ordering bridesmaids dresses from USA/Canada

dmm82

Hi I was wondering has anyone ordered dresses from the USA/Canada. Have found a great site - henkaa.com but was wondering can I be charged VAT when the dresses come into ireland?

Sleepy

Don't think VAT would apply but you would certainly be liable for duty charges.

dmm82

Thought there would be something alright, any idea how much it would be? Or where I could find out ?

tinkerbell

Sleepy, not sure why you said the OP wouldn't be charged VAT - they defo would! You will be charged VAT and duty - which right now equates to about 42% of the total order value (ie it's calculated on the cost of the dresses PLUS shipping).

Sleepy

I thought VAT only counted for purchases made within the state but thanks for the correction

dmm82

Aah i see. If I was to get it sent to a relatives house in the USA and them to post it to me would it be the same thing?

Sleepy

Depends on how they posted it to you tbh but what you're now asking advice on is smuggling

prettygurrly

bought my fragrances from the US (properly declared etc.) and they didn't get stopped by customs...they seem to only do a portion of the packages so you might get lucky doing it the "proper" way. However, I would suggest you don't order them during the run up to Christmas because I would suspect they're more vigilant...not encouraging smuggling, just telling you to be clever about what time of year you order things.

emsie80

as far as i can remember, the customs rate is 33% on the total cost of your purchase

Sleepy

Depending on who the shipping company used are, you can get stuck paying quite high "admin" fees for undeclared duty as well...

loveisdivine

The amount you pay varies on what the goods are. I always use this site and it has been pretty much spot on so far.

http://www.dutycalculator.com/

Chocoholic84

I bought 3 BM dresses from RK bridal, got charged €70 customs. Still worked out way cheaper!

tinkerbell

Sleepy wrote: »

I thought VAT only counted for purchases made within the state but thanks for the correction

Oh no! The govt wanna screw ya in every way possible so they charge VAT of 23% on top if ya buy outside the state!!

emsie80 wrote: »

as far as i can remember, the customs rate is 33% on the total cost of your purchase

It's not 33%, it's closer to 40% (slightly over). The breakdown is approx 23% for VAT, around 10-12% for duty, then it's usually €15 in an admin fee which sums up to around 40% usually. Those numbers may be slightly off but whenever I've ordered from the US, it's been 40% and I've ordered many times. You may get lucky and pay less but the max you pay is around 40% so better be prepared for that and know you can afford it before ordering and then if it works out less, well good stuff. No point in ordering and hoping you won't get stung for duty and then can't afford to pay it.

ABajaninCork

You need to know that the goods will not be released until the duty's paid...

repsol

tinkerbell wrote: »

Oh no! The govt wanna screw ya in every way possible so they charge VAT of 23% on top if ya buy outside the state!!

I don't think "screw" is the right way of describing VAT.I think you will find the Government use that money to pay for schools,hospitals etc.It is a bit hard to believe that the OP cannot find the type of dress they want in the EU for a good price.Goods imported from other EU members are charged VAT in the member state and VAT free here.Goods purchased in Ireland or outside the EU are charged our VAT rate of 23%.Shops based here would be glad of the business and provide employment and pay rates,tax ,PRSI etc.I think people should be a bit more forward thinking in their buying decisions.

ABajaninCork

repsol wrote: »

tinkerbell wrote: »

Oh no! The govt wanna screw ya in every way possible so they charge VAT of 23% on top if ya buy outside the state!!

I don't think "screw" is the right way of describing VAT.I think you will find the Government use that money to pay for schools,hospitals etc.It is a bit hard to believe that the OP cannot find the type of dress they want in the EU for a good price.Goods imported from other EU members are charged VAT in the member state and VAT free here.Goods purchased in Ireland or outside the EU are charged our VAT rate of 23%.Shops based here would be glad of the business and provide employment and pay rates,tax ,PRSI etc.I think people should be a bit more forward thinking in their buying decisions.

