Hi AWers, I have a question about the VAT paid on music items or other, imported to the UK that cost including shipping up to £135.
I buy lots of physical music, LPs/CDs/Box Sets, many from overseas and the info I find online is confusing. So I`m wondering if any of you good people have any helpful info.
At the moment you can import items up to the value of £135 including shipping into the UK from the EU VAT free, although places like Discogs/eBay are charging VAT on items under £135. I have called Discogs out over this and I`m awaiting a response.
I also believe that after the signing of a Trade Agreement between the UK and Japan the same rule applies as to the EU. This seems to be correct because I recently received two items from CDJapan without having to pay any import fees.
I have also heard but cannot confirm that the same rule now applies to items costing under £135 including shipping from the USA. As I have already stated the info on the internet is contradictory. If this was true about items from the USA as a music fan who likes to buy physical items this would be great news. I know shipping costs are high both ways across the Atlantic but I`ve been prevented from buying from the USA mainly because of Customs/VAT charges and the rip off Royal Mail charges if I do so.
If anyone has any information it will be most welcome, thanks in advance.
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Hi Baron
Being m’self in the legal line of work, I thought I’d have a go at trying to find an answer for you but, having just tried to read the explanation, I’m none the wiser. It’s something to do with Low value imported goods (the £135 you referred to) and either import VAT or supply VAT. My head started spinning at that point. It has been a long day (my excuse and I’m sticking to it).
I may have another look at it in the cold light of day and, if I can find the answer, I’ll let you know unless – of course – someone beats me to it.
Thanks @Pajp, I found myself in exactly the same situation as yourself. Everything seems contradictory. I`d appreciate it if you can find anything else.
I just received my order for His Bobness`s `Springtime In NY` 4LP set from Third Man Records and didn`t incur any Customs/VAT charges but that tells me nothing. I could just have been lucky or the £135 rule applies.
I don’t know, but I’d love to know the answer.
Hearing horror stories on the We Buy Records podcast, I now filter Discogs by UK sellers only.
Likewise. I now filter Discogs by EU sellers only, whereas before Brexit, I often ordered from UK sellers, who often have the most reasonable postage rates.
I`ve now sent two messages to Discogs asking why they have charged me VAT on items under £135 from the EU. They haven`t answered yet despite me threatening to withhold my sellers fees (£100+). I reckon it`s a con also practised by eBay.
I can go “someway” to answering from an OZ view – many years ago OZ businesses/shops create a stink with the Govt. due to on-line buyers not paying our GST – your VAT. So the Govt. struck some sort of deal with the UK that allows on-line buyers a $1,000 (originally) goods value free, not certain of the max allowed now., before including VAT/GST.
Recently I have bought from Burning Shed-Cherry Red & they discount the VAT – as my buys are deemed “exports”. Bought from Book Depository as well – no listed GST/VAT but it may well be included -unseen -in the price of the book.
The likes of EBAY collect the GST/VAT on behalf of the OZ Govt. & then send them the cash??
To avoid Ebays gst – I usually deal direct with seller – listing CDs I want & they take them off-line & invoice me accordingly. Have not had GST/VAT issues when buying from Germany/Greece/USA either.
I can speak of my own experience as a purchaser in Ireland. For six months after “freedom day”, i.e. up until July 2021, there was an allowance to defer VAT on purchases under £22 – Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive. On Amazon UK, purchases under £22 would have the VAT removed and then popped in the post to Ireland where the reciprocal agreement meant no import tax/customs etc. T’was great. But now it’s over!
So a few weeks ago I bought a £13 CD set from a guaranteed seller on Amazon, paid the (UK) Vat at checkout and got an import tax notice from the Irish post office adding €7 to the purchase – this was only something I’d dealt with before with purchases from the US. I posted about it on Twitter and got a few responses of people buying from the UK to the EU, and the other way around, getting new charges that hadn’t existed before.
Looking at this, it does seem to state that a boxset under £135 will not have any Vat or Customs Duty coming from EU to GB. Best of luck!
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty
Thanks @DrJ, I am aware of the £135 rule for imports from the EU, just had a £122 order from France arrive Customs Duty free.
I recently sold a box set to a guy in Ireland for £105 and he had to pay almost £28 VAT on that purchase!
I bought a second hand box set from Amazon Warehouse UK this week and had it sent to a conspirator in Belfast, so I’ll get it over the border from him eventually. Wasn’t going to risk it!