Buying from the UK

BaZmO* · 25-05-2021 9:46pm #1

Hi, can anyone give me the definitive breakdown of what tax/import duties I’d have to pay for something bought from the UK? I’ve been searching online but I can’t seem to get the definitive answer. Lots of “you may this” or “you might be liable for that”. It’s all very frustrating.

I know I won’t pay UK VAT but I’ll have to pay Irish VAT which is fine, but I just want to know what I’m liable for. Item is way over £500stg and it’s made in the UK.

3wayswitch · 25-05-2021 11:33pm

You will be liable for 23% vat and 2.5% duty on both the cost of the guitar and shipping. The courier might also add a €10/€15 handling charge.

So if the guitar cost £500 exactly including shipping, you would be looking at paying an extra €150 / €160 at the door, maybe a little more. What I normally do is just set aside 30% of the total cost of the guitar and that will be more than enough to cover all the charges.

BaZmO* · 25-05-2021 11:46pm

3wayswitch wrote: »

You will be liable for 23% vat and 2.5% duty on both the cost of the guitar and shipping. The courier might also add a €10/€15 handling charge.

So if the guitar cost £500 exactly including shipping, you would be looking at paying an extra €150 / €160 at the door, maybe a little more. What I normally do is just set aside 30% of the total cost of the guitar and that will be more than enough to cover all the charges.

Thanks for that. It’s a bit annoying that there’s no exact calculation that tells you exactly what you’ll be charged.

BaZmO* · 25-05-2021 11:48pm

Sorry, just to add. Is the duty calculated before or after VAT us added? Or is it added as a separate charge?

3wayswitch · 26-05-2021 12:18am

BaZmO* wrote: »

Sorry, just to add. Is the duty calculated before or after VAT us added? Or is it added as a separate charge?

VAT is calculated after the duty is added.

It can be a bit of a frustrating process trying to figure out the exact amount you will owe ahead of time. Some couriers like An Post charge a fixed processing fee (€10 I believe), whereas other couriers can charge up to 2.5% of the item cost as their processing fee.

At least some couriers will now make contact before delivery is attempted to pay the duty and VAT charges online which makes the process a bit less painful.

Relikk · 27-05-2021 9:06pm

This is a bit of a headache for me also as I'm looking to buy a Rickenbacker 4003 and the specific colour I'm looking for is out of stock in all of the European stores I can find, but some UK stores have it. For that amount I'm not really willing to risk buying from the UK.

the goon · 29-05-2021 8:47am

Just said I would share my experience as I recently bought from UK. Ordered Tuesday evening and paid net of VAT amount. Email Thurs morning from DPD who were the courier to pay Duty and VAT (plus handling fee of €5+VAT). Got delivery next day.

It was actually alot less painful than I was expecting.

Buying from the UK

Comments