Sorry, but money talks, especially in the times we live in. If what you want can be found online for cheaper, you would certainly buy it, wouldn't you?
I've bought overseas as well as online because the prices charged here are a joke! If I can buy Irish (or indeed British!) at a good price, then that's what I'll do.

I bought BM dresses in the States at a time when the US $ was 2:1 against the £. Even shipping to Ireland for one of the dresses turned out to be much cheaper.

Chocoholic84

Absolutely. The dresses I got were €250 here each, and they were €120 each when shipped from the states, incl customs! Why should I let myself get ripped off here? Weddings are flipping expenive enough!

repsol

ABajaninCork wrote: »

repsol wrote: »

Sorry, but money talks, especially in the times we live in. If what you want can be found online for cheaper, you would certainly buy it, wouldn't you?
I've bought overseas as well as online because the prices charged here are a joke! If I can buy Irish (or indeed British!) at a good price, then that's what I'll do.

I bought BM dresses in the States at a time when the US $ was 2:1 against the £. Even shipping to Ireland for one of the dresses turned out to be much cheaper.

I assume that at some stage you might want to have kids.And you might want those kids to get a job.And you might want that job to be here and not in the USA or Oz. Still if you saved a few quid,to hell with the consequences.

Sleepy

Irish Economy is that way --> http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1196

And, let's be honest, how many of us want our kids to be working in retail?

repsol

Sleepy wrote: »

Irish Economy is that way --> http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1196

And, let's be honest, how many of us want our kids to be working in retail?

I am sure you are tongue in cheek Sleepy but you are missing the point.I don't mean we want our kids to flog wedding dresses.The person who sells the dresses pays tax to help fund the state.They pay rates to their local authority which pays for street cleaning,fire service and social housing.They pay staff who buy goods and services which provides more jobs and so on.The dress bought in the states will pay for a pair of boots for an 18 year old soldier who will go overseas and most likely come back in a rubber bag!

ABajaninCork

repsol wrote: »

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I assume that at some stage you might want to have kids.And you might want those kids to get a job.And you might want that job to be here and not in the USA or Oz. Still if you saved a few quid,to hell with the consequences.

You assume wrong sweetie. I am English for a start. And I do not have kids. Stop with the condescending nonsense.

repsol

ABajaninCork wrote: »

repsol wrote: »

You assume wrong sweetie. I am English for a start. And I do not have kids. Stop with the condescending nonsense.

So what if you are English! The point is you are in Cork and not an American so why are you supporting their economy?.If you READ what I said, I was using the future tense so the fact you currently have no kids is irrelevant.You may or may not have some in the future and if not you may or may not have nieces or nephews who might need employment.I am not being condescending ,I am just talking about something which you obviously cannot understand!:p

ABajaninCork

repsol wrote: »

ABajaninCork wrote: »

So what if you are English! The point is you are in Cork and not an American so why are you supporting their economy?.If you READ what I said, I was using the future tense so the fact you currently have no kids is irrelevant.You may or may not have some in the future and if not you may or may not have nieces or nephews who might need employment.I am not being condescending ,I am just talking about something which you obviously cannot understand!:p

Yes I read it and understood. So what is your point? My circumstances are none of your business as is where I choose to spend my money.

Over and out.

repsol

ABajaninCork wrote: »

repsol wrote: »

Yes I read it and understood. So what is your point? My circumstances are none of your business as is where I choose to spend my money.

Over and out.

I hope that did not toss your hair when it went over your head sweetie:D:D:D:D:p

Always number 1

Hi dmm82, See below details of customs charges that I got from clothing.ie
Before I ordered by bridesmaid dresses online (house of brides) I calculated how much the customs would be to see if it would be worth doing and for me it was.

