[biz-engineer]

In 2015, I sold lenses and purchased my D-FA 150-450 at SRS in the UK. Back then I didn't have to worry about custom clearance or the VAT thing (if I remember correctly). But now it may be different after Brexit. Does any one know if there are import / export tarifs applied to cameras and lenses between the UK and the Eurozone? It is still working without problem or is it like import/export from/to the USA or Japan?

[Cerebum]

Importing to the UK from the EU is now subject to vat and the fees parcel force add on. So, anything slightly costly, say £140 is plus 20% vat, 2.5% duty and the parcelforce charge. And they levie that on the postage too! That's why I am now UK only. Sometimes buying from Japan still works out cheaper though

[slartibartfast01]

Importing to the UK from the EU is now subject to vat and the fees parcel force add on. So, anything slightly costly, say £140 is plus 20% vat, 2.5% duty and the parcelforce charge. And they levie that on the postage too! That's why I am now UK only. Sometimes buying from Japan still works out cheaper though

If you pay VAT on imports from the EU is the EU tax subtracted first or do you pay double tax?

[mir]

Importing to the UK from the EU is now subject to vat and the fees parcel force add on. So, anything slightly costly, say £140 is plus 20% vat, 2.5% duty and the parcelforce charge. And they levie that on the postage too! That's why I am now UK only. Sometimes buying from Japan still works out cheaper though

You also paid VAT before brexit. The rule in EU is that if the seller in member state A export below a certain amount a year to a certain member state B then VAT is paid in member state A otherwise in member state B. However, what has changed is that there is now added customs to goods going in and out of UK to EU and duty is not always 2½% in various between member state and depends on kind of goods in question.

[BarneyL]

If I remember correctly, SRS won't charge you VAT if delivery destination is in the EU. You will have to pay what's due to your state when the thing arrives, though.

[mir]

If you pay VAT on imports from the EU is the EU tax subtracted first or do you pay double tax?

VAT is always calculated after tax is added hence the name VAT (value added tax)

[slartibartfast01]

VAT is always calculated after tax is added hence the name VAT (value added tax)

So does that mean you pay EU VAT and UK VAT?

[volley]

Well, it is not straight forward.
When you buy from a UK seller now you will have to pay an "import tax" (in German "Einfuhrumsatzsteuer or EUSt") which is depending on the goods either 7% or 19%, I believe.
If the value of the goods exceeds certain limits (150,- EUR) you have to pay in addition the relevant toll. This is depending on what you import:
for digital cameras the toll is 0% (19% EUSt)
for analog cameras the toll is 4,2% (19% EUSt)
for lenses the toll is 6,7% (19% EUSt)

[pschlute]

So does that mean you pay EU VAT and UK VAT?

If you import into the UK you do not pay EU VAT.

You pay UK import duty, and UK VAT.

[slartibartfast01]

If you import into the UK you do not pay EU VAT.



You pay UK import duty, and UK VAT.

Thanks that makes more sense.

[gylfimag]

The buyer in cross-border transactions outside a customs union should not pay double VAT. Generally this is accomplished by the seller (exporter) not charging VAT but then the VAT is added (using the rate of the importing country) when the goods pass through customs in the country of the buyer (importer). There may sometimes of course also be tariffs or excise duties and processing fees added to the bill when goods cross a border (and shipping charges). The EU has the same external tariffs for all countries in the EU but the rates may differ depending on the type of goods and their origin. VAT is added last, on top of everything else. To complicate things a bit more most sellers will list prices with the local VAT included, so this will have to be subtracted from the price before shipping. There are other options though, sometimes an exporter will take care of getting goods through customs in the land of the buyer, pay VAT etc. and have all this included in the price (or invoice) that the buyer sees. The effects of different currencies and exchange rates should be easy to figure out but retail transactions that involve different currencies generally get a rather dismal exchange rate, with intermediaries (banks, credit card companies etc.) taking a hefty cut.

