RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

All political persuasions aside, does anyone know what the effect of the UK leaving the EU would have on tank prices, parts etc? I know from the trade that when the referendum date was announced, there was a noticeable downturn in retail spending. No idea why, the model distributors also noticed it.

So, do we reckon prices will go up, if we have to pay customs and VAT on EU goods, or will they go down because they want our trade so badly?

If I thought prices from within the EU were going to rise, I would be buying now, so that goes against the downward trend in spending that is currently being seen, are tankers astute financial wizards and the only category still financing their hobby regardless?

The UK is obliged to charge VAT on all consumer goods as members of the EU,
If we were to leave we would no longer have such an obligation although it would be a very odd kind of Chancellor to miss a Taxation trick of 19% that in truth most people would expect to pay anyway.
You may be sure that if the UK votes to leave the EU in June there will be an emergency budget within weeks to shore up our National finances,
On the up side if we do leave we will be free to reintroduce the Death Penalty, Finally be able to get some use out of all those redundant lamp posts, Well if that doesn't persuade you to vote to leave nothing will
Shaun.

So far as VAT is concerned, if we leave the EU, VAT will be levied at the appropriate rate by UK Customs, currently 20%. However, goods exported normally are eligible for VAT refunds. So, anything purchased from Germany, for example, currently bears 19% German VAT and zero UK VAT. In theory, if we left, this would become 0% German VAT and 20% UK VAT. I think though, that this puts a big onus on the supplier, who has to complete all the necessary paperwork. I could be wrong on this count, but potentially, it might increase the basic cost, or some suppliers might decide not to supply. There is then the question of actual import duty. This and VAT have different thresholds based on the import value. I tried to find out what the current rates of duty were, without success. Radio Controlled items are dealt with in chapter 95, for what it's worth. One thing I did find but was that VAT is charged on the total cost of goods plus shipping plus duty plus any handling charge by the delivery agency, currently £8 if it's Royal Mail.

I doubt this makes anyone much wiser. I think it will certainly add complications.

I guess forgebear, or anyone else here who regularly imports from non-EU countries might be able to shine a little light into the darkness.

Taxes are one consideration; customs and the exchange rate are another. I think we're 1.27 Euro to £1 at the moment (am watching a few EBay kits) and there's talk of parity if the EU banks decide it.

Overall I suspect it would be more expensive short term. Longer term is anyone's guess if you look at all the rubbish that both sides are spouting.

Hi Regards VAT and import duty ,Germany is 19% so in theory it should go down to 0, but you will have to pay import duty (which will have VAT as well) 24% if the item is over £18(I think ) if its under £18 its duty free and vat free (£36 if your paypal is in joint names) You can do the maths .If your buying something below the duty tariff it becomes cheaper ,over it will be slightly more . But there will be a period of time before duty is imposed and Vat is dropped from E.U. countries.

regards pete

Hi There is something just thought about , Planet 5 radios have been stopped because they don't meet E.U. regulations (to powerful for France ) so maybe there may be an upside to us getting cheaper radios that complies to our laws but not to E.U. regulations .

regards pete

You just pay vat Pete, import duty is a much higher threshold

Jee whizz, who'd of thunk that E.U. membership could directly impact on 1/16th Tank models like it might !!

If you guys were in France and they tried a stunt affecting your tank models, there would be widespread unrest, silage dumped in the streets, and convoys of tractors choking roads all over the country