.e. the 4-5% on car parts... it will still be liable for VAT if over $28