Thread: UK customs, vat & import duty etc...

Hi, I was wondering if anyone here is in the UK & has ordered costumes from outside the EU?

I'm thinking of buying some stuff from bellydancestore and L. Rose (try as I might, I can't find anyone in the UK selling costumes in my size), but I'm really worried that it might never get to me I've had a read of the HMRC website, but beyond being pretty sure I'll have to pay VAT and some kind of duty, I have no idea what will happen to my stuff. Apparently the taxes have to be paid before the item is delivered - does that mean that I'll get sent a bill or something before anything gets delivered, or will the postman just demand money when things arrive? Do things actually make it through customs usually, or will I be risking spending lots of money on something that never arrives/gets damaged by HMRC/gets inexplicably confiscated?

Cheers,
Rachael

•don't have to pay Excise Duty
•may have to pay Customs Duty on goods with a value that exceeds £120
•will have to pay Import VAT on goods with a value that exceeds £18

You also have to pay PO handling fees.
You might slip through unoticed . I sometimes have in the past but it's a couple of years since I ordered anything big.
You can add 25% to your intitial cost , I reckon.

You get a card to collect and pay from local depot. Posties do not handle money. If the goods have been insured at the other end, you'll get recompense for damage. If you'd paid by credit card or paypal there are insurances againast damages.
I've ordered from LRose and wth no problems. They have always been good to deal with.

Thanks, that has cleared things up a bit!