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Importing from China - Import Duties


jordanashley

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Hello,

 

 

Does anyone know the import duty rules on imports from China? I am thinking of ordering some LED fixtures from Alibaba and I am struggling to find the UK commodity code that they would come under. I am expecting to pay UK VAT on them, but would like to know the % I need to pay in import duties for stage lighting etc.

 

If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you

 

Jordan Ashley

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The problem is not what code it /should/ be but rather what descriptions, codes & value the sender ACTUALLY writes on the shipping label and then how it's processed once it hits the uk; some things are rubber-stamped based on the paperwork, some are re-assessed, some are completely reclassified.

 

That said it's almost always the 20% vat that hurts the most, actual import duties typically only vary by a percentage or two so the shock shouldn't be too much.

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I tend to import these thiongs one or two as a time, so that they come in under the value at which GST (our equivalent of VAT) is charged. This is also helped by the Chinese folks inability to understand these things are not gifts (the one word of English they know!) and actually do have some value, not $10.

 

The downside of this is sometimes you don't get identical things. But then again, I've had non-identical things in one order, too...

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CUstoms and excise (or whatever they are called this week) will be only too happy to tell you that it's your responsibility to pay the correct import duty/taxes. If it's escaped the correct duty, you are supposed to request/download a form and submit an assessment yourself. The forms are long and rambling.
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China's shipping often bulk aggregates into containers - what you pay gets it as far as a random warehouse in the UK - you are then liable for on shipping as well as customs and vat - in my experience this can be surprisingly expensive - £200 for the agent as well as the 25% duty and tax plus quite expensive shipping rates - they never seem to manage the £55 a pallet rate you expect.
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I think you really need to find another agent. We pay £50 per clearance, no matter how big, and the service is absolutely first rate. they also don't take the mick with forward shipping when needed. The import Vat is re-claimable via the C79 that C&E send you ( I'm presuming your VAT registered), and off course the 3.7% duty needs to be viewed as part of the cost of the goods, along with the shipping.
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The most I have paid was 5%, most times as others have said, it's the 3 and a bit percent figure. If you are buying from one of the small assembly concerns then they will use a freight agent in their building, so the customs declaration may be based on what the item appears to be to a layman so could be described as electronics or even plastic goods, based on what they actually see. You can imagine what a mirror ball could be described as ? Decorative glassware! It also raises the issue of value. I'm not convinced that they 'fiddle' the declared values, and simply don't bother about it because the impact is at our end. My view is that the declared value is the cost price, not what you paid them. Rather like a compensation claim to Royal Mail. The value of the item is what it cost, not what your customer paid you. Perhaps that is wrong , but it's my opinion on how the system works
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