Import tax on USA goods into UK

[Alan1]

Does anyone buy stuff from US websites and if so do you need to pay import tax and at what rate?

I was thinking of buying electrical equipment for $475 but how much tax would be on that

[swad1000]

You'll pay vat and customs duty, but that depends on what exactly you are importing as different things have different rates, but around 10% is average.

[tartaruga amore]

if your buying from a private person and they mark it low value & gift, it would stand a 50/50 chance of paying tax
if its from a company, you will get caught on the tax
plus a handling charge from the shipping company
last week we bought 3 2nd hand nail guns, i didnt think you had to pay tax on 2nd hand stuff, the tax was £13 plus £12 handling charges fron UPS, and i believe had it been royal mail the handling charges would have been more
but up saying that, tools are a heck of a lot cheaper in the US than UK,

[Alan1]

I have looked it up before on Moneysavingexpert.com but couldn't remember how much it was. We once bought stuff from Puritans Pride and it was buy 1 get 2 free and because it was under a certain amount, £18 maybe? can't remember now, we didn't have to pay it but later they had an offer of buy 1 get 3 free and that put it over because they go by the total cost including postage and the extra weight put it over. I wasn't sure though if it applies to everything you buy or just some things

[tartaruga amore]

think it has to be under $50, but thats per parcel not item
but people like UPS is bound to declare each parcel cos of the extra fees they collect

[swad1000]

http://www.dutycalculator.com/faq/52/

[Alan1]

I have spoken to someone else who has bought this and it's an extra £50 roughly on top of the price. £30 parcelforce charge and £20 taxes