Customs and tariffs

[Driftwood]

Some points drawn from my understand of the legislation and my experience of buying from 17 international vendors since the 1st Jan.

Not sure if maggards lower price every time but if they don't these are the things to consider

If you order the timeless in 4 separate orders (top cap, base plate, handle and stand) and pay for 4 lots of shipping and each consignment is below £135 you won't pay VAT, customs duty or admin fee. You will however pay more in total for all parts compared to a complete razor set (just checked and the same 4 parts of the Ti are $295 as a complete razor and stand or $345 ordered separately. And thats before you take into account 4 lots of shipping opposed to 1 and that you now have 4 packages to pray over so they don't get lost lol.

On the alternative side

If you buy as one order you will save $50 on total cost of razor and stand. But you do pay royal mail 2.5% Customs duty for total cost (goods, postage and insurance) then VAT at 20% drawn from the value of the goods, postage and customs duty as well as the loved royal mail £8 admin fee.

So it all comes down to which will you rather, i've not done the maths as I wasn't sure which razor you were after.

I will also add if you do go for the split order route ensure you talk to maggards ahead of placing the orders so they don't think they're doing you a favour and combine the orders and refund you the shipping lol

Well, I'll find out shortly. I have purchased a Timeless Ti razor only, from Maggard and just recieved a notification that it has arrived in the UK.

 

[Chris]

Well, I'll find out shortly. I have purchased a Timeless Ti razor only, from Maggard and just recieved a notification that it has arrived in the UK.

Ill be interested to hear how that goes, and don’t forget to post pictures of the razor.

As for UK businesses being competitive, stock the thing I’m considering buying from overseas and I’ll buy it from you instead. Simples.

 

[Mr Bigmem]

Well, I'll find out shortly. I have purchased a Timeless Ti razor only, from Maggard and just recieved a notification that it has arrived in the UK.

Lets see what the total value was marked as and what royal mail do with it. Will be very interesting to see if maggards are still flying under the radar.

 

[Mr Bigmem]

for UK businesses being competitive, stock the thing I’m considering buying from overseas and I’ll buy it from you instead. Simples.

Totally echo your statement

 

[Mr Bigmem]

@Mr Bigmem what happened with your order that was meant to be delivered on Monday? I have a parcel in the post that is around the £135 limit so I'm interested to know.

Arrived safe and sound with not a problem. No request for any payment. So all is still following my understanding

 

[Masamune]

Looks like Blackland has paused shipping to the UK for the moment

 

[Driftwood]

Lets see what the total value was marked as and what royal mail do with it. Will be very interesting to see if maggards are still flying under the radar.

I'll keep you posted, but I'm getting an itchy prickly feeling

 

[Optometrist]

Lets see what the total value was marked as and what royal mail do with it. Will be very interesting to see if maggards are still flying under the radar.

Mem, I've had two parcels from Maggards arrive in the past couple of weeks. Both marked the usual $15.95, both delivered unhindered.

 

[JamieM]

That is only true if the total consignment value is bellow £135 and the consignment has no items that are exciseable. Or you'll still have to pay Customs and VAT at border. Sellers outside of UK won't be able to collect customs duties outside of VAT. Worth checking they understand that

The item I was talking to them about cost a lot more than £135 and the sales team told me categorically that all the costs were included in their pricing to the UK, they said I will not receive any added VAT or import duty on any item shipped from them in the Netherlands to the UK.

 

[UKRob]

That is only true if the total consignment value is bellow £135 and the consignment has no items that are exciseable. Or you'll still have to pay Customs and VAT at border. Sellers outside of UK won't be able to collect customs duties outside of VAT. Worth checking they understand that

Isn’t this exactly what EBay have been doing for a couple of years now? They collect all duties at point of sale (if you choose that option) so that you know exactly what you are paying.

 

[Mr Bigmem]

Isn’t this exactly what EBay have been doing for a couple of years now? They collect all duties at point of sale (if you choose that option) so that you know exactly what you are paying.

If the seller opted in that is what happens. For international sales to the uk all OMPs should be collecting VAT but for UK based sales if the seller doesn't register as a business and opt in then HMRC have to go looking

 

[UKRob]

If the seller opted in that is what happens. For international sales to the uk all OMPs should be collecting VAT but for UK based sales if the seller doesn't register as a business and opt in then HMRC have to go looking

I was just questioning your assertion that non-UK businesses cannot collect customs duties - when this is what EBay has been doing for some time.

What would be interesting is establishing whether EBay no longer applies either VAT or duties on items valued at less than £135 - that would almost certainly prove your theory that UK authorities no longer charge anything.

 

[Mr Bigmem]

I was just questioning your assertion that non-UK businesses cannot collect customs duties - when this is what EBay has been doing for some time.

What would be interesting is establishing whether EBay no longer applies either VAT or duties on items valued at less than £135 - that would almost certainly prove your theory that UK authorities no longer charge anything.

The laws on VAT on sales made in the UK by a UK business is very different. There is no £135 ceiling to decide who collects VAT. A UK based business is not required to sign up to document and pay on VAT, until their VAT taxable turnover has gone over £85,000, or it is known that it will. The VAT taxable turnover is the total of everything sold that is not VAT exempt. So in short everyone else just buys and sells without having to provide anything to HMRC. But the main truth here is most items have VAT added to them even if the seller isn't required to pass the money on to HMRC.

 

[UKRob]

The laws on VAT on sales made in the UK by a UK business is very different. There is no £135 ceiling to decide who collects VAT. A UK based business is not required to sign up to document and pay on VAT, until their VAT taxable turnover has gone over £85,000, or it is known that it will. The VAT taxable turnover is the total of everything sold that is not VAT exempt. So in short everyone else just buys and sells without having to provide anything to HMRC. But the main truth here is most items have VAT added to them even if the seller isn't required to pass the money on to HMRC.

I think we’re at cross purposes here - my original post related to overseas sellers, for example if you buy from the US via EBay. Some years ago, they introduced an option whereby you could add all import costs to the agreed price and ensure no extras when delivered to the UK. So, effectively EBay USA were collecting duties on behalf of the UK authorities which you indicated, if I read you correctly, was not possible.

 

[Mr Bigmem]

I think we’re at cross purposes here - my original post related to overseas sellers, for example if you buy from the US via EBay. Some years ago, they introduced an option whereby you could add all import costs to the agreed price and ensure no extras when delivered to the UK. So, effectively EBay USA were collecting duties on behalf of the UK authorities which you indicated, if I read you correctly, was not possible.

Aghhhhhh ok I get ya now lol. Yep all OMP (online market places) I.e. ebay, amazon, etsy and even aliexpress will collect all payments of VAT for orders under £135. Any thing with exciseable duty (alcohol, perfume) or total value above £135 will have all the tax and duty applied in the uk by the courier.