Import tax and VAT (UK)

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Import tax and VAT (UK)

David Andrews-3

VAT on the K3 kit is payable but not import tax. The latter depends on the accuracy of the ‘code’ numbers supplied by Elecraft, and I’ve always found these absolutely right. UK Customs unfortunately often can’t be bothered checking the full number in their book (also on the web) and they have charged import tax on two out of three occasions. It’s a real slog claiming it back – all the paper work is needed – bureaucracy at its very worst.

 

David G4CWB

 

 

>I keep misunderstanding the difference between import tax and VAT.  I

>"thought" that kits were absolved of one but not the other.  Perhaps you

>could clarify.

 

>David

>G3UNA

 

 

 


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AW: Import tax and VAT (UK)

Peter, DL2FI

I am not sure if there are not some misunderstandings.

European VAT is a type of TAX, each country has different VAT values e.g. Germany 19%, UK 17,5%

If you import something from a non EC country like USA you have to pay your local VAT anyway. IF you import from inside EC there is NO extra VAT because the user price of the article includes the VAT of the country where you buy it.

 

As an Addon you have to pay Custom for some Articles. Custom fee is a method the government uses to defend the own industry against cheap products from the rest of the world.

If you must pay custom duty or not for a specific article is  defined in the TARIC catalogue. TARIC is a catalogue  of declarations which are harmonized for the EC. Most Ham Radio articles are custom free.

 

Of course Elecraft is using the correct harmonized TARIC Numbers for custom classifications. Because we are getting at least 2 Elecraft shipments per month for QRPproject, I check these numbers monthly and I report any change to Elecraft.

 

BUT it very often depends on the “today performance” of the custom officer.

e.g.  The KAT 3 is per definition an internal part of the K3, so the TARIC number for “Other Parts of a Transmitter”  is ok and this number says NO  Custom, only VAT to pay. But in the big TARIC catalogue you find some numbers belonging to different stuff  with the word “Antenna” in it´s name. Some of this stuff is NOT custom free.  If the custom officer has a friendly day, he accepts the Elecraft declaration, he believes them to be honest. An other day, (his personal unfriendly day) he does not believe  the declaration, he is sure it´s  a part of an Antenna and you have to pay custom fee.

 

To be honest, I must say it´s not easy for the custom officers. The TARIC book is a 30cmx20xcm x5cm, printed in small fonts. I think it contains several thousand product descriptions.

 

I had a lot of funny declarations in the past, the best one:  parts for an Elecraft K2 have been declared as parts for a bath room by custom officer  J

In the mean I accept wrong declaration because it is much more expensive to start a 6 Month war against the custom burocracy then paying the 2-5% custom fee.

 

73 de Peter, DL2FI

www.QRPproject.de

 

 

Von: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]] Im Auftrag von David Andrews              
Gesendet: Montag, 24. November 2008 10:04
An: [hidden email]
Betreff: [Elecraft] Import tax and VAT (UK)

 

VAT on the K3 kit is payable but not import tax. The latter depends on the accuracy of the ‘code’ numbers supplied by Elecraft, and I’ve always found these absolutely right. UK Customs unfortunately often can’t be bothered checking the full number in their book (also on the web) and they have charged import tax on two out of three occasions. It’s a real slog claiming it back – all the paper work is needed – bureaucracy at its very worst.

 

David G4CWB

 

 

>I keep misunderstanding the difference between import tax and VAT.  I

>"thought" that kits were absolved of one but not the other.  Perhaps you

>could clarify.

 

>David

>G3UNA

 

 

 


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Re: Import tax and VAT (UK)

David Honey
I think it also depends on the point of entry and where the customs
centre is located.
Parcelforce International have a big clearing centre where all
internal packages arrive.
Unfortunately, as I was told by a customs officer there, their
computer system does not
accept the full TARIC code. So the officer enters the first N digits.
In some cases, the
rate of duty varies between the exact codes of that group, so they
charge the highest
duty of the group.

This is not a problem that suppliers and shippers can solve. It's
systemic in the poor way in
which the IT support that supports customs within Parcelforce
International works. So even
though Elecraft uses the correct code and this is demonstrably
correct, you still get charged.

This happened to me when I ordered the KPA100 option. It took 2
months to get my money
back. If you use a courier such as UPS, DHL etc, their customs
clearance processes are
usually better.

