Buying / Importing Bike from USA

Velke

Hi

Anyone got advice on Buying / Importing a bike from the states.

Seen a new Specialized Bike I'm after but, it's not available here, is it an easy option to buy from US shop and get them to send
or
Have friend in the states who could buy it for me and then arrange courier, if that that is an easy option.

Could either option make the VAT easier or harder, and would option 2 make the valuation re VAT more economic!

nicklouse

add inport tax. 14% and then add VAT to that total and you will get the real cost. Also your warrenty will be with the selling shop if anything goes wrong.

if you can not afford the import and VAT dont bother as it will be held by customs.

Monty Dog

Duty and Vat are compounded on the total consignment cost i.e including shipping so taking for example a bike bought for $1,600 plus another $200 for shipping = $1,800 about £1,160.
Add duty at 14% = £1,322
Add vat at 20% = £1,589

i.e. a £1,000 bike will arrive at your front door costing in the region of £1,600 so unless you're getting a serious discount, don't bother.

thegreatdivide

A lot of couriers will also stick a wee bit on top too. Was stung by UPS at Xmas.

rolf_f

Monty Dog wrote:

Duty and Vat are compounded on the total consignment cost i.e including shipping so taking for example a bike bought for $1,600 plus another $200 for shipping = $1,800 about £1,160.
Add duty at 14% = £1,322
Add vat at 20% = £1,589

i.e. a £1,000 bike will arrive at your front door costing in the region of £1,600 so unless you're getting a serious discount, don't bother.

Which matches the old rule from way back that the price in dollars equals the price you pay in pounds.

slowbike

At that price it's probably cheaper to have a holiday in the US - take one bike out with you, dump it and bring back the new one .... Although I don't think you're really allowed to do that ...

Colinthecop

Slowbike wrote:

At that price it's probably cheaper to have a holiday in the US - take one bike out with you, dump it and bring back the new one .... Although I don't think you're really allowed to do that ...

Would you need to even do that....?

If you buy one over there, take it for a ride and use it. Will it still be classed as new and be subject to VAT/import tax...?

nicklouse

Colinthecop wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

At that price it's probably cheaper to have a holiday in the US - take one bike out with you, dump it and bring back the new one .... Although I don't think you're really allowed to do that ...

Would you need to even do that....?

If you buy one over there, take it for a ride and use it. Will it still be classed as new and be subject to VAT/import tax...?

yes. needs to have been owned by you for at least 3 months to be classed as your moving goods. and you might be asked to prove it.

Colinthecop

A right, bugger. I take the emphasis is for you to prove it rather them to prove otherwise.

Monty Dog

HMRC weren't born yesterday - but I know people who've flown to US with a bike box containing an old bike which they've dumped and returned with a shiney, new one.