Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 36

Thread: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    33
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Do you have any experience buying a pen from the UK and having it sent to the US?

    Are there any import fees, taxes or other expenses incurred or does it simply arrive?

    I致e bought a few pens from Japan and not had any issues but I知 considering a purchase from the UK and it would be my first.

  2. #2
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,404
    Thanks
    6,876
    Thanked 10,365 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    It's unlikely that you would have to pay anything but it depends on the price. I think the import level before you would be charged any import tax is $300. Below this level it would simply arrive.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  3. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019), SlowMovingTarget (February 3rd, 2021), welch (February 3rd, 2021)

  4. #3
    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Highlands of Scotland
    Posts
    1,747
    Thanks
    2,351
    Thanked 1,927 Times in 842 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Rather better than going in the other direction...
    Regards,
    Deb
    My Blog

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Deb For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019), SlowMovingTarget (February 3rd, 2021)

  6. #4
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,404
    Thanks
    6,876
    Thanked 10,365 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    Rather better than going in the other direction...
    Absolutely right. Much better in fact. We can import 」15 worth of goods before taxes and duties are added. Not much can even get mailed here for that.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019)

  8. #5
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    33
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Yikes. The pen is just over $300. 🤔

  9. #6
    Senior Member SIR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    GB
    Posts
    1,635
    Thanks
    725
    Thanked 732 Times in 466 Posts
    Rep Power
    10

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Dillon View Post
    Yikes. The pen is just over $300. 🤔
    Presumably you'll only be liable for %s over the tax-free value?

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to SIR For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019)

  11. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Posts
    301
    Thanks
    179
    Thanked 117 Times in 91 Posts
    Rep Power
    8

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Why not ask the seller to declare the value on the shipping label as just under $300?

  12. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Blue Note For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019), welch (February 3rd, 2021)

  13. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    33
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Thanks to everyone for your replies.

    I知 going to reach out to the seller and begin a conversation.

  14. #9
    Senior Member Linger's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 104 Times in 66 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    For him to break the law?

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to Linger For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019)

  16. #10
    Senior Member Robert's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    654
    Thanks
    1,187
    Thanked 406 Times in 290 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    I've bought two pens from Mr. Pen in the UK - - no taxes/duty in either case. Ditto my Conid Bulkfiller from Belgium and some Omas pens from Singapore. But . . . several years ago I bought a Nettuno Docet from a seller in Italy and did have to pay a small duty - - about $20.00, if I recall correctly, on a $500.00 pen.

  17. The Following User Says Thank You to Robert For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019)

  18. #11
    FPG Donor ♕ KrazyIvan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Texas-USA
    Posts
    5,068
    Thanks
    1,476
    Thanked 1,798 Times in 943 Posts
    Rep Power
    20

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    I've purchased a few pens from Grandmia and never had to pay any taxes. Things might change if the US leaves the postal organization that I can't remember the name of.
    Fountain Pen Sith Lord | Daakusaido | Everything in one spot

  19. The Following User Says Thank You to KrazyIvan For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019)

  20. #12
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    33
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Quote Originally Posted by Linger View Post
    For him to break the law?
    I知 not comfortable to ask that but the price is just over 300 so I知 going to see if they are open to an offer just under.

  21. The Following User Says Thank You to Mark Dillon For This Useful Post:

    jar (September 23rd, 2019)

  22. #13
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    33
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Quote Originally Posted by Robert View Post
    I've bought two pens from Mr. Pen in the UK - - no taxes/duty in either case. Ditto my Conid Bulkfiller from Belgium and some Omas pens from Singapore. But . . . several years ago I bought a Nettuno Docet from a seller in Italy and did have to pay a small duty - - about $20.00, if I recall correctly, on a $500.00 pen.
    Excellent!

  23. #14
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,404
    Thanks
    6,876
    Thanked 10,365 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Dillon View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Linger View Post
    For him to break the law?
    I知 not comfortable to ask that but the price is just over 300 so I知 going to see if they are open to an offer just under.
    I would guess that he is much more likely to agree to write the value as $300 than to agree to actually sell it to you for less. The value of an item does not necessarily have to exactly match the price paid for it. It can be what it is worth. However, what he writes will need to be the insurance value.
    That's not breaking the law.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  24. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 22nd, 2019), welch (February 3rd, 2021)

  25. #15
    Senior Member Linger's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 104 Times in 66 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Well, I guess with vintage pens you do have a valid point: price does not have to equal value.

