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UK import duty

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David Andrews-4

UK import duty

This has been mentioned from time to time but still caused a problem when I
ordered a KX1 kit recently. Elecraft's documentation is correct and
perfectly clear - one of the commodity codes was 8529 9040 00. UK Customs
truncated this to 8529 90 and charged import duty at 3%. If you don't pay,
you can't get your parcel. Then the fun begins, because had all 8 (or10)
digits been taken into account, no duty was payable. I'm waiting to see if I
get a refund, but why do they still get the wrong answer?

David G4CWB
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David Pratt

Re: UK import duty

My guess is that you win some and lose some, David. I was surprised that
I didn't even have pay the VAT on my 30/80m & firmware KX1 upgrade even
thought the UK cost was more than the £18 limit for merchandise. I am
not complaining, but the best of luck in your own pursuit.

73 de David G4DMP

In a recent message, David Andrews <[hidden email]> said....
>This has been mentioned from time to time but still caused a problem when I
>ordered a KX1 kit recently. Elecraft's documentation is correct and
>perfectly clear - one of the commodity codes was 8529 9040 00. UK Customs
>truncated this to 8529 90 and charged import duty at 3%. If you don't pay,
>you can't get your parcel. Then the fun begins, because had all 8 (or10)
>digits been taken into account, no duty was payable. I'm waiting to see if I
>get a refund, but why do they still get the wrong answer?

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Stewart Baker

Re: UK import duty

In reply to this post by David Andrews-4

This is a timely thread having just collected from Parcel Force, a package
containing my latest Elecraft kit purchase.
I was charged £9.23 import duty into the EU plus VAT on that amount.
On all my previous packages I have been charged nothing.

I phoned the Customs & Excise (or whatever they now call themselves), and was
told that the £9.23 represents 3% import duty on the value of goods ($539).
They have an old computer system which only recognises the first 6 digits of the
Commodity Code, and this is where they got the 3% duty from. The last 4 digits,
if they bothered to look indicate that there is 0% duty. They seem to rely on
customer action to correct errors.

The US Postal Service Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note has clearly typed
the HS tariff number 8529 9040 00, however the description was for:-
Transmitter Equipment with Built-in Receiver Except Mobile Phones and Aircraft
Equipment.

This contents description on the Customs Declaration was wrong, not matching the
Commodity Code, and should have referred to Parts for use with Radio.
This is something that Elecraft should rectify immediately.

I now have to submit a covering letter, proof of purchase and the labeling to
get the duty and part of the VAT refunded.
Not a Happy Bunny !!

Stewart G3RXQ

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:17:39 +0100, David Andrews wrote:

> This has been mentioned from time to time but still caused a problem when I
>
> ordered a KX1 kit recently. Elecraft's documentation is correct and
> perfectly clear - one of the commodity codes was 8529 9040 00. UK Customs
> truncated this to 8529 90 and charged import duty at 3%. If you don't pay,
> you can't get your parcel. Then the fun begins, because had all 8 (or10)
> digits been taken into account, no duty was payable. I'm waiting to see if I
> get a refund, but why do they still get the wrong answer?
>
> David G4CWB
> _______________________________________________
> 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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N8LP

Re: UK import duty

Technically, I think the code is

8529 9040 000

That is what I use when sending my kits to EU.

Larry N8LP

Stewart Baker wrote:

> This is a timely thread having just collected from Parcel Force, a package
> containing my latest Elecraft kit purchase.
> I was charged £9.23 import duty into the EU plus VAT on that amount.
> On all my previous packages I have been charged nothing.
>
> I phoned the Customs & Excise (or whatever they now call themselves), and was
> told that the £9.23 represents 3% import duty on the value of goods ($539).
> They have an old computer system which only recognises the first 6 digits of the
> Commodity Code, and this is where they got the 3% duty from. The last 4 digits,
> if they bothered to look indicate that there is 0% duty. They seem to rely on
> customer action to correct errors.
>
> The US Postal Service Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note has clearly typed
> the HS tariff number 8529 9040 00, however the description was for:-
> Transmitter Equipment with Built-in Receiver Except Mobile Phones and Aircraft
> Equipment.
>
> This contents description on the Customs Declaration was wrong, not matching the
> Commodity Code, and should have referred to Parts for use with Radio.
> This is something that Elecraft should rectify immediately.
>
> I now have to submit a covering letter, proof of purchase and the labeling to
> get the duty and part of the VAT refunded.
> Not a Happy Bunny !!
>
> Stewart G3RXQ
>
>
>

Peter Howson

Re: UK import duty

In reply to this post by Stewart Baker

Hi

It is just too difficult to check. -- I had to pay import duty on my K2 -
but the additional modules and upgrades purchased a year later went through
the system with no problems. So why do they use the computer excuse.

As you pay VAT on top of the duty (taxing the tax) you will get back a bit
morte than the duty. My refund took three months with two telephone calls
and two letters and to twist the dagger the letter with the refund
acknowledged the "additional evidence" that determined the exempt nature of
the goods -- the inference being that it was my fault all along.

But with the fiasco at the Home Office why should any other government
department be any better.

73
Peter
GM8GAX
K2 #4027

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Peter Zenker

AW: UK import duty

In reply to this post by N8LP

Larry, thats an old number, they changed early this year.

