Europe UK » Personal import from the EU to the UK

Hi all
Are there any knowledgable folks here who understand the financial implications of conducting a personal online mail order import to the UK from a seller in the EU now and is importing from Ireland the same? MTIA
Bill

Thanks Wessie. There is a link at the top of the page you linked which opens some more EU specific page but it's hyperlink is broken when I try put it's link in here.

Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 21.34.42.png - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)


Then these rules for VAT on items over £135.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-imports-...ses-from-abroad

I’m aware that Placido didn’t really get an answer before Wessie pulled the plug. This is the way that it should (and eventually will) work. The sort of stuff that we are likely to be looking to import will already be in free circulation in the EU and will therefore not be liable to import duty under the terms of the trade deal. However UK VAT is payable on import. Before New Year, as a private importer, you paid VAT to the supplier at the relevant rate in their country. Post New Year, the seller should zero rate your goods and you should pay VAT on arrival in the UK, at the UK rate. You will also have a handling charge levied by the Royal Mail or courier.

What happened in Placido’s case was he paid French VAT (before New Year) and UK VAT because the goods arrived post New Year. I believe that if he provides evidence that the date of sale was 2020 and evidence that he paid French VAT, there should be no additional fee. You’ve got to pay VAT somewhere, but you don’t have to pay it twice!!

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #2

---

I posted this link yesterday https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty - from that it is evident different rules apply based on the value of the item, what the item actually is and the origin of the product i.e. was it made in the EU or is it imported and resold.

Ireland is part of the EU and Northern Ireland is treated as if it is in the EU so the same rules apply to them as France etc.

For anyone to be able to give accurate advice they would need to know where you might order from, the value of the item and what it is. You will also need to know that the retailer in the EU is registered with the UK authorities for VAT and has the necessary documentation to show they have followed due process.

I feel we are in a period of transition and there will be many changes in the coming months as processes develop and new agreements are put in place. Press reports are showing that many items are being held at ports due to the lack of paperwork and we have already had a thread about a substantial amount of import duty being applied.

---

Zitat von Tony101 im Beitrag #4

---

I’m aware that Placido didn’t really get an answer before Wessie pulled the plug. .....

---

Zitat von PlacidoD im Beitrag #6

---

No doubt some EU firms will eventually move to a duty included basis of trading as some US outfits do.

---

Be careful of the term 'personal import', in Customs regs it generally means goods imported by somebody who is travelling, not postal importations.

I think Chris was specifically taking about duty rather than VAT and that seems to be where things are least certain.

I think I understand it; where applicable you may need to pay VAT on the items (very likely as the threshold is £15), customs duty and adminstration fees and VAT on the customs duty and adminstration fees.

For Tony101 what's the correct terminology to describe mail ordering goods from outside Great Britain?

Customs charges can comprise a range of duties and taxes including customs duty, VAT, excise duties and some other taxes such as anti dumping duty. Customs duty per-se should only really apply when third country goods are shipped through the EU in some sort of duty suspension. It's actually a non trade importation, probably 'private importation' would fit the bill.