rg22
New Member
Posts: 36
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Post by rg22 on Mar 29, 2010 10:14:19 GMT -8
i have purchased a painting and i have only realised i will be charged VAT or import tax or both when it arrives in the uk from usa.
could anyone suggest how much i am likely to be charged?
the painting was $800
cheers in advance!
ross
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Post by svenman on Mar 29, 2010 12:45:01 GMT -8
i have purchased a painting and i have only realised i will be charged VAT or import tax or both when it arrives in the uk from usa. could anyone suggest how much i am likely to be charged? the painting was $800 cheers in advance! ross ross this is a subject dear to my heart - and wallet! if the painting has not yet been shipped pm me, and i can maybe help with some suggestions to avoid the import duty altogether. if it already on its way, an original painting should have 5% import duty imposed, plus a handling charge of around 13 -15 quid depending who the handler is. i find fed-ex to be the biggest pain in the ass of anyone out there. more than likely, you will be charged 17.5% (VAT) plus the handling charge, as the majority of the customs agents plead ignorance to the 5% thing. you can contest that with them though. the final nail in the coffin is that they usually include the shipping cost in the amount you pay vat on. this all depends on the value marked on the customs label and if it states 'original artwork' or 'painting'. if it says neither of these things you'll probably be hit with the full charge. if it has been sent, ask the gallery how they marked the label.... that said, i have had a few things in the past just sail through without any charge at all even if the are not marked as i always them to be.... i guess it depends on the agent looking at the parcel and how they are feeling on the day! |
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Post by stingers on Mar 29, 2010 14:34:32 GMT -8
Fed Ex are the Devil .
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grit
Full Member
Posts: 139
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Post by grit on Mar 30, 2010 8:54:38 GMT -8
This is an interesting topic
Usually I've had no major issues with duty or vat, and I have never paid more than £50 extra for a piece including a large 30x24 painting (which was at a higher $ value than the piece you have bought rg22)
However! I just received a note from the post office for a painting that just arrived and they have charged me an extra £108 (approx $165)!!
I bought the painting for around $800 which I thought was a steal, but its not so cheap now considering the extra costs.
It broke down to £100 vat and £8 duty
I have to say that this was pretty painful, as nothing I have ever bought before even came close to this extra cost.
Svenman, I wouldnt mind hearing some of your tips for avoiding these costs. this most recent charge hurt, and I want to avoid it in the future if possible.
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Post by bluecat on Mar 30, 2010 9:24:20 GMT -8
Have they charged you the correct VAT rate? As Svenman said it should be 5% for an original artwork. You can ring the tax people and query it and if they have made a mistake then they will refund it.
I had a piece sent over from Australia which cost me about £300 and I was charged £100 VAT. I rang the customs at Coventry (the international hub for parcels) which is a feat in itself - getting through to them. When the guy checked their records it turned out someone had made an error by clicking on Ascension Isles rather than Australia when converting the currency and calculating the VAT. I did get a refund but I had to send proof of purchase, proof of the paintings value etc.
It sounds like you may have been overcharged for this work?
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Post by svenman on Mar 30, 2010 12:03:21 GMT -8
i'll send you the pm i wrote to ross, grit.
sounds like you've got away with it up until now... when i get busted for the full vat, i consider it not too big of an issue as it offsets all the times i did get away with it...
last time i got busted though was for a $5.5k painting (plus $500 shipping - it was a big crate!), and that hurt. the gallery fucked up and didn't use the dodge method they agreed. grrr.
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grit
Full Member
Posts: 139
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Post by grit on Mar 30, 2010 12:51:52 GMT -8
thanks for the feedback
yeah it looks like they bumped me on the VAT, i wouldnt have even realised that it should only be a 5% charge if it wasnt for this thread. Nice one Svenman!
i actually got this piece directly from the artist so im goin to find out what he put on the customs declreation form and contact customs. Hopefully I can get it reduced. I will let you know the outcome.
damn, getting the full charge on a 5.5k painting! I think i would have s**t a brick
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Post by svenman on Mar 30, 2010 14:00:44 GMT -8
some you win, some you loose. it was 5% though for that one not the full whack (thank fuck!)
glad to help grit.
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