The Wholesale Forums

[GamePodium]

Hey Again,

Just wondering if any knows the standard duty rate and vat rate for importing game consoles, games and accessories from the USA?

Thanks

[mattm2K7]

I believe around 21%, 17.5% VAT and 3.5% Duty

[FiveStarWholesale]

I think it's 3.5% duty for Games and Consoles but I'm not 100% sure. This is on top of 17.5% VAT.

So if you paid £10 for the game /100 *117.5 = £11.75 / 100*103.5 = £12.16 Landing Price.

[GamePodium]

Thanks for the reply.

So the total price including duty and vat would be £12.16? or is £12.16 added to the £10 i paid for the game?

Thanks, sorry for the hassle!

[DSC]

Other way round FiveStar:

You work out your cost of the item, insurance and shipping, then * Duty rate then * 17.5%

£10 game + £1 Shipping= £0.385 Duty + £2.00 VAT = £13.39 Total Cost.

Then you will have to pay a custom clearence fee of c£15.00

Accessories have many duty rates so you need to know their commodity code first. Never guess a figure or do an around figure as it is an exact science and something that you can and should work out before you buy.

[GamePodium]

ok.

How do you find out the commodity code?

[DSC]

Easiest way is to ask your supplier, you can look it up on the tables but it can get very complicated.

[drum_dude]

From what I can gather the tax/duty is quite hit and miss - my dad has been importing stuff for years for his ebay business and it's something like 1 in every 8 parcel/boxes is picked up by customs.

I was shocked to see that the Royal Mail will be charging an £8 fee for handling parcels that have been hit with duty! Spotted the notice today in the local sorting office when I nipped down to get me imported DVDs (for personal use of course).

[DSC]

Originally Posted by drum_dude

From what I can gather the tax/duty is quite hit and miss - my dad has been importing stuff for years for his ebay business and it's something like 1 in every 8 parcel/boxes is picked up by customs.

I was shocked to see that the Royal Mail will be charging an £8 fee for handling parcels that have been hit with duty! Spotted the notice today in the local sorting office when I nipped down to get me imported DVDs (for personal use of course).

Its not a case of hit and miss you should still declare your package and pay the appropriate fees, also it depends on which courier you use but I won't go into that.

RM have always charged a fee, and £8 is cheap.

Personal use is irrelevant, its based solely on value.

[drum_dude]

Originally Posted by DSC

Its not a case of hit and miss you should still declare your package and pay the appropriate fees, also it depends on which courier you use but I won't go into that.

RM have always charged a fee, and £8 is cheap.

Personal use is irrelevant, its based solely on value.

I said it as in that it wasn't imported DVDs that I deal in - besides I got them from France.

And personal use is not irrelevent either - have you not heard of a gift? Below 36 quid? Obviously not!