This is not a thread about how to get around Customs or Taxs

Slidinginfinity · 14-08-2009 5:37pm #1

I know this is not strictly a photographic question and if the Mods feel it should be moved so be it.
I am an American living in Dublin. I pay income taxes in Ireland.
Here is the question.

If I order photographic or any other type of equipment from the states, if it gets stopped at customs will I have to pay the VAT on it?

I know that if I leave the EU with in three months of buying something I can get the VAT back.

mrmac · 14-08-2009 5:40pm

Slidinginfinity wrote: »

.... if it gets stopped at customs will I have to pay the VAT on it? ....

Yes, you will.

Slidinginfinity · 14-08-2009 5:49pm

thanks, that what I expected/feared.

PCPhoto · 14-08-2009 5:51pm

why not order it to be delivered to "home" and collect next time you visit.

Slidinginfinity · 14-08-2009 6:44pm

PCPhoto wrote: »

why not order it to be delivered to "home" and collect next time you visit.

I have thought about it, but won't be going home until Christmas (maybe) and I am too impatience to wait that long and worry that we won't be able to go. Flights are not cheap to the west coast of the US.

One other question: How do they calculate the vat on items? is it based on their value in a shop here or based on what you paid on the invoice?

PCPhoto · 14-08-2009 6:53pm

I think its import tax and VAT ..... its a bit of a grey area.... I've had stuff stopped at customs and told I had to pay duty on it - which somehow came to 15% of the shipping value....but on seperate occasions have also been charged 21% VAT by customs.

its pot luck really - I dont think some customs officers know what they are charging.

* Couple of years ago (about 10yrs ago) - stopped by customs who insisted that I pay cash or they wouldnt release my lens. (Paid by cash and insisted on getting a receipt)

Fajitas! · 14-08-2009 7:02pm

Right, hypothetical question. Say I were to bring my lighting kit to the US, and... well... I left it at my friends house over there. Sh*te, what an inconvenience! If it were posted back to me, would it be taxed again? Considering I bought it in Eire/UK, and it's being shipped from a residential address. Or would I have Mr. Delivery Man have me root through the attic looking for the reciept...?

Fajitas! · 14-08-2009 7:04pm

PCPhoto wrote: »

its pot luck really - I dont think some customs officers know what they are charging.

Or they do and know well... A friend of mine was told he had to pay 140 quid to release a camera. It was one of them feicing Lomographic ones that cost about that itself. He wasn't impressed.

Slidinginfinity · 14-08-2009 8:03pm

so costs could be just about anything?? OUCH!

It's a 5 dollar battery grip/pack for a Nikon n65/f65 that calumet wants to charge 50 euro for.

wersal gummage · 14-08-2009 8:06pm

could one of your relatives in the US buy it as a christmas present and post it to you ?

Slidinginfinity · 14-08-2009 8:41pm

considered just buying it and having it posted to Mom but having the double postage (this is not an extremely common item any more) from the shop to her and then to me counters the savings.

CabanSail · 14-08-2009 10:31pm

If it's $5 value then it should be OK as you will have the invoice for that value. IIRC items below a certain value are exempt.

Slidinginfinity · 14-08-2009 10:37pm

CabanSail wrote: »

If it's $5 value then it should be OK as you will have the invoice for that value. IIRC items below a certain value are exempt.

will they include the shipping as part of the cost of the item?

this is the Battery pack/grip I am talking about.

http://www.cameta.com/Nikon-MB-17-AA-Battery-Pack-Grip-for-the-N65-13978.cfm

I know it's a small thing but I really don't like the hassle of having to find the 8-9euro a pop batteries that the camera requires and not being able to get rechargeable batteries for the camera.

I went ahead and tried to order it, but it wouldn't let me. Why? Well I have only been in Ireland since November and that is not long enough for the bank to trust me (regardless of my credit history) with a credit card. So, I have to use my US card and it has (Surprise, a US address attached to it) and for any order other than the US or Canada the billing address has to be the same as the shipping address.
So, with my head hung low, I ordered it to Mom's house and will have to wait. On the brightside, it only cost me 9.45 dollars.

LeoB · 15-08-2009 8:54am

Fajitas! wrote: »

Right, hypothetical question. Say I were to bring my lighting kit to the US, and... well... I left it at my friends house over there. Sh*te, what an inconvenience! If it were posted back to me, would it be taxed again? Considering I bought it in Eire/UK, and it's being shipped from a residential address. Or would I have Mr. Delivery Man have me root through the attic looking for the reciept...?

No you would not be charged in this situation. The customs people are reasonable. They are not out to get people its more people who bring a lot of stuff.

The way it works is if your item gets stopped they put the Irish value on and charge you V.A.T at local rate, uty and a clearance/handling fee.

Judging what the O.P says it is I would say there will be no tax on this item. Could you pick it up from Calumet in Belfast?

Slidinginfinity · 15-08-2009 12:35pm

LeoB wrote: »

No you would not be charged in this situation. The customs people are reasonable. They are not out to get people its more people who bring a lot of stuff.

The way it works is if your item gets stopped they put the Irish value on and charge you V.A.T at local rate, uty and a clearance/handling fee.

Judging what the O.P says it is I would say there will be no tax on this item. Could you pick it up from Calumet in Belfast?

I could but they want 50 euro and I got sent to Mom's for under 10 USD.

Fajitas! · 15-08-2009 12:41pm

Slidinginfinity wrote: »

I could but they want 50 euro and I got sent to Mom's for under 10 USD.

How would your mom feel about a shipment of lighting equipment coming through? :pac:

(joking!)

CabanSail · 15-08-2009 4:20pm

We had 9 Cameras being sent over to shoot the 10 Mile Race in Phoenix Park. They are Nikon D2H's. They were stopped by Customs who wanted the VAT paid on them before they would release them. The company in the US had to work that out & the the gear arrived just in time.

Fajitas! · 15-08-2009 4:28pm

I take it they weren't new, but you say 'sent over' - Were they bought, or being sent over for the job and being sent back again?

Thirdfox · 15-08-2009 4:46pm

Btw - shipping cost in included in calculating whether an item is exempt or not from duty and VAT charges.

The exemption rate is 23 euro last time I checked (anything less than 23 euro is a "good of negligible value" and won't be liable for extra charges.

Hence many people using dealextreme

(goods cost around 1-10 dollars and delivery is free).

I have heard off-hand that customs are much more stringent on goods nowadays when the country is strapped for funds. To the OP; you could try looking around ebay (within the European Union) for the item you want, no charges there.

This is not a thread about how to get around Customs or Taxs

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