Apparently not the case if you live across the sea in Never Never land aka NI though! Or maybe know someone who does..............You’ll most likely have to pay VAT and potentially other import charges/courier fees. It might not be as cheap as you think!
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.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.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.
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?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
Correct, if you’re in N I you can stir buy from the EU.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?
But only if the EU seller can be arsed with the hassleCorrect, if you’re in N I you can stir buy from the EU.
Nick
What scope was it you were looking forThe 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.
You are indeed correct ! Fire away at your euro € purchases.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?
oh happy days, oh happy days.......You are indeed correct ! Fire away at your euro € purchases.
Hi Bruce,But only if the EU seller can be arsed with the hassle
Cheers
Bruce