Duties and VAT on repair cameras from UK

[David Hughes]

Usually - meaning pre 31.12.20 - the charge is based on the cost of repair (including delivery and insurance) at the exchange rate on the day; not what you paid at another rate.

If tax was paid in another EU country then none is paid coming into the UK but it can be because of some exceptions.

I have been involved privately in this messy business since the 60's and can put my hand on my heart and say that theory and practice often differ. And the postal service is what I prefer having had some horrible experiences with several major and minor firms. I had a Summicron disappear recently and the expensive couriers really screwed it up and that was a simple parcel coming from France. The insurers weren't exactly awe inspiring either.

So the answer is to wait and see and remember that what you gain on the swings you lose on the roundabouts...

Search on "temporary imports for repair" for more confusion or ring HMR&C who are very helpful, normally. Start here:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/organ...toms-international-trade-and-excise-enquiries


Regards, David

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

In an intriguing twist, my LF lens from Japan arrived with no duty or Vat levied, but a friend by coincidence had ordered a lower value (£120 vs £250) lens from Japan and got whacked for both. Mine got sent Fedex, his Japan Post to Royal Mail.

So would I trust that the correct duty and Vat would be applied on the cost of a service rather than the value of a camera? Not a chance if they can't even get simple things like personal imports via courier correct.

 

[Guy Pinhas]

I own a small record label and of course talk with many other labels, distributor and retailers and no one, and I mean no one has any idea of what is going on. Even our tax advisors and accountants in the both EU and UK can tell us what is happening.
Some of my German friends are, as of the first of the year, stopping their sales to the UK as they are afraid that things might come and bite them in their rear end. Personally? I keep doing what I do until someone tells me otherwise. I have applied for what some believe will be a necessity for a EU company to do business in the UK, a local VAT number. But even that is not clear. I did start the procedure out of good faith but I am still not sure of its necessity.

One thing I do know is that the delays in delivery will be insane as neither sides (Calais and Dover) are equipped for what's to come. The delays to cross the channel are going to be long which means that packages will get lost. At least that’s my experience with freight and to be honest, I have had an incredible overview of logistics the last ten years. World wide as well as local. It ain’t pretty and 2020 has exacerbated things and now we got Brexit. A clusterfck of epic proportions.

So yeah, it’s going to be an insane mess. If you have a gear in the EU or the UK, I would ask whoever is fixing it to hold on to it until there is some clarity as to what is needed to import or export between the UK and EU. You don’t want your camera/lens to be floating in some warehouse. I deal with mailorder as well as wholesale and even though I keep going the way I have been, I have made it very clear to our UK customers that delays are to be expected.

My two cents for what they’re worth.

 

[tbhv55]

a clusterfck of epic proportions.

A pretty good summary of the whole thing, Guy.

 

[David Hughes]

We've all been caught out; I've had an international driving licence for some time but haven't been able to use it because of the virus. And when our EHC's expired in September I didn't bother to renew and they would have lasted 5 years despite Brexit and so it goes on and heaven only knows what will happen. It will be the usual hit or miss chaos...


Regards, David