[AWBimmer]

Guys,

I know I'm practically walking into fire by asking this but wanted to doubly make sure I'm not the only one.. but I'm looking to get the JBL MS8 and thought I'd look across the pond for any reasonable prices.

Turns out a family run business is selling them for £350 incl PnP and is willing to label the item as a 'GIFT' so as to allow me to avoid tax/customs at my end..

Now I know upto a certain degree, the above is possible, having ordered a few bits n bobs of JTSherri (SWS-8 spacers )and 808MGuy (Speaker adaptor rings ) + Technic's Harness .. however, as the item is higher in value, will I be able to avoid any further csosts once it lands in the UK?

What are the rules and has anybody else done this before?

Thank you very much.

[webwysard]

If you have the package labeled as a replacement item then I think you can avoid the customs and duties.

[AWBimmer]

Originally Posted by webwysard

If you have the package labeled as a replacement item then I think you can avoid the customs and duties.

Nice! Just wondering how comes other people don't get their odd equipment in this manner?

Is there a catch?

[MEGA]

The catch is that if they catch the company out they can be done for fraud, and you'll stil lbe charged the ~30% fee.

You "might" get away with it: But I've had several gift items that I've been charged for now.. It's not like it's not an obvious one.

company address sends package as gift. Hmm, open package. Obvious retail purchase. Seize item, demand duty - and open proceedings against seller.


It's not your risk to run really though it's theirs. Go for it, worst case you pay the duty (AFAIK)

[AWBimmer]

Originally Posted by MEGA

The catch is that if they catch the company out they can be done for fraud, and you'll stil lbe charged the ~30% fee.

You "might" get away with it: But I've had several gift items that I've been charged for now.. It's not like it's not an obvious one.

company address sends package as gift. Hmm, open package. Obvious retail purchase. Seize item, demand duty - and open proceedings against seller.

It's not your risk to run really though it's theirs. Go for it, worst case you pay the duty (AFAIK)

Cheers for that dude. I'f I'm going to do this and risk it, what are we looking at re: duty costs, approx?

RE: the above in bold, just a thought.. why would the company/seller run the risk of having a case opened seeling to international buyers?

If they label their name rather than company details, perhaps that then can be avoided on their part?

[urfankhaliq]

I think the point Mega was making is that when customs see a package marked as a "gift" but see that its being sent by a company rather then an individual then its obvious that its not a gift.

Gift would usually be sent from an individual to an individual.

But the point someone made of an item being marked as a replacement may be worth looking into because the "original" item would have had its custom paid so I guess it makes sense to not have to pay for a "replacement"

Urfan

[AWBimmer]

But the point someone made of an item being marked as a replacement may be worth looking into because the "original" item would have had its custom paid so I guess it makes sense to not have to pay for a "replacement"

Thanks Urfan, just clarifying this further.. if the guy labels it as a replacement and not a gift, will they be able to back track or trace whether the customs were paid 1st time round or..?

[urfankhaliq]

Originally Posted by AWBimmer

Thanks Urfan, just clarifying this further.. if the guy labels it as a replacement and not a gift, will they be able to back track or trace whether the customs were paid 1st time round or..?

Sorry I don't really know as I have no experience in this but at a guess I would probably think not?

[AWBimmer]

^^ No issues - thanks for the help :-) I'll probably give it a go. MEGA mentioned worst case is I pay the customs duty which is circa 30% of the value of the product?.. If things don't go to plan, I am guessing I would also be liable to pay VAT for the same?

So in totality, VAT (20%) and Customs give or take 30%? Does that sound about right?

MEGA: Do you remember roughly how much customs/duty you paid for a single particular item and what you paid for the item?

Cheers,
Sam.

P.S. Think I might give this a go..

[B33M3R]

Hi

Use this http://www.dutycalculator.com/

JBL MS8 is showing an import duty of 2.3% plus UK VAT of 20%. I just did a quick calc £350 value + $50 postage came out at £456 total if you do it legit. If I recall there is still a value limit on "gifts" so be wary and customs aren't too silly

[AWBimmer]

Originally Posted by urfankhaliq

I think the point Mega was making is that when customs see a package marked as a "gift" but see that its being sent by a company rather then an individual then its obvious that its not a gift.

Gift would usually be sent from an individual to an individual.

But the point someone made of an item being marked as a replacement may be worth looking into because the "original" item would have had its custom paid so I guess it makes sense to not have to pay for a "replacement"

Urfan

Originally Posted by B33M3R

Hi

Use this http://www.dutycalculator.com/

JBL MS8 is showing an import duty of 2.3% plus UK VAT of 20%. I just did a quick calc £350 value + $50 postage came out at £456 total if you do it legit. If I recall there is still a value limit on "gifts" so be wary and customs aren't too silly

Ah that's great buddy, thank you very much.

[MEGA]

I meant 30% total mate. Vat plus import duty plus handling charge the larger the cost the lower the % as handling charge (£12 from memory? ) is obviously fixed.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by MEGA

company address sends package as gift. Hmm, open package. Obvious retail purchase. Seize item, demand duty - and open proceedings against seller.


It's not your risk to run really though it's theirs. Go for it, worst case you pay the duty (AFAIK)

What are they going to do to the seller? The seller has broken UK customs and excise law. So what - they are based in the United States, they have no assets in the UK and have no office in the UK. The UK can't do anything, short of launching legal proceedings in a US court against a US company, which just ain't gonna happen.

Except for the most serious of crimes, if you break the law in another country by proxy (ie mailing something in this case) or just leave the country, then nothing can happen to you. It is extraordinarily difficult and expensive to take any like of legal action or attempt to prosecute anyone in another country.

If UK HMRC just asked nicely for the US to do something, they would get told to f*** off.

[AWBimmer]

Sounds like too much hassle - www.caraudiosecurity.com it is! Sorry for the trouble guys but nice to know these things I guess.

[kaishang]

You grossly overestimate the level of cooperation between customs agencies of any pair of countries.

The only thing which may happen is UK customs determines by themselves that the item is not a gift and charge VAT + import duty accordingly. They may determine their own customs value to do this, if it is not contained in the shipping information. Nobody is getting prosecuted for anything.

[kaishang]

Yes, I think everyone agrees with that.

If you put "gift" on something which is obviously a commercial shipment, then there is a high probability the receiving party will end up paying VAT + duty on it. + Royal Mail service charge if that is how it arrives.

What will not happen is anyone getting prosecuted.

[Zero7]

Sam you have a pm mate

[AWBimmer]

Originally Posted by Zero7

Sam you have a pm mate

Dude, right back atcha..