the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

I would like to order around 2000 dollar's worth of car parts from the states for my 2.1 stroker as the saving is huge compared to buying in this country.

I know I can ask the seller to mark as gift or goods value 100 dollar etc but if I was to do it legitimately what sort of costs am I looking at?

Here a link at what I've been looking at

http://6starspeed.com/suwrxejpe2st.html

rob84

iTrader: (5)

£13 for starters from parcel farce just to tell you they have them.

I order my subaru Cranks from the states they come via fed ex. £178 for the crank & £100 express delivery due to the weight. and the tax came in at £40 which is still half the price of buying over here.

it could be around £300-£400 very roughly in charges, thats just a pure guess as i'm not 100% on the % at the moment.

t999cuk

I looked at importing some wheels earlier in the year for about the same price and at the time import duty was around 24-25%, so I would plan for a £500 bill if I were you.

I'll still be ordering them though as its still far cheaper than buying "real" wheels over here.

Tom

Trinity

iTrader: (28)

I order all the time from the states, there are a couple of options..

Can go for the GIFT and £30 value option, but if its coming directly from the company it might not get through as a gift, and the company might not be willing to declare it as a gift (the US have been cracking down on stuff like that big time)

Have you got a mate in the states? this is my preferred method, get it sent to them, buy some cheap crap off ebay like jeans or chocolate and get your mate to package it all up as a 'gift' without original packaging on the main parts and decalre it as 30 bucks value, itemsied the parts as like 10 dollars, the jeans at 5 and the cocolate at 5 etc..

or use above method, and declare it at a value lower than what it was bought at, but at something, so you will pay something...just not the full amount of vat/import duty. They generally let it through if there is a declared amount..

Parcelforce however are ***ts, I once had 43p duty to pay on an item, but £13 to parcelforce for the privilidge of them 'brokering' the amount.

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

I might put the value as 500 dollars or summat like that. rob84 have you got a link please mate for the cranks

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

you will get caught for vat when it arrives in customs and then charged for delivery from parcel force like above.

ive ordered a few bits from the states

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

what you had and where did you order from? I know I have to pay vat etc as long as I make a decent saving thats all im bothered about

chopperman

As stated above. You can't declare gift if its sent from a business. You can state a lower value to save on tax but don't take the p1ss as their not stupid. If they catch you out you stand to loose the goods and get fined. I bought a valuable watch from the states and i think i paid 20% tax plus parcel force rip off £13. The watch was worthy 5k but i put a value of £1300. I got away with it as it was a lesser known make. A $100 value on those parts would ring alarm bell's with anyone with a brain cell, $800 would sound more reasonable and still give a good saving.

rob84

iTrader: (5)

Pm sent Buddy

6VOLT

iTrader: (1)

I got a few bits from the states when I was rebuilding the engine on my 74 vette. I tended to find that I ended up paying in sterling what it was advertised in dollars. Once all was said and done and delivered to my door.

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

you could always ask them to use these words,
engineering products for testing, no commercial value

JonMc

iTrader: (51)

+1, this option works

Don Clark

Parcel Force now £13.50 and Fedex £10.50 Admin fees

chopperman

That's a good idea. If the parts are in fancy printed packaging it may raise suspicions though ?

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

excedy clutch in box, in another box (plain) nothing paid

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

Expect a big bill for duty and nothing is escaping the customs at the moment, I even got a£20 bill for a £50 tool I ordered from the US

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

Youre asking the sender to lie by writing on packaging to avoid tax.
i doubt a reputable company will do that

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

One of my friends bought an exhaust for his car from the States, when it arrived that's pretty much what the description was.

It came in branded packaging also.

AS Performance

iTrader: (4)

bear in mind any insurance would be void or useless based on the lower value if the worst happens................

Tidgy

crikey, with all the hidden costs etc is it worth importing stuff or just easier/cheaper to buy uk side?

was looking at a set of wheels for mine since they are silly money from japan so wondering if its worth bothering with it?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

I import a lot of goods these days for my other business and if you want my advice.... don't try to f**k customs over.... it can bite you on the **** in so many ways!

Find out the duty percentage on the items you are importing, add this and 20% for VAT and £15 for the admin costs of said delivery company (yes it's a cyncial little charge, but they all do it).

If this is still a lot less than buying said products here go for it!

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

how do you find the duty percentage out? its all engine parts im buying worth around 2000 dollars

Tidgy

japanparts had em at 600 a rim and iirc the ones here were similar to that anyway.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

It will be buried in the HMRC website:

Import FAQ

Or try this:

Duty Calculator

Between 2.2 and 4.5% depending on the exact nature of the parts

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

so worse case would be 20% of 2000 dollars which is 400 dollars + the 4.5% which would be 90 then add 15 quid so roughly 2500 dollars which is £1564

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yes I would say so, but don't forget your shipping charges!

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

the 2000 was including shipping mate

the shreksta

iTrader: (20)

how and who do you pay these extra charges?

AS Performance

iTrader: (4)

you add the duty (approx 5%) and admin costs and then 20% VAT on top..........

courier will issue an invoice for payment and collect on behalf of HMRC

Tidgy

so price you pay inc postage + 5% + import tax at 20% + admin costs then all of that is +20% vat?

or have i added an extra 20% in there?