[AfterPentax Mark II]

Importing to the UK from the EU is now subject to vat and the fees parcel force add on. So, anything slightly costly, say £140 is plus 20% vat, 2.5% duty and the parcelforce charge. And they levie that on the postage too! That's why I am now UK only. Sometimes buying from Japan still works out cheaper though

The UK does not belong to either the EER or EVA, which means that on all imports an added tax is due. But the seller in the EU must sell you the item without VAT or have a system with which you can get the VAT back, if you require that before you made the purchase. Import taxes should be the same whether from Japan of from an EU country. As you are no longer an EU citizen, you have the right to get the VAT back. But different countries in the EU use different minimum amounts of spending before you are eligible for that tax return. Germany € 25, The Netherlands € 50 and Belgium € 125,01 to mention a few. Preventing paying double taxes is something that you must do yourselves. Hope this helps a little.

PS.: "And they levie that on the postage too!" Yes, but that is because the value of the actual product is made up of: 1. The item itself; 2. packaging; 3. insurance (if applicable); 4. postage.
So the total value is taken into account, which is what you actually spend for the product to get it on your table. Beware if you buy a second hand item: the price is you pay for that is a price without VAT, because no VAT is deductible unless it is indicated in the summary of the item.

[Time Traveller]

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020, after which it became a 'third country' to the EU (i.e. a country outside the EU).
The EU and the UK reached an agreement on their future relationship on 24 December 2020. They formally signed the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on 30 December 2020.
The agreement entered into force on 1 May 2021 after approval of the European Parliament and adoption by the Council.

And yes, Brexit did change VAT (and customs) policy on cameras/lenses between the UK and the Euro zone.
You now have to pay customs as well as import duties (VAT).

For the import of goods, the currently applicable import duties/VAT (in Denmark 25%) is levied on the total purchase price. The shipping and/or insurance costs are added to the value of the goods, if the value of €22 is exceeded. The transaction price of a product is the price actually paid or payable, which is used to calculate the import duties.
In the case of non-commercial goods imports, the shipping costs are not to be included, unless these are included in the customs value of the customs declaration or otherwise declared in writing or verbally.

You can see the current tariffs below.

Go to the EU's "COMBINED NOMENCLATURE" (link):
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L:2021:414:FULL&from=EN
Go e.g. to CN Code 9002 11 00 – – For cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers - and you will see a "Conventional rate of duty (%)" : 6.7%.

Or go to the EU's "TARIC" below (link):
TARIC Consultation
Enter the code (e.g. 90021100 (no space between the digits!) and select the exporting country (UK). You should get the same result: "Third contry duty ... 6.70%" (don't forget to add the import duties (VAT)!).

So a lens priced €1000 in the UK + €50 for shipping + customs + import VAT will cost around €1400 in the European Union.

This means that the price in the UK must be multiplied by 1.4 to get the price in the EU (Denmark).

[biz-engineer]

So a lens priced €1000 in the UK + €50 for shipping + customs + import VAT will cost around €1400 in the European Union.

Thanks for the comprehensive summary. In that example, do the 400E extra split into ~200E of VAT (20%) and 200E of custom frees?
Currency conversion already give price 1.4x more expensive in Euro (without import/export costs).

[Time Traveller]

Thanks for the comprehensive summary. In that example, do the 400E extra split into ~200E of VAT (20%) and 200E of custom frees?
Currency conversion already give price 1.4x more expensive in Euro (without import/export costs).

Original price in the UK: €1050 + customs duties: €70 + import duties (VAT 25% in Denmark - in Austria?): €280 = €1400.

Import duties may vary from member state to menber state, but in Denmark it's 25%.

If you want to be absolutely sure of the exact price, you can go to your local customs administartion and get binding customs information on the custom duties to pay.

Also, shipping prices may vary a bit, but not much.

I have never experienced a currency conversion that increases the price by 1.4x the original price (before customs/shipping duties!). And I have purchased lenses and cameras in several countries around the world.