1) Customs Duty. - Customs duty is calculated by Customs on the TOTAL cost of the clothing. They add together the purchase price, + any insurance, + freight costs. On this total figure they charge Customs duties of 12%.
Duty on footwear depends on the material the footwear is made of. It's usually between 9% and 15%
Customs duty does not usually apply to clothes or shoes under €150 total cost.
2) V.A.T. - After adding the customs duty to the total cost of the clothing, they then add V.A.T.@ 21% on the after Customs duty figure..

An Example of how this might work out: - A wonderful Ball Gown costs $150 from Sydney's Closet. You choose insurance at $15 and there is a $35 airmail freight charge. Total cost for Customs Duties purposes is $200. Customs duty will be $24 - 12% of cost, making $224.
V.A.T. is now charged by Customs on the $224 @ 21% = $47.04.
The extra charges in total are $24 + $47.04 = $71.04, which is then changed to Euro at the central exchange rate of the day. In many cases the delivery company used will ask for payment of the customs duties before releasing the clothing to you.

Just to add, this info may need be updated to reflect the changed VAT rate to 23%

tinkerbell

^ good post but ya forgot that if it's delivered via the likes of UPS, DHL, Fedex, etc they charge a handling fee for processing VAT/duty which is between €10 and €15.

Further info from Citizens Information
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/duties_and_vat/value_added_tax.html

dmm82

Thanks a million everyone, god it's very confusing

Ps, For those who are saying I should buy in Ireland, a similar dress to the one I want ( one of the convertible ones) costs over €400 each here, these ones are around €120 before VAT etc. With four bridesmaids and a mini bridesmaid to buy for that's a hell of a difference! If and when I win the lotto I will definitely buy Irish but unfortunately at the moment I cant

ABajaninCork

It's all about value for money these days. If the British/Irish stores sold at a competitive price, then of course we would all buy. Dmm82 - you buy where you want and can offer the best customer experience and value for money.

I wouldn't bother reading the sanctimonious claptrap by repol. S/he doesn't live in the real world!!

mdebets

repsol wrote: »

Goods imported from other EU members are charged VAT in the member state and VAT free here.

That's not always true. Once a shop hits a certain threshold of annual turnover with another EU country, it has to charge the VAT rate of the destination country.
That's for example why you have to pay Irish rates and not UK rates, if you buy from Amazon.co.uk.

toadfly

dmm82 wrote: »

Thanks a million everyone, god it's very confusing

Ps, For those who are saying I should buy in Ireland, a similar dress to the one I want ( one of the convertible ones) costs over €400 each here, these ones are around €120 before VAT etc.:)

Are you talking about the wrap dresses? Just to give you another option they are €200 each from Beverley Hills in Galway.

dmm82

TillyGirl wrote: »

Are you talking about the wrap dresses? Just to give you another option they are €200 each from Beverley Hills in Galway.

Really?? Thanks a million for letting me know! The only ones I could find in Ireland were €400 each! Ill look for them now

toadfly

dmm82 wrote: »

Really?? Thanks a million for letting me know! The only ones I could find in Ireland were €400 each! Ill look for them now

Ya they are €220 each but she said she would do three for €600

Always number 1

tinkerbell wrote: »

^ good post but ya forgot that if it's delivered via the likes of UPS, DHL, Fedex, etc they charge a handling fee for processing VAT/duty which is between €10 and €15.

Further info from Citizens Information
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/duties_and_vat/value_added_tax.html

Sorry mine were delivered by normal post (with the docket for payment of customs) so I didn't realise that about the couriers.

loveisdivine

If you're talking about the dreses where you wrap them insto different styles, then BHS in the UK have them for £80. I'm thinking of ordering them but one of my girls is a larger lady and not sure if it will be that flattering on her.

Edit - link http://www.bhs.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?catalogId=34096&storeId=13077&langId=-1&viewAllFlag=false&categoryId=525496&interstitial=true

dmm82

Wow they look great and only €80!! I'm really considering buying them, my weddings not until 2014 though!! Bit early maybe??