Is it just me or are they really cracking down on import tax?

[Guest]

[Roz]

Yes I have been taxed on some promos I have bought!!!

Of late we have simply been taxed on every single thing we have got in from the States! I am very glad all my Potter Update cards are coming from the UK otherwise I'd be on the verge of tears right at this minute

Has anyone else been experiencing this or it it our over zealous Cambridgeshire post office?

[samwise16]

I havn't brought from America in a long time, pretty glad to because i wouldnt be able to handle the thought of being taxed  

[mcgonagall]

I buy from the us alot but have never been taxed that i know of maybe it is differant between australia and the US

[ferdinand_the_yak]

Neither.... I have never been charged any kind of tax from US/UK imports

[Roz]

lol we don't have an export tax so you won't pay import tax unless it's your country's policy

[ferdinand_the_yak]

LOL, am half awake... what I mean is we don't get charged any import tax that I know of - so its buy, buy, buy!

[Roz]

Yes I think the allowance before you get import taxed in America is huge!

But don't forget the UK is hot on tax - 40% employment tax is not uncommon for the well off, and 17.5% is taken on all luxury goods (and by luxury we mean cake over biscuits, so hardly just designer goods!!!)

[mcgonagall]

maybe if the tax is to high it might be cheaper to have it sent to australia then sent to you  

[robwaddle]

Roz - I'm surprised u got taxed on promos   I've been taxed on a single box (once), but generally it's been bigger stuff. The problem is, that although the laws are very clear, the interpretation/implementation is extremely hit and miss.

It's pot luck wether you get taxed..... I had a digital camera and heaps of accessories sent from USA. The guy who I bought it from put "replacement camera" on the package. Net result - No Tax  

I bought the 3 pack LOTR soundtrack boxset from Amazon USA. Cost - $56. Net result - Taxed  

SS Statues will get taxed, 2 helms in one package don't. The two helms cost $50, so you'd think that based on the CDs I'd get taxed. But I didn't.

As far as I can tell, it's like walking through the green channel when you return from abroad. Linda & I went to the states a couple of years ago. I walked through customs with probably £175 worth of undeclared goods. Despite her best efforts - "Are we in customs yet" as I tried to look nonchalant while ambling through the customs hall   we got through OK  

My message to anyone is, if you import stuff, you will at some point pay. Big stuff normally gets taxed. Smaller items depend on who's on duty and the mood they're in.

Finally HOORAH!!!   Even after shipping costs and tax, it was still cheaper to import 2 cases of Topps ROTK from USA than buying them in UK  

Rob

[Roz]

Yes Topps does work out rather pricey over here in the UK.

It turns out that it wasn't the promos that I was expecting that the tax was for... I have just been to the post office in hope - it was some DVDs for Mark ...

boo

I've been waiting more than 2.5 weeks now... ahh well - patience IS a virtue