kully
Happy Snapper
I write as someone who lives in the UK and, of course, one should always pay any duty and taxes on goods imported.
However, I have noticed that in the 'good times' leading up to last year, customs 'hitting' a parcel was extremely uncommon, one in 8 from my quick arithmetic.
Now, it's every parcel I receive... I was thinking about this and it makes sense, recession = less parcels flying about and therefore HM C&E need to try harder to keep their previous income - or the government have decreed that they need to maximise revenues to offset the huge debt we all have.
Is this experience similar to others? What's it like in the US and other countries?
However, I have noticed that in the 'good times' leading up to last year, customs 'hitting' a parcel was extremely uncommon, one in 8 from my quick arithmetic.
Now, it's every parcel I receive... I was thinking about this and it makes sense, recession = less parcels flying about and therefore HM C&E need to try harder to keep their previous income - or the government have decreed that they need to maximise revenues to offset the huge debt we all have.
Is this experience similar to others? What's it like in the US and other countries?
Yammerman
Well-known
I've also noticed that, my hit rate was about same until about 18 months ago. Then I started getting caught everytime and with the pounds demise I seldom buy from abroad now.
telenous
Well-known
Is this to do with the efficiency of the local PO depot? I can't remember buying anything of any real value and not having to pay HM Customs import duty when in Oxford. So much so that I always calculate(d) the extra cost when ordering from overseas.
I thought things might be less strict/efficient in Greece but no go there too, I had to pay import tax for a J3 I bought from the US.
.
I thought things might be less strict/efficient in Greece but no go there too, I had to pay import tax for a J3 I bought from the US.
.
Bill58
Native Texan
If you ship to Germany, you'll find the same, old Gemanic efficiency. I sent a watch to be repaired w/o postal insurance and asked the repair guy to insure for $450 on return in the transmittal letter. Customs there read the letter and charged an import tax for a frikkin' repair job!!!!!!!! Dumb me-I should've given the insurance instruction by email. I'll know next time.
Fortunately, Korean customs people are getting less efficient.
Fortunately, Korean customs people are getting less efficient.
yanidel
Well-known
kully, move to France ...
Believe it or not, I have never had a package stopped by the customs. probably on perpetual strike
Believe it or not, I have never had a package stopped by the customs. probably on perpetual strike
hans voralberg
Veteran
My man they have been efficient since last year, I got hit bad lol. Now Im in Vietnam thing isnt much better.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
kully, move to France ...
Believe it or not, I have never had a package stopped by the customs. probably on perpetual strike
You've been lucky.
More than once I've had to pay duty + TVA on manufacturers' samples!
Tashi delek,
R.
Tuolumne
Veteran
Whatever happened to "Free Trade"?
/T
/T
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
I thought samples were exempt from tax, at least they are here.
Dutch Postal services are now mainly run by TNT-post, they are methodical bar-stewards. They tax every package coming in outside of Europe...at least mine all are.
It's not the taxes I get mad about, I can declare those, but it's the arbitrary administration fee TNT-post claims. Ranging from 8 to 16 Euro... Why?
BTW, Roger, I'm currently reading your book on MF photography. Good stuff
Roger Hicks
Veteran
I thought samples were exempt from tax, at least they are here.
Dutch Postal services are now mainly run by TNT-post, they are methodical bar-stewards. They tax every package coming in outside of Europe...at least mine all are.
It's not the taxes I get mad about, I can declare those, but it's the arbitrary administration fee TNT-post claims. Ranging from 8 to 16 Euro... Why?
BTW, Roger, I'm currently reading your book on MF photography. Good stuff
IF they believe they're samples. And you can't always persuade them, especially with several hundred dollars' (or tens of thousands of yen) worth of cameras or lenses. And, as you say, there are the random 'handling fees'.
Thanks for the kind words about the MF book.
Cheers,
R.
JohnTF
Veteran
I sometimes wonder if the Tax folks make more than the manufacturer -- especially if the item crosses borders more than once.
I don't see charging taxes on items from abroad that are more than a few years old, a gift, or a repair. I suppose it is because they can.
Have had luck to the UK on repaired items shipped back.
US is fairly lenient on stuff coming in, they used to ask a lot of questions in the airports, but I think they realized it is a waste of time for most cases, and regardless, they have a generous allowance, plus they do not collect the first $10 duty, not worth their time. I can recall taking a half hour at the Canadian border to pay $2 in duty on some beer.
My IIIg from Germany with a high insurance and customs declaration was just left on my porch.
Igor had a list of receipts and items he bought in Prague, big list like $10K, and they were busy in NY so they told him they would get him next trip. ;-)
I imported photo paper from Czech via air freight, and the customs office here could not convert Cz Crowns to dollars, so told me to forget about it, gratis, have a nice day.