So I'm afraid there is little that you can do about this other than
pursue wrongful
charges vigorously to get your money back. I wrote a letter of
complaint, but other
than letting off steam, I doubt it had any real effect. Perhaps if
everyone who suffered
the same fate did likewise, someone in customs in Parcelforce might
take notice.
Until then, remember the old motto: Nils carborundum illegitemae.

vy 73 de David M0DHO

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Re: Import tax and VAT (UK)

dj7mgq
Hallo,

> I think it also depends on the point of entry and where the customs
> centre is located.

Up to now my experience has been, if it has been sent via regular mail
(USPS, Deutsche Post, DHL), then customs is often <expletive deleted>.

Via UPS, til now, I haven't had any problems.

But of course my personal sample size is very small...


vy 73 de toby
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Re: Re: Import tax and VAT (UK)

David Cutter
In reply to this post by David Andrews-3
I agree with all you say, except spelling of Parcel Force...
David
G3UNA

>
> From: David Honey <[hidden email]>
> Date: 2008/11/24 Mon AM 11:45:26 GMT
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Import tax and VAT (UK)
>
> I think it also depends on the point of entry and where the customs
> centre is located.
> Parcelforce International have a big clearing centre where all
> internal packages arrive.
> Unfortunately, as I was told by a customs officer there, their
> computer system does not
> accept the full TARIC code. So the officer enters the first N digits.
> In some cases, the
> rate of duty varies between the exact codes of that group, so they
> charge the highest
> duty of the group.
>
> This is not a problem that suppliers and shippers can solve. It's
> systemic in the poor way in
> which the IT support that supports customs within Parcelforce
> International works. So even
> though Elecraft uses the correct code and this is demonstrably
> correct, you still get charged.
>
> This happened to me when I ordered the KPA100 option. It took 2
> months to get my money
> back. If you use a courier such as UPS, DHL etc, their customs
> clearance processes are
> usually better.
>
> So I'm afraid there is little that you can do about this other than
> pursue wrongful
> charges vigorously to get your money back. I wrote a letter of
> complaint, but other
> than letting off steam, I doubt it had any real effect. Perhaps if
> everyone who suffered
> the same fate did likewise, someone in customs in Parcelforce might
> take notice.
> Until then, remember the old motto: Nils carborundum illegitemae.
>
> vy 73 de David M0DHO
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
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>
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>

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RE: Re: Import tax and VAT (UK)

gd0tep
English was never my best subject, but... I think he had it right first time
round... it's their name, rather than two words...

As per their web site: C Copyright Parcelforce Worldwide 2008. All Rights
Reserved
(that is unless the royal mail got it wrong as well?)

73
Andy
http://www.gd0tep.com

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of [hidden email]
Sent: 24 November 2008 12:45
To: David Honey; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Re: [Elecraft] Import tax and VAT (UK)

I agree with all you say, except spelling of Parcel Force...
David
G3UNA

>
> From: David Honey <[hidden email]>
> Date: 2008/11/24 Mon AM 11:45:26 GMT
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Import tax and VAT (UK)
>
> I think it also depends on the point of entry and where the customs
> centre is located.
> Parcelforce International have a big clearing centre where all
> internal packages arrive.
> Unfortunately, as I was told by a customs officer there, their
> computer system does not
> accept the full TARIC code. So the officer enters the first N digits.
> In some cases, the
> rate of duty varies between the exact codes of that group, so they
> charge the highest
> duty of the group.
>
> This is not a problem that suppliers and shippers can solve. It's
> systemic in the poor way in
> which the IT support that supports customs within Parcelforce
> International works. So even
> though Elecraft uses the correct code and this is demonstrably
> correct, you still get charged.
>
> This happened to me when I ordered the KPA100 option. It took 2
> months to get my money
> back. If you use a courier such as UPS, DHL etc, their customs
> clearance processes are
> usually better.
>
> So I'm afraid there is little that you can do about this other than
> pursue wrongful
> charges vigorously to get your money back. I wrote a letter of
> complaint, but other
> than letting off steam, I doubt it had any real effect. Perhaps if
> everyone who suffered
> the same fate did likewise, someone in customs in Parcelforce might
> take notice.
> Until then, remember the old motto: Nils carborundum illegitemae.
>
> vy 73 de David M0DHO
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft   
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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RE: Re: Import tax and VAT (UK)

Peter Howson
And I thought it was -- Parcel Farce

73
Peter
GM8GAX





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