    However, declaring a lower value than the price received, in this context, which is the assessment of import duties and taxes due, seems to me a clear case of tax evasion (and not tax avoidance).

  26. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Linger For This Useful Post:

    Chemyst (September 23rd, 2019), Mark Dillon (September 23rd, 2019), Seattleite (January 28th, 2021)

  27. #16
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,404
    Thanks
    6,876
    Thanked 10,365 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Quote Originally Posted by Linger View Post
    Well, I guess with vintage pens you do have a valid point: price does not have to equal value.

    However, declaring a lower value than the price received, in this context, which is the assessment of import duties and taxes due, seems to me a clear case of tax evasion (and not tax avoidance).
    Our C&E form doesn't ask for the price received. It asks for item value. Your C&E may be different. OP is buying an item from the UK, so our export rules and his import rules will apply.
    Our C&E doesn't especially care what someone might have paid for something. They just want a general assessment of value as written on the form by the sender. I have personally spoken to our C&E. They advised me that an assessment of value can be the original value, or the wholesale value, or any value that the sender wants to write on there for insurance purposes.
    If the OP said to me will you sell it to me for less than $300 or value it at $300, I would be happier to do the latter than the former.
    As an example let's say I sold a bottle of Parker Penman Sapphire ink for a high price. I can value it at the original price Parker sold it for, or the price I paid for it, or what I sold it for - if I want to insure it for that amount. Any of those could be my legal assessment of value. None of them is tax avoidance or tax evasion.
    Last edited by Chrissy; September 23rd, 2019 at 02:18 AM.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  28. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    Cyril (September 28th, 2021), Mark Dillon (September 23rd, 2019), TFarnon (September 30th, 2021), welch (February 3rd, 2021)

  29. #17
    Senior Member Linger's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    142
    Thanks
    18
    Thanked 104 Times in 66 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Thanks Chrissie, for an extensive answer. I would still argue that the actual price paid is a very good indicator of the real/current/fair/etc. value of the good - in these circumstances. But if your customs officer accepts a lower amount for the assessment of taxes and duties due - go for it. Bytheway, that the declared value also holds validity for the insured value does make a case stonger (or weaker...).

  30. The Following User Says Thank You to Linger For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 23rd, 2019)

  31. #18
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,404
    Thanks
    6,876
    Thanked 10,365 Times in 3,978 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Quote Originally Posted by Linger View Post
    Thanks Chrissie, for an extensive answer. I would still argue that the actual price paid is a very good indicator of the real/current/fair/etc. value of the good - in these circumstances. But if your customs officer accepts a lower amount for the assessment of taxes and duties due - go for it. Bytheway, that the declared value also holds validity for the insured value does make a case stonger (or weaker...).
    Yes, insurance would always be a problem. However, many Japanese ebay sellers don't seem to have problems with buying ink bottles for a few yen, then selling them for a high price and sending them out uninsured.

    My conversation with C&E ended up with him advising me to "go on holiday with a big suitcase and bring it back full of stuff you bought while you were there." I always try to remember his advice.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  32. The Following User Says Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 23rd, 2019)

  33. #19
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    33
    Thanks
    68
    Thanked 19 Times in 9 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    [QUOTE=Chrissy;273732]
    Quote Originally Posted by Linger View Post
    My conversation with C&E ended up with him advising me to "go on holiday with a big suitcase and bring it back full of stuff you bought while you were there." I always try to remember his advice.
    I have a family member who works in the airline industry and she is interested in going to Japan and said to give her a list of pens I want.

    I知 excited and scared at the same time.

  34. #20
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Posts
    10
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: UK to USA: Import or Taxes?

    Don稚 forget that as the pen is export you can ask for the 20% Value Added Tax to be removed by filling in a form so that値l bring the price down to $250.

    Fangfarrier


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  35. The Following User Says Thank You to Fangfarrier For This Useful Post:

    Mark Dillon (September 24th, 2019)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •