RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Two weeks,three at the most the panther will be on U.S.SOIL so to speak,and the price is the same as the Jagdpanther.I know that does not help you guy's in the UK,but I have a question.Do you have to pay fee's on personal mail?In other words if I mailed three panthers to one person,or for that matter to three different people would these packages rate the fee? Saxondog

hi there saxondog .. in short ..yes

our customs will add a tax for import of any items above the value of $25 usd  if you have a panther valued at $155 usd the tax/customs will add a further $56 to $66 usd ..... for us here at the moment its best to wait for a uk seller to list on evialbay or thru a retail out let

its a right pain ... especialy for parts like track upgrades ect

hope that helps

iain

cant wait, thats my next tank 

Not sure how legal this would be if you're only helping out a few friends, but if you declare the item is a "GIFT" such as a birthday present, shouldnt it avoid UK custom charges? Or is that just a myth?

The best way to avoid customs tax is say its a replacement for a broken one.
Stevie

Crispy wrote: Not sure how legal this would be if you're only helping out a few friends, but if you declare the item is a "GIFT" such as a birthday present, shouldnt it avoid UK custom charges? Or is that just a myth?

Its a myth...and you will get charged, customs, plus Royal Mail fees, plus VAT on the total.

All postal items that enter the United Kingdom may be examined by Customs, but normally letters, postcards and packets containing only documents or similar forms of correspondence are excluded.

If you are receiving a package from overseas (apart from another EU Country), please be aware that it may incur customs charges. Any package assessed by HM Revenue and Customs as being liable for Customs charges will also incur a Royal Mail handling fee of £8.

The Royal Mail customs handling fee is charged for customs clearance of items in respect of which import duty and/or tax is due. Items in respect of which no import duty and/or tax is due will continue to be cleared through customs free of charge.

Any goods imported into the UK over the value of £18 are liable to import VAT; gifts between private individuals over the value of £36 are also liable for VAT. Goods and gifts over these values may also be liable for Customs duty. As of the 1st of December 2008 you will no longer be required to pay customs duty for goods up to the value of £105, however you will still be required to pay import VAT and excise duty where applicable.

Please note that these limits do not apply to alcohol and tobacco goods where both excise duty and import VAT may be charged. It is not permitted to send alcohol and tobacco products into the UK from another EU country unless prior arrangements have been made to account for the excise duty.

For more details please read the Royal Mail guide to receiving goods from overseas.pdf (53kb). And also the HM Revenue & Customs guide to Shopping on the Internet.

Well,I guess that clears it up for me.Sorry for you guy's it really sucks.How did this happen? I mean what possible benefit is such a system to the average person? Wait stupid question,it is for the benefit of politicians,government,and all that goes with it.Well if it would help I would not mind posting from here,but it seems that you have to pay no matter what.Saxondog

Imports from the US to the UK are a lottery - I've ordered 2 music CD's valued ~ $40 from the states before and been hit up for customs and VAT, but in the same month I ordered $150 worth of battletech minatures which saled right thru customs.

Recently I posted 3 tanks, all valued at $300 for insurance purposes, all marked as gifts. 1 went to Wibbywobbly, 1 went to another mate of mine, and one was addressed to my Father. Wibby and my other mate got stung for import duty + vat, my Dad only had to pay the vat

You are not wrong about the lottery, according to a friend of mine who works at the sorting office, the Customs guys simply select a crate and stick 'Excise Due' on everything in it regardless of whether it is due or not, and even when the exemption is clearly displayed on labels. I have twice been charged when I should not have. The catch is that you have to travel to the post office that is holding the parcel, pay the duty before they hand over the parcel, and then try and get the money back.

Finding the correct office to get the reclaim form is a nightmare, and the customs will only refund their part. You have to apply to the post office (again finding the correct office is a nightmare) with evidence of the refund from the Customs, before they will refund their part. I bet plenty of people give up and don't reclaim it.

If the parcel is sent via courier and you do not get charged when delivered do not assume that you have got away with it, couriers operate differently and an invoice will often drop through the letterbox 3 weeks later asking for payment of the fees.

Sometimes the whole thing slips straight through and I don't get charged a penny??

what if your 'grandma' in the states just sends you a 'care package'?