I did learn never to put interesting stamps on a package going to the Czech Republic, people stole the package for the stamps.
Luck or attitude?
J
I don't see charging taxes on items from abroad that are more than a few years old, a gift, or a repair. I suppose it is because they can.
Have had luck to the UK on repaired items shipped back.
US is fairly lenient on stuff coming in, they used to ask a lot of questions in the airports, but I think they realized it is a waste of time for most cases, and regardless, they have a generous allowance, plus they do not collect the first $10 duty, not worth their time. I can recall taking a half hour at the Canadian border to pay $2 in duty on some beer.
My IIIg from Germany with a high insurance and customs declaration was just left on my porch.
Igor had a list of receipts and items he bought in Prague, big list like $10K, and they were busy in NY so they told him they would get him next trip. ;-)
I imported photo paper from Czech via air freight, and the customs office here could not convert Cz Crowns to dollars, so told me to forget about it, gratis, have a nice day.
I did learn never to put interesting stamps on a package going to the Czech Republic, people stole the package for the stamps.
Luck or attitude?
J
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thomasw_
Well-known
Canadian customs and duties are always there to take away the smile from my joy.
historicist
Well-known
What great timing, just as I am about to send some stuff back to the UK from outside the EU...
In Germany they're ruthless, you have to go to the customs office with receipts and credit card/paypal slips, and bring your parcel home yourself. With UPS at least they deliver to your door where they charge you the tax, but they only accept cash and don't tell you in advance how much it will be. The driver sometimes also decides he doesn't have any change (yeah, right) and ends up with a fat tip.
In Germany they're ruthless, you have to go to the customs office with receipts and credit card/paypal slips, and bring your parcel home yourself. With UPS at least they deliver to your door where they charge you the tax, but they only accept cash and don't tell you in advance how much it will be. The driver sometimes also decides he doesn't have any change (yeah, right) and ends up with a fat tip.
Paddy C
Unused film collector
Tell me about it. I've gotten used to it however and factor it in to any purchase I make from the states.
I was just thinking about this. A camera that was made in Japan might have some duties worked into the price when it is sold new in the US. I then buy that camera (used) from a US store and pay duties to get it into Canada. I then sell the camera back to someone in the states and he pays duties. Never mind the fact that it has been hit with sales tax three times at this point. That can't make sense to any one.
Gumby
Veteran
Ummm.. the tax is on the SALE, not on the item. Every time it is sold/transfered, it gets taxed. What's not to understand? Perhaps you meant to say that you don't think paying tax is right, or that paying tax on each sale versus paying tax only once per lifetime of the iitem is wrong... but paying taxes makes sense to anyone who expects government services "for free".
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
As fas as the officers at my customs office tells me, we are getting hit by the fact that direct online sales from China and SE Asia (via ebay, Amazon and similar portals) have exploded. And besides the sheer volume getting too big to ignore the potential tax income, there are plenty of dealers selling goods illegal in one or other way, whether plagiarized, untested where tests are mandatory (e.g. toys or electrical appliances) or unapproved drugs. The steroids market has outgrown Cocaine and Heroin, and other than these, most of it is sold online and delivered by mail.
kuvvy
Well-known
Kully, I got stung a few weeks back. Bought a lens from the US for £230 and then got a charge of £64 on top. Bang goes the bargain! Could've bought new for another £30.
I'm currently looking for a CV 40mm 1.4 for my RD1 but reckon it'll be a UK purchase this time.
I'm currently looking for a CV 40mm 1.4 for my RD1 but reckon it'll be a UK purchase this time.
Paddy C
Unused film collector
I live in Canada. I pay lots of tax without any complaints. And I pay 13% whenever I buy something. Of course I understand how the tax system works and why it works. I was following up on the suggestion that, if something like a camera is around long enough and changes hands enough, will the total of all taxes paid on that item be greater than the original cost of the item? I've always thought that to be an odd outcome of the taxation system.
Gumby
Veteran
This is likely more a fact than speculation.
Like you, I pay taxes willingly... but my buying-power seems to keep going down every year. It's a real annoying situation, isn't it?
The taxation system is so in-bred and convoluted that "odd outcomes" seem to be the norm rather than the exception.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Ho Hum...
Ho Hum...
Well, I just hope it's the customs people getting more efficient because I've been waiting far too long for a FED to arrive from Russia and I just hope it's with HMR&C and not gone missing.
Regards, David
Ho Hum...
Well, I just hope it's the customs people getting more efficient because I've been waiting far too long for a FED to arrive from Russia and I just hope it's with HMR&C and not gone missing.
Regards, David