Question about Customs & Excise: Bringing audio equipment to the UK from the USA

Soul_Glo · 03-31-2014, 05:53 AM

Asked a friend if she could bring some subs and an amp from Florida next month to the UK. She's cool with that.

What are the customs and excise charges though?

I read somewhere that the limit is £390 and that anything over that has 20% VAT added onto it? Is that right?

Cheers

dest · 03-31-2014, 06:07 AM

Is she aware how heavy they are? It could eat into her luggage allowance quite a bit Id of thought. Sorry can't help with the customs fees, but Id say its normal import duty/tax, so VAT

doughboy · 03-31-2014, 06:08 AM

6% duty (approx) then 20%vat on top.

To avoid import duty she needs a receipt for less than the limit (in USD)
When I got my brother to carry some car parts back for me, the shop in the US gladly did a second invoice with a reduced value for "shipping" purposes.

Just get a receipt for $499 and you'll be fine.

My bro brought a clutch and flywheel back for me, it cost him £35 for the excess baggage.

Soul_Glo · 03-31-2014, 11:27 AM

Apparently gets a 2 x 32kg allowance on a business flight.

Net weight according to the JL website is 9.1 kags.

Soul_Glo · 03-31-2014, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doughboy

6% duty (approx) then 20%vat on top.

To avoid import duty she needs a receipt for less than the limit (in USD)
When I got my brother to carry some car parts back for me, the shop in the US gladly did a second invoice with a reduced value for "shipping" purposes.

Just get a receipt for $499 and you'll be fine.

My bro brought a clutch and flywheel back for me, it cost him £35 for the excess baggage.

appreciated

03-31-2014, 05:53 AM	#1
Soul_Glo Major General 13347 Rep 7,484 Posts Drives: G20 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Manhattan, NYC iTrader: (1)	Question about Customs & Excise: Bringing audio equipment to the UK from the USA Asked a friend if she could bring some subs and an amp from Florida next month to the UK. She's cool with that. What are the customs and excise charges though? I read somewhere that the limit is £390 and that anything over that has 20% VAT added onto it? Is that right? Cheers
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03-31-2014, 06:07 AM	#2
dest Major 89 Rep 1,378 Posts Drives: LCI E91 320d M Sport Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Northamptonshire iTrader: (4)	Is she aware how heavy they are? It could eat into her luggage allowance quite a bit Id of thought. Sorry can't help with the customs fees, but Id say its normal import duty/tax, so VAT
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03-31-2014, 06:08 AM	#3
doughboy Major General 1545 Rep 8,970 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	6% duty (approx) then 20%vat on top. To avoid import duty she needs a receipt for less than the limit (in USD) When I got my brother to carry some car parts back for me, the shop in the US gladly did a second invoice with a reduced value for "shipping" purposes. Just get a receipt for $499 and you'll be fine. My bro brought a clutch and flywheel back for me, it cost him £35 for the excess baggage. Last edited by doughboy; 03-31-2014 at 06:13 AM..
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03-31-2014, 11:27 AM	#4
Soul_Glo Major General 13347 Rep 7,484 Posts Drives: G20 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Manhattan, NYC iTrader: (1)	Apparently gets a 2 x 32kg allowance on a business flight. Net weight according to the JL website is 9.1 kags.
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