The actual number is: 8525 2080 900 for a"transmitter with built in receiver
if is not for telefone or aeronautical use"

The number for accessories is: 8529 9040 000 ( parts or acceries used for
a transmitter with built in receiver, not for telefone or aeronautical use)

73 de Peter, DL2FI
www.qrpproject.de

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] Im Auftrag von Larry Phipps
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 14. Juni 2006 16:56
> An: Stewart Baker
> Cc: Elecraft Reflector
> Betreff: Re: [Elecraft] UK import duty
>
>
> Technically, I think the code is
>
> 8529 9040 000
>
> That is what I use when sending my kits to EU.
>
> Larry N8LP
>
>

Peter Zenker

AW: UK import duty

In reply to this post by Stewart Baker

> The US Postal Service Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note
> has clearly typed the HS tariff number 8529 9040 00, however
> the description was for:- Transmitter Equipment with Built-in
> Receiver Except Mobile Phones and Aircraft Equipment.
>
> This contents description on the Customs Declaration was
> wrong, not matching the Commodity Code, and should have
> referred to Parts for use with Radio.
> This is something that Elecraft should rectify immediately.
>

Correct description but wrong number, Steward. That must have been in the
days when they changed the number. In those days I checked the new number
for elecraft, since that day the use the new number.
The second problem: USPS does not insure > 500 USD, so if you order a
complete K2, elecraft divide this into 2 shipments now. You have to pay
twice the shipping cost and 17,5% VAT on both, price of the K2 plus shipment
cost.

QRPproject is receiving big elecraft packages every second week, believe me,
I know how expensive this shipment and VAT stuff is.

73 de Peter, DL2FI

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Stewart Baker

Re: AW: UK import duty

Sorry Peter, but I checked the number against the description with our Duty
people today 14/06/2006. Their document says 8529 9040 00 = Parts for Radio
which is what a kit is.

I am pleased that I did not know about your second point while I was waiting for
my package. Anyway everything arrived safely, and it is just the reclaiming of
duty from the government.

I only thought that the EU was a problem for it's member countries, now I see
that it is a problem for the rest of the world.

Oh well - off to get a beer !

73
Stewart G3RXQ

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:46:43 +0200, Peter Zenker wrote:

>
>
>> The US Postal Service Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note
>> has clearly typed the HS tariff number 8529 9040 00, however
>> the description was for:- Transmitter Equipment with Built-in
>> Receiver Except Mobile Phones and Aircraft Equipment.
>>
>> This contents description on the Customs Declaration was
>> wrong, not matching the Commodity Code, and should have
>> referred to Parts for use with Radio.
>> This is something that Elecraft should rectify immediately.
>>
>
> Correct description but wrong number, Steward. That must have been in the
> days when they changed the number. In those days I checked the new number
> for elecraft, since that day the use the new number.
> The second problem: USPS does not insure > 500 USD, so if you order a
> complete K2, elecraft divide this into 2 shipments now. You have to pay
> twice the shipping cost and 17,5% VAT on both, price of the K2 plus shipment
> cost.
>
> QRPproject is receiving big elecraft packages every second week, believe me,
> I know how expensive this shipment and VAT stuff is.
>
> 73 de Peter, DL2FI

N8LP

Re: AW: UK import duty

In reply to this post by Peter Zenker

The 8529 9040 000 number that I use is the correct one for my kits, I
believe, as my kits are considered accessories. What I was pointing out
is that the last "0" may be important in their system, and it appeared
to be omitted.

Larry N8LP

Peter Zenker wrote:

> Larry, thats an old number, they changed early this year.
>
> The actual number is: 8525 2080 900 for a"transmitter with built in receiver
> if is not for telefone or aeronautical use"
>
> The number for accessories is: 8529 9040 000 ( parts or acceries used for
> a transmitter with built in receiver, not for telefone or aeronautical use)
>
> 73 de Peter, DL2FI
> www.qrpproject.de
>
>
>

N8LP

Re: AW: UK import duty

In reply to this post by Stewart Baker

Not to mention the major headache that RoHS compliance is causing the
rest of the world.

Larry N8LP

Stewart Baker wrote:

> Sorry Peter, but I checked the number against the description with our Duty
> people today 14/06/2006. Their document says 8529 9040 00 = Parts for Radio
> which is what a kit is.
>
> I am pleased that I did not know about your second point while I was waiting for
> my package. Anyway everything arrived safely, and it is just the reclaiming of
> duty from the government.
>
> I only thought that the EU was a problem for it's member countries, now I see
> that it is a problem for the rest of the world.
>
> Oh well - off to get a beer !
>
> 73
> Stewart G3RXQ
>
>
>

Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy-2

Re: UK import duty

In reply to this post by Stewart Baker

Back in 2003 my K2/100 plus options came in under Commodity Code 8525 2099
00, Electronic Kits, which attracted 0% duty, although UK Customs did
manage to add £10 under 'Other Government Charges'. No doubt Customs and
Excise have since changed the Code as part of a 'make work add confusion'
exercise.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD

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Mike Harris-9

Re: AW: UK import duty

In reply to this post by Stewart Baker

G'day,

<snipo>
I only thought that the EU was a problem for it's member countries, now I
see
that it is a problem for the rest of the world.
<snipo>

Not a problem here, no vat, no duty except on booze and cigs. None of
that RoHS stuff here either, yet.

We have signed up to Kyoto (sp?) though.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

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