Ordering a laptop from the UK; import tax?

Champ

Hi all;
I want to order a laptop from the UK; www.rockdirect.com. I was warned that there may be an import tax on this; which could make the system quite a bit more expensive.... I was wondering if anyone could shed a bit of light on this?

Thanks

_sheep

If its comming from the uk, there wont be import tax

Champ

Hi thanks for the reply;
I think i also verified it with the EU TARIC Consultation Page:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/dds/cgi-bin/tarchap?Lang=EN
The site is a bit klunky....

No one has had any bad experience with U.K + Import Taxes? Not that i'm hoping there is but bad luck has made me a tad bit cautious in life...:rolleyes:

silverside

No, no import tax, not since years ago.

You may have to pay 21% vat instead of 17.5% vat at point of sale though - depends how much Rock sell to Ireland. If it is over a certain amount they have to charge VAT at the customer's rate, as e.g. amazon.co.uk already do.

Matt Simis

Originally posted by Champ
Hi thanks for the reply;
I think i also verified it with the EU TARIC Consultation Page:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/dds/cgi-bin/tarchap?Lang=EN
The site is a bit klunky....

No one has had any bad experience with U.K + Import Taxes? Not that i'm hoping there is but bad luck has made me a tad bit cautious in life...:rolleyes:

I think you are missing the point of being in the EU....


Matt

Champ

Thanks for all the replies; sorry for any ignorance ... i'm pretty much green in the import experience + bit paranoid.... :dunno:

jabaroon

Friend of mine bought a laptop from Rock a few months ago. He thoroughly recomends them. You pay STG price + UK vat and then shipping to Ireland. There is no duty or other fees that you need to consider (except the exchange rate of course!!)

JAb

netman

I haven't bought anything from Rock themselves, but I've ordered plenty of things from UK and I can confirm that you don't get charged Irish VAT (21%) or import tax/duty if it's shipped from the UK.

In general electronics tend to be quite a bit cheaper over there. Shipping is sometimes the deal-killer for smaller items, but for anything larger than a box of DVD recordables you should be able to find a better deal over there

Stephen

I think (as someone mentioned earlier) if the company sells a siginificant amount (something like 20,000 euro) to Ireland each year they have to charge Irish VAT (21%) like Komplett and Amazon. Otherwise you just pay the UK VAT.

netman

Komplett charge Irish VAT because they're registered in Ireland.

Amazon on the other hand, I've ordered plenty from, and I've always been charged UK VAT (17.5%).

therecklessone

Originally posted by netman
Komplett charge Irish VAT because they're registered in Ireland.

Amazon on the other hand, I've ordered plenty from, and I've always been charged UK VAT (17.5%).

I'm sorry to contradict you, but you haven't.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/502578/ref=cs_hd_lp_1/202-4414421-6636624

The prices quoted on Amazon are inclusive of UK VAT, but when you log in and go to the checkout you'll notice goods have increased slightly in value, to reflect the extra VAT.

Kunst

hey,

i bought a lappy from rock direct at xmas no probs with delivery or tax or anything else. Just oner thing they can get very hot when gaming for long periods.... i have to buy a laptop cooler now. just to let ya know. good company all the same though.


Cheers,
Kunst

OfflerCrocGod

Originally posted by Matt Simis
I think you are missing the point of being in the EU....

Until they withdraw because the're afraid they will be eaten alive by Brussels:rolleyes:.

netman

Originally posted by therecklessone
I'm sorry to contradict you, but you haven't.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/502578/ref=cs_hd_lp_1/202-4414421-6636624

The prices quoted on Amazon are inclusive of UK VAT, but when you log in and go to the checkout you'll notice goods have increased slightly in value, to reflect the extra VAT.

Heh, you're right.. This is funny, I've ordered a Creative Labs MP3 player from Amazon, which was 109 pounds, and I got charged more. Of course I was completely oblivious to the fact that they're charging irish VAT, and after seeing my credit card statement I promptly contacted their customer service.. And they refunded me the difference!

I feel a bit guilty now, all this time I thought it was their mistake

suppafly

they refunded u the difference? they must have thought the same as u so. did they not just tell u about the different vat rates. on the vat rates, denmarks VAT is 25%! sucks to live there!

netman

Originally posted by suppafly
they refunded u the difference? they must have thought the same as u so. did they not just tell u about the different vat rates. on the vat rates, denmarks VAT is 25%! sucks to live there!

man i wouldn't mind paying 4 percent more tax if i could live in a country as liberal and progressive as that

and no, amazon even apologised and explained that sometimes they have a slight difference in price between their web site and their ordering server. up until now i thought that was pretty good customer service. now i just think they're brilliant