IMport duty on a lens?

TelePaul

Hey guys, just wondering what sort of excise duty is due on a lens imported from outside europe? Revenue website is attrocious for this sort of thing.

kensutz

Here we go again..............


At least 21% or search for the various threads in the forum.

nowuckenfurries

try this thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055344242

TelePaul

kensutz wrote: »

Here we go again..............


At least 21% or search for the various threads in the forum.

Tha's VAT. I was asking about import duty.

TelePaul

nowuckenfurries wrote: »

try this thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055344242

3.7%, thanks for that.

Covey

I'm pretty sure it's 6.7% of the landed cost. Will confirm later.

T.

GristlyEnd

Sticky: FAQs - importing camera equipment from outside the EU

conkeroo

Duty rate is 6.7% of cost of lens, shipping and insurance. VAT is then calculated on the cost of lens, shipping and insurance plus the 6.7% on top.

TelePaul

DarrenG wrote: »

Sticky: FAQs - importing camera equipment from outside the EU

Thanks, I see from the sticky it's your job to know these things. So do you know why VAT is charged on the duty? Seems quite silly.

challengemaster

TelePaul wrote: »

Thanks, I see from the sticky it's your job to know these things. So do you know why VAT is charged on the duty? Seems quite silly.

Because the Irish government are greedy bastards.

conkeroo

challengemaster wrote: »

Because the Irish government are greedy bastards.

Yep, pretty much somes it up. Being taxed on a tax...

LeoB

No expert on this but is the cost of the item assed by revenue, they put Irish value on it, charge you V.A.T and Duty on Their valuation and hey presto!!! You get screwed:(:mad:. Something like that. This maynot be 100% accurate but that was how it was explained to me. I handle a lot of foregion parcels which originate outside the E.U and over the past few weeks their has been a big increase (30-40%) in the number getting stopped at customs. There was a mention a few weeks ago of a luxury tax being put on items from Far east/Asia!! The answer may be Ryan Air- Cheap Flight- New lens = BIG savings:)

challengemaster

LeoB wrote: »

No expert on this but is the cost of the item assed by revenue, they put Irish value on it, charge you V.A.T and Duty on Their valuation and hey presto!!! You get screwed:(:mad:. Something like that. This maynot be 100% accurate but that was how it was explained to me. I handle a lot of foregion parcels which originate outside the E.U and over the past few weeks their has been a big increase (30-40%) in the number getting stopped at customs. There was a mention a few weeks ago of a luxury tax being put on items from Far east/Asia!! The answer may be Ryan Air- Cheap Flight- New lens = BIG savings:)

I've a few coming through in the next few days.. just usher them on will ya?

LeoB

Challengemaster, if you contest the value of the product you may be able to get them down a bit, in fairness the customs people are reasonable from what I heard of them in the past. " You mean you want me to pay duty on my lens that has been getting repaired?;):p

conkeroo

LeoB wrote: »

No expert on this but is the cost of the item assed by revenue, they put Irish value on it, charge you V.A.T and Duty on Their valuation and hey presto!!! You get screwed:(:mad:. Something like that.

That's pretty much it. If there's an invoice attached to the parcel but it seems to low to them, customs will calculate vat and duty based on the current irish market value. So even if you legitimately buy a lens from hong kong and you get it for 350 but here you might pay 1000, if customs deem it too low or they believe the invoice has been "doctored" to give a lower value, they'll work out the taxes based on the current market value. I previously worked in customs clearance and I saw this happen a few times. But now, they're even more stringent.

TelePaul

conkeroo wrote: »

That's pretty much it. If there's an invoice attached to the parcel but it seems to low to them, customs will calculate vat and duty based on the current irish market value. So even if you legitimately buy a lens from hong kong and you get it for 350 but here you might pay 1000, if customs deem it too low or they believe the invoice has been "doctored" to give a lower value, they'll work out the taxes based on the current market value. I previously worked in customs clearance and I saw this happen a few times. But now, they're even more stringent.

Hmmm. How does one define 'too low'? Surely it's my right to buy goods from outside the European Union if I'm willing to pay the VAT and import duty?

Do Kea Photo mark goods of 'no commercial value'? Surely the honous is on the supplier to present a true representation of the actual cost?

decimal

TelePaul wrote: »

Do Kea Photo mark goods of 'no commercial value'? Surely the honous is on the supplier to present a true representation of the actual cost?

I got the nifty fifty from kea photo two weeks ago. The parcel was marked as a gift and with a value HK$100 (€9), kea photo has a habit of doing that

I got a letter from customs, had to send the paypal invoice, then pay around €15 VAT and €5 handling fees. First time it's happened to me :mad:

TelePaul

decimal wrote: »

I got the nifty fifty from kea photo two weeks ago. The parcel was marked as a gift and with a value HK$100 (€9), kea photo has a habit of doing that

I got a letter from customs, had to send the paypal invoice, then pay around €15 VAT and €5 handling fees. First time it's happened to me :mad:

I don't mind paying VAT and related charges, just so long as its on the cost of the lens from Kea, not on the Irish retail value.

FYI mods this isn't about tax avoidance or anything like it. Just trying to budget accordingly.

conkeroo

TelePaul wrote: »

Hmmm. How does one define 'too low'? Surely it's my right to buy goods from outside the European Union if I'm willing to pay the VAT and import duty?

Do Kea Photo mark goods of 'no commercial value'? Surely the honous is on the supplier to present a true representation of the actual cost?

Being honest, it can depend on the customs officer. It is your right to buy goods outside the EU but if customs believe its not a realistic value attached to the goods they can use the Irish market value. Some will let it go, others are a bit more, well.. strict, if you know what I mean. Its all luck on who checks the package.

Balfey1972

LeoB posted in another topic relating to this. He works in the parcel side of thing. His suggestion that you get them to mark i as repair. ie you sent it to them to be repaired and they are returning it to you.

sounds plausable to me....

Gran Hermano

Balfey1972 wrote: »

LeoB posted in another topic relating to this. He works in the parcel side of thing. His suggestion that you get them to mark i as repair. ie you sent it to them to be repaired and they are returning it to you.

sounds plausable to me....

Be careful, I've heard of Customs asking for proof of shipping from you
showing you posted the item from Ireland originally. (You'd hardly
mail something expensive for repair and not have a tracking number/receipt).
They could also ask you for a copy of the invoice detailing the repair costs.

TelePaul

As I say, I'm not trying to scam anyone. I know how much it'll cost with duty and VAT and I'm ahppy to pay it.

RoryW

Balfey1972 wrote: »

sounds plausable to me....

for plausible read ILLEGAL with the knock on consequences :eek: