Strietman CT2 VAT/import duties to UK?

Jacquesburg

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anyone in the UK had ordered a Strietman CT2 and could potentually give insight into whether you had to pay any import duties or VAT when it arrived in the UK?

Not sure if anyone may know in general what the rule is with importing products after brexit in terms of VAT or would this be included in the purchase?

Thanks!

tompoland

Jacquesburg whatever you pay, it’s worth it.

Cuprajake

This was my invoice for my handles

20% plus something from the delivery agent.

Jacquesburg

Cuprajake thanks for that, I suspect I’ll get hit with 20% on the machine too then!

DavecUK

Cuprajake I can see the VAT n all was a sore point🤣

LMSC

Cuprajake So, the VAT is on the total charge. I was under the impression they will charge VAT for the differential in excess of £135.

Jacquesburg

Cuprajake did these handles come from within or outside the EU? Not sure if it makes a difference or not though

Gagaryn

LMSC The £135 limit only determines who collects the VAT. Over £135 and it is collected at import. But any retailer outside the UK who wants to sