Anyone bought a watch from the States recently? If so, do you know if UK customs charge to import it?
If so, how is the charge made/paid, and how much is it (does it depend on the value?)
Many thanks!

When I bought my Waltham in June 2011 from Virginia, I paid import VAT of £11.45 and a clearance fee of £13.50 (jumped up charge to release from the Bristol Depot).

All else I will say is that it depends what the Seller puts on the ticket as to the value of the contents. In my case I see he put the figure of $62.50.

Have some bedtime reading

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPort ... t#P28_2966

scooter

I was charged £13 admin fee and 20% of the value of the watch from memory.

There is no import duty etc just VAT at 20%. If an item is over £18 then it is subject to VAT. The sender can put a lower number on the parcel but that would then be fraudulent and also lose any insurance. Also Customs & Excise can open the parcel to check and put its own value on.

The courier will then pay the VAT on your behalf and then charge an extra £10 to £15 for "administration fees". They will deliver the watch and you will get an invoice from them later.

The import VAT is charged on the value on the ticket so could include the shipping cost as well.

Phil0886 wrote:The import VAT is charged on the value on the ticket so could include the shipping cost as well.

It does.

Customs duty is chargeable as well as import VAT if the value exceeds £135 unless the amount of the duty itself is less than £9. This is all explained in the link I left earlier.

scooter

Double check to see if the watch was first bought in the UK, so VAT would have been paid. You never know, it happened to me.

I have always had to pay customs on watches from the USA, it probably has to do with the official looking US customs declaration forms which have always shown the correct value. The cost is 20% plus a handling fee.
If the parcel is sent by USPS it normally arives in the UK with Parcel Force who will send you a card, payment is made either on collection or if you want it delivered by phone or on line.
The big parcel carriers like UPS will pay the charge for you and collect payment on delivery or collection.

As ever, brilliantly helpful and informative - thank you chaps!

scooter wrote:Customs duty is chargeable as well as import VAT if the value exceeds £135 unless the amount of the duty itself is less than £9. This is all explained in the link I left earlier.

scooter

there is no customs/excise duty on watches or watch accessories IIANM
http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-impor ... lculation/

amleto wrote:there is no customs/excise duty on watches or watch accessories IIANM
http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-impor ... lculation/

YAM