Help advise needed
 

Do you have to pay import duty on secondhand spares brought from e-bay USA?

Darren

I never have, make sure the seller marks it up as a "gift", you should be OK

Officially yes, and VAT too.

The gift option is possible, but C&E may question the validity of the gift status for motorcycle parts etc. It's not 100% perfect either.

Try using the term replacement parts instead.



[Edited on 22-3-2005 by Mr_S]

I would have thought the fact they're 'secondhand' negates the need to pay duty etc. Isn't that on 'new' stuff only????

God Bless Tony!!

Seconhand, Gift, Sample, Replacement parts should all work. If the guy selling is friiendly then get the parcel marked as only worth $50.

All imports regardless of being new or secondhand require you to pay VAT & Duty at the appropriate rate on first entry into the EU. Since VAT etc hasn't yet been paid on them (nice tax that VAT...)

http://www.hmce.gov.uk/channelsPorta...ument#P55_5483

£18 is the limit below which VAT is overlooked. (£36 for a gift)
£7 is the limit below which Duty is overlooked.

C&E aren't daft, and will ignore the label if the contents are obviously of higher value.

Whether these are levied or not is a different matter, but that's what your supposed to pay.

Even if you buy secondhand goods from a UK company that's VAT registered you should pay VAT on that as well (but may reduce it under the Margin scheme, where you would only pay VAT on the profit) so the Govt can essentially levy the VAT twice.

http://www.hmce.gov.uk/channelsPorta...HMCE_CL_001454

Thanx for the advice folks, will have to think carefully before bidding on the items I'm interested in.

Darren