European Glass

kal

Well-Known Member
I've noticed a couple of scopes on european sights that are a lot cheaper than over here
Are there any new hidden costs in buying euro stuff such as import charges or uk VAT.
 
I've noticed a couple of scopes on european sights that are a lot cheaper than over here
Are there any new hidden costs in buying euro stuff such as import charges or uk VAT.
Just mulling this over - send me a link to one or two of the sites where prices are a lot cheaper plz.
🦊🦊
 
I've noticed a couple of scopes on european sights that are a lot cheaper than over here
Are there any new hidden costs in buying euro stuff such as import charges or uk VAT.
Many EU based (and other non UK based) companies will not sell to the UK, because under some really stupid new rules, HMRC want companies based outwith the UK, but who are selling into the UK, to register for UK VAT, charge that VAT to the UK buyer at the point of sale, and then every 3 months, send all the UK VAT they have collected to HMRC.
You can imagine how many small. non UK companies are prepared to jump through those hoops for what would likely be a small part of their business.

Cheers

Bruce
 
I've noticed a couple of scopes on european sights that are a lot cheaper than over here
Are there any new hidden costs in buying euro stuff such as import charges or uk VAT.
Unfortunately Johnson didn't also put on that big red bus "Let's all now oblige ourselves to add 20% VAT on everything we'll import from the EU post-Brexit." The internet is full of horror stories of this. Indeed my son's mother just got clobbered £104 by Parcelforce for some stuff she'd bought mail order from the Netherlands of which £84 was VAT levied by HMRC.
 
When the UK was in the EU and you bought something from another EU country, the seller charged you VAT at the rate set in that country at the point of purchase.
You could only "avoid" that VAT if you could prove to the seller that you were VAT registered in the UK.
If you could do that (and there is a searchable database that allows every VAT number in the EU to be checked for validity) then the seller would not charge you VAT.
However, when you completed your VAT return you had to declare the value of any goods and services purchased from other EU countries and pay the VAT on it at that time
What's happening now is that EU sellers may not charge you VAT at the point of sale, but you pay VAT when the goods come into UK, or they charge you VAT, but have to register for UK VAT with HMRC and pay the VAT they collect to HMRC every 3 months.
Their other alternative is to refuse to do business with UK buyers - and many are doing that simply because its the easiest option.
The bottom line is that VAT has always been payable on goods purchased from the EU, but the method and timing of payment has changed to the point that some EU sellers have said f**k it

Cheers

Bruce
 
The scope I was looking at was being sold by Europtics.
About £300 cheaper than here in UK.
If as said that I'll have to pay 20% vat and a handling charge then it will end up a lot of hastle for about a saving of a Tenner.
Dont think ill bother.
Thanks for the info.
 
When the UK was in the EU and you bought something from another EU country, the seller charged you VAT at the rate set in that country at the point of purchase.
You could only "avoid" that VAT if you could prove to the seller that you were VAT registered in the UK.
If you could do that (and there is a searchable database that allows every VAT number in the EU to be checked for validity) then the seller would not charge you VAT.
However, when you completed your VAT return you had to declare the value of any goods and services purchased from other EU countries and pay the VAT on it at that time
What's happening now is that EU sellers may not charge you VAT at the point of sale, but you pay VAT when the goods come into UK, or they charge you VAT, but have to register for UK VAT with HMRC and pay the VAT they collect to HMRC every 3 months.
Their other alternative is to refuse to do business with UK buyers - and many are doing that simply because its the easiest option.
The bottom line is that VAT has always been payable on goods purchased from the EU, but the method and timing of payment has changed to the point that some EU sellers have said f**k it

Cheers

Bruce
As I understand it, please tell me if I am wrong, NI is not considered a part of the UK because of the Irish Sea “border“ so none of this applies to me as a private buyer therefore I should be able to purchase said items at advantageous euro prices with only delivery charges as an extra?
🦊🦊
 
I simply don't know the answer to that question - and I suspect no-one else does either :banghead:
I suspect most EU sellers still regard NI as part of the UK and if they are not selling to the UK, that would include NI
I doubt if any of them know about or give a s**t about the "Irish Sea border"

Cheers

Bruce
 
As I understand it, please tell me if I am wrong, NI is not considered a part of the UK because of the Irish Sea “border“ so none of this applies to me as a private buyer therefore I should be able to purchase said items at advantageous euro prices with only delivery charges as an extra?
🦊🦊
Correct, if you’re in N I you can stir buy from the EU.
Nick
 
Don't think they have any hassle sending stuff to NI. Bought few items at the end of January from Germany without any additional surcharges and next day delivery with DHL
 
The scope I was looking at was being sold by Europtics.
About £300 cheaper than here in UK.
If as said that I'll have to pay 20% vat and a handling charge then it will end up a lot of hastle for about a saving of a Tenner.
Dont think ill bother.
Thanks for the info.
What scope was it you were looking for
 
My mistake about supplier
It was at Optics trade eu/uk
I was looking at one of these in moa
Delta Optical Stryker HD 5-50x56 HD SFP
 
As I understand it, please tell me if I am wrong, NI is not considered a part of the UK because of the Irish Sea “border“ so none of this applies to me as a private buyer therefore I should be able to purchase said items at advantageous euro prices with only delivery charges as an extra?
🦊🦊
You are indeed correct ! Fire away at your euro € purchases.
 
But only if the EU seller can be arsed with the hassle :D

Cheers

Bruce
Hi Bruce,

There is no hassle for them as NI for all intents and purposes remains in the EU single market. As Brandon Lewis NI Secretary said “they have the best of both worlds” which begs the question of what was the exact point of Brexit 🤔

Cheers,

Nick
 
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