Official worldwide thread - Tips/Advice for customs, VAT, etc...

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#363
I have been considering ordering from some international sites but am worried about the customs taxes. I live in the US. Does anyone know how much I need to spend before I will have to pay customs taxes? Does it matter which country I am ordering from? Most likely i will be ordering from france. And how muchare the taxes usually? I think the courier will be dhl or ups. Thanks!
 
#364
I want to order some shoes from an international site (France). I live in the USA. Does anyone know how much tax I will need to pay? Also, the shipper uses UPS. Will there be an additional charge and if so, how much should I expect? Thanks!
 
#365
So I had a bag sold through consigment, the shop is located in another country, but still within the EU. The conditions on the form (and on his site) were that he charges 35% of the sold price (which included all selling fees) + another 5 for handling fee.

So now he sold the bag and he wanted to give me less than what is the amount that is left when the above mentioned is deducted. So I corrected him and asked if he maybe made a mistake. He then answers the amount he mentioned is because he has to charge me VAT.
I don't understand this. It was NOWHERE in the conditions and why would he charge me VAT for selling through him anyway?

Is he allowed to do this without any mention of this beforehand?
 
#368
deekai said:
why did he pay the VAT and now asks you for it. I thought the buyer paid the VAT
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I asked myself, I really don't get it, to me it sounds like a way to just keep more money for himself.


Kittie: They are located in GB. I did use them before, but at that time I didn't know exactly what the fees were. He had 25 % then + the seller fees, which had more room for him to just throw it on the 'fees' I guess, I did wonder why it was so much, but didn't think it through then.
Now he changed to 35% incl. all fees, so now it was more clear to me (and I thought I had figured it all out and have it black on white) and then he pulls this...
 
#370
Hm, I'm not really familiar with UK tax laws. Sorry.

Here in Germany you have to pay VAT for goods and services as well, but that is always included in the price quoted. I think it's the same in the UK, right? You pay what is on the priceshield and not the price plus tax (like in the US). So if he didn't specify that VAT would be added, I would say it was ok for you to assume that the VAT was included in the quoted fees.
 
#371
Roxana said:
So I had a bag sold through consigment, the shop is located in another country, but still within the EU. The conditions on the form (and on his site) were that he charges 35% of the sold price (which included all selling fees) + another 5 for handling fee.

So now he sold the bag and he wanted to give me less than what is the amount that is left when the above mentioned is deducted. So I corrected him and asked if he maybe made a mistake. He then answers the amount he mentioned is because he has to charge me VAT.
I don't understand this. It was NOWHERE in the conditions and why would he charge me VAT for selling through him anyway?

Is he allowed to do this without any mention of this beforehand?
Click to expand...

The questions you need to ask are these:

1. Why do you have to pay VAT when you are not the buyer? The buyer pays VAT. If he bought the bags from you outright then he would have had to pay VAT. But then he would have paid for the bags straightaway not waited until they got sold to someone else.

2. Why was not any of this disclosed beforehand?

p-WA
 
#372
Kittie LaRoche said:
Hm, I'm not really familiar with UK tax laws. Sorry.

Here in Germany you have to pay VAT for goods and services as well, but that is always included in the price quoted. I think it's the same in the UK, right? You pay what is on the priceshield and not the price plus tax (like in the US). So if he didn't specify that VAT would be added, I would say it was ok for you to assume that the VAT was included in the quoted fees.
Click to expand...

Hi Kitty
Yes you are right, If you purchase something from a shop in the UK the VAT is already included in the price. There are a few occasions when it is not ie if you are purchasing building materials in large quantities, but at the time of purchase or agreement to purchase the sellor will tell you exaclty what the VAT will be and the final amount that is due
I have never known of a situation when the VAT is added on at the end of the transaction without it being made clear from the outset
So I would say to the OP that they are trying to pull a fast one
 
#374
Is it possible that he sold the bag to someone outside the UK/EU? If so, he may have not charged them VAT and then discovered that he still has to pay it--and now he's decided he'll just get you to pay for it if he can so he doesn't have to take it out of his profit.
 
#375
joseph9291 said:
Hi Kitty
Yes you are right, If you purchase something from a shop in the UK the VAT is already included in the price. There are a few occasions when it is not ie if you are purchasing building materials in large quantities, but at the time of purchase or agreement to purchase the sellor will tell you exaclty what the VAT will be and the final amount that is due
I have never known of a situation when the VAT is added on at the end of the transaction without it being made clear from the outset
So I would say to the OP that they are trying to pull a fast one
Click to expand...


call him on the VAT.. it is my understanding that the VAT is included
in the price.. and for the "buyer to pay".. if this is not correct, let him advise you otherwise... and you would appreciate your $'s..
 
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