Import Duty etc On Goods From UK After 1 January 2021

[willike1958]

My latest purchase from Rails of Sheffield arrived a few days ago with €15 of customs duty on top of the usual price. I'm not sure who's reaping the much vaunted Brexit dividend, but it certainly ain't me!

[jpendle]

My latest purchase from Rails of Sheffield arrived a few days ago with €15 of customs duty on top of the usual price. I'm not sure who's reaping the much vaunted Brexit dividend, but it certainly ain't me!

Did Rails deduct UK VAT?

Regards,

John P

[willike1958]

Did Rails deduct UK VAT?

Yes, and delivery was by La Poste, without any added "handling charges". So I suppose I should count myself as lucky.

[dannyboy]

with €15 of customs duty on top of the usual price.

Just to confirm, was the €15 customs duty, or French VAT? Rails have done what they should have done in deducting UK VAT, but then the French authorities, providing the value of the goods is at least the amount set by French authorities, will charge VAT as you are liable to pay French VAT. In Ireland, the amount set for VAT is, I think, €22. Anything under that, I, in theory when buying from the UK, get the UK VAT deducted, but there is no need to pay Irish VAT. Above that figure, I still save 21% UK VAT, but have to pay 23% Irish VAT.

[willike1958]

UK VAT deducted, French VAT added + €15 customs duties

[jpendle]

Was it an N Gauge model? Customs duty on Model Trains is 0% (WTO)

Regards,

John P

[Railwaygun]

Low value goods from Aliexpress & Japan ( less than £15) seem to get through unscathed

[willike1958]

Was it an N Gauge model? Customs duty on Model Trains is 0% (WTO)

My understanding is that products fabricated outside the UK when re-exported, as in this case, fall foul of the "rules of origin" requirements and so are subject to customs duties, even if the products are otherwise zero rated. Moreover, from what I've gleaned from the internet, it appears that the export value of the product includes transport costs, which means that even though I paid slightly less than the £135 duty threshold for the loco, P&P costs take me into customs duty territory. Quelle pagaille, as we (politely) say here in France...

[njee20]

Low value goods from Aliexpress & Japan ( less than £15) seem to get through unscathed

AliExpress seem to be collecting UK VAT on some things, not sure if they've centralised it like eBay. They should be charging it, and nothing due on arrival. The £15 limit for exemptions has been removed, but it may also not be worth the admin right now given the abject chaos it seems to be causing.

[Ian Bowden]

I have had a slightly different issue. I purchased a train set from Italy in January (private ebay sale). Despite two attempts at delivery both carriers returned the item to the seller with differing excuses - I think they didn't want the wait at Dover, the seller refunded my money and carriage so although not out of pocket I missed out

[mika]

I received a parcel from Sheffield yesterday and had to pay German VAT, which is what I expected since Rails deducted British VAT. The only annoying thing is the Deutsche Post handling charge of 6€.

Hattons BTW have opted for another way. They are VAT registered in Germany and paid the tax here. Unfortunately Deutsche Post can't deal with that. They always charge the buyer, no matter whether the seller has already paid VAT, which is rather annoying
Luckily, Hatton's reimbursed me (although not for the handling charge).

Best,
Michael

[zwilnik]

Just managed to sort the import documentation for my Kato class 800 from Train Trax, who helpfully deducted the UK VAT from the order.

Cost of VAT, Import duty (yes there was a small bit) and fees, €85 on a £162 order. Ouch

When I was doing the forms (which are a major pain in themselves) it seems there's a possibly leeway on items under €150, so it will be interesting to see what all my pre-orders end up costing me over the next year or so.

[mika]

Cost of VAT, Import duty (yes there was a small bit) and fees, €85 on a £162 order. Ouch

That's really steep. I paid 44€ for a 190 GBP order... And I really don't understand why you had to pay import duty...

[zwilnik]

Cost of VAT, Import duty (yes there was a small bit) and fees, €85 on a £162 order. Ouch

That's really steep. I paid 44€ for a 190 GBP order... And I really don't understand why you had to pay import duty...

For some reason they decided it was industrial products, so inccured €9.61 in duty. Despite me declaring it as a model train.

The actual tax in total was €54.58 so it was about €30 as fees. And I had to do all the paperwork too.

[RailGooner]

Why buy from the UK for shipping to the Continent?! I know that Modellbahn-Kramm definitely offer both GWR and LNER and am fairly sure DM-Toys do too.