Wow. So what's the catch?
Will vat be going up to 20% in April to compensate for this change? The government don't give anything away for nothing. At least not to law-abiding, tax-paying citizens.
The banks may be unwilling to pass on their tax breaks, but at least the Government has one for internet shoppers importing goodies from outside the EU. From next month, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will only demand import duty on goods valued at £105 ($156/€123) or more. Currently you must – or should – pay the …
This post has been deleted by its author
If you buy a digital camera from a US website for £104 today, there still won’t be a penny of Customs duty to pay. Digital stills cameras do not attract Customs duty.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/downloadFile?contentID=HMCE_PROD_009989
Further, Customs duty is currently waived if it amounts to less than £7. So, if the item attracts 10% duty, that’s items up to £70 in value. For 5%, that’s up to £140. If this new rule completely replaces the old one, you’re going to be worse off for items with a rate x, where 0% < x < 6.66%.
On low value items (but still over the £18 VAT bar) the real killer is the Royal Mail handling charge of £8 to collect the VAT and duty.
Check out - http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=400044&mediaId=400362
"Any package assessed by HM Revenue and Customs as being liable for Customs charges will also incur a Royal Mail handling fee of £8."
This post has been deleted by its author
Only a government could come up with a site like the customs and excise one.........
What is needed a site where you can type in the item, country,price and it works it out for you...
instead you get something that requires an old style A level to work through it.....
perhaps students should study this instead of the Manchester tram timetable...no perhaps not it is a bit too difficult....