buying goods from the USA

[nobbylon]

A couple of thoughts on this. I've recently bought from here and evil and
after receiving some packages would like to share these.
This isn' meant as a criticism in any way but if sellers don't put information inside the package then customs don't know what it's worth and hence what to charge in tax.
The declaration on the outside gives the value and I believe they will base there assesment on this. Marking up as parts for repair can work but marking as a gift doesn't sometimes.
If you must put an invoice in the box (better to email) clearly mark that the price paid either includes or doesn't include postage costs. This is because if they open it and it just says paid say $100 then they assume always that this doesn't include postage. They then add that and work out the tax on the higher amount! surprise surprise!
In the Nederlands this works out at 19% of the total including postage! why should I pay tax on postage:bang: and then a service charge of 8.50euro.
In the UK tax slightly less but admin more!
Post to NL takes ages but is probably more due to the customs dept.
I have no wish to defraud the taxman but what I do have is an objection to being ripped off by them. We all pay enough in tax anyway.
As a last note I would just like to say thank-you to the members I have bought from so far. Everything well packed and as described.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I believe it has something to do with the fact that postage is also currency leaving the country. So our Dutch government sees it as taxable.

The service charge is another thing I don't get....how do they calculate this? sometimes it's 5, sometimes it's 15 Euro?


Greedy bar-stewards!

 

[nobbylon]

Greedy bar-stewards![/quote]

haha thx for the chuckle!

 

[Keith]

I have bought a lot more bit's and pieces from the US lately ... film etc. With the US dollar getting it's butt kicked internationally buying from there has become much more viable for me! 🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

Yeah i got sucked into this too.
Bought the "cheap"
BW400CN we have discussed in the film deals thread, and some more film from the same seller, 40 roll sin total. Payed 70 bucks for it.
He marked value 100$ on the box.
I payed tax almost 40 euro!!! Included thirteen e "handling fee" or whgatever and the rest i guess waas calculated on the "100$ value" and postage (25$more) :bang:
so the cheap short-dated film turned out to be,in the end, to cost me as normal priced film - but still short-dated - .
Lesson learned.

No this was not from a rff user, just from an e-bay seller's shop.

It happened exactly the same way when i bought from Freestyle, just the numbers were twice as big. But i thought that's because freestyle is a normal regular shop selling stuff.

In the meantime when i bought used cameras/lenses from the US i NEVER had to pay any tax. This includes my latest buy for 450$, a 90/2 summicron. Marked clearly "gift" on the box.

 

[LeicaTom]

450$, a 90/2 summicron. Marked clearly "gift" on the box.

If that "gift" box would have turned up LOST then you would have been out of $450 and no way to claim for it

I WON`T sell abroad unless it`s insured and fully valued at what the package is worth seems everyone wants to defraud the import tax, but God forbid if the package shows up missing they are ready the raise hell with the seller, that`s why it`s always insured for full value with me, you have to when it`s rare gear

If you put "gift" on the package that`s what you get if it does`nt show up - a gift 😛

Tom

 

[Kim Coxon]

In the UK, it tends to be a bit of a lottery. I always calculate the cost including tax when I budget. Interestingly, I have had several expensive items from Canada but never been charged. With the US, it is 50/50.

Having said that, I would not advocate putting a low value on the parcel. Not only it is not correct but you can be well out of pocket if it goes missing and you find you ae not covered.

Kim

 

[rover]

I have bought a lot more bit's and pieces from the US lately ... film etc. With the US dollar getting it's butt kicked internationally buying from there has become much more viable for me! 🙂

We will get you back dude!!!!

Yeah, this dollar thing is making all that great gear from the rest of the world pretty GAS free for me.

Back to this receipt stuff.

Not that I have anything to sell, but I have sold things internationally. I have done two things, put no receipt in the package, and put an Ebay type automatic receipt in the package. In both scenarios, even though I declare a value, perhaps not a true one, on the customs form, you are responsible to pay taxes. So, if the seller was to put a "Paid Receipt" in the package showing an amount, say $100 for a newish used Summilux, that would benefit the buyer when they are called to the customs office for a payment?

 

[Pherdinand]

One thing is to put a value on it and insurance. ANother is to mark it "gift".
Strangely it was marked gift and with the proper value, and still i had to pay no tax.

As to "defrauding the import tax", LeicaTom, i am talking about a second (third, fourth...) hand item going to the third (fourth, ...) hand. Why anyone should pay tax on it, i fail to understand.
On new gear yes, one maybe should pay tax when buying it abroad cheaper... Although even this is dodgy - unless you buy it in a tax free shop, there IS already a tax included in the price!
But do you really think it is correct that for one item EVERY time it is going to a new owner a tax has to be payed?

 

[Kim Coxon]

The situation is complicateed in Europe. When you sell something secondhand, there is no tax to pay. But something from outside Europe and you do. I suppose the logic is that tax was paid when the item was new but not on something secondhand coming in from outside.

Under quoting the price will only work if the post office or courier acts as an agent for the customs. In the UK, Customs have the right to inspect an item and to charge the duty on what they think is a fair price for the item!

I won't send anything under insured so I don't expect to receive anything in tha same way. As to the other parts, Tax is liable for services as well as goods. The delivery and the handling fees of the agent are services and therefore liable to tax. We might not like it but it is the price we pay for living in Europe. At least things are much easier within Europe now.

Kim

 

[Kim Coxon]

If it has never been imported into Europe before, then no European tax has been paid. If I buy something from the US, I am likely to pay tax. But, if I then send it to Germany, it goes tax free. I don't see that we are paying tax over and over again. 😉

Kim

=ErikFive]
I also find it very strange that we are paying tax on the same item over and over again.[/QUOTE]

 

[Pherdinand]

I bought a lens from the Netherlands just some weeks ago and I had to pay taxes on it. Were not part of the EU though.

Then you should do something about it 😛

 

[Pherdinand]

I think we soon should have a WU (world union) and things shall be much easier then. For all of us.
Of course the tax office people won't all lose their job since Switzerland will still be...well, just Switzerland 😀

 

[EmilGil]

I bought a lens from the Netherlands just some weeks ago and I had to pay taxes on it. Were not part of the EU though.

Yep, that's the downside of staying outside the EU. Within the union you don't need to pay any taxes on arrival.

When buying goods to Norway from a VAT-registered reseller within the EU, the VAT is to be deducted from the price and paid to the Norwegian tax authorities/customs office instead.

 

[ltketch]

I have bought a lot more bit's and pieces from the US lately ... film etc. With the US dollar getting it's butt kicked internationally buying from there has become much more viable for me! 🙂

AND there is talk it'll get even better 😀

 

[alexz]

Xmm, I prefer staying outside EU, just like the current standing fo my country, but purchase the stuff from US for US currency. In Israel we have no tax on photo/video/computer or related equipment, but VAT must be paid and it is nearly 16%.
I gained quite an experience during last 10 years trading photo grear, most bought used from US, learned our Customs mind and know how it works and what to expect for my next package. In most cases, where I have no more or less reliable way to make that VAT amount a bit more presurable, I just factor in the VAT when figuring the actual price of the item I'm willing to purchase, and then I'm mentally relaxed and paying that VAT saving lots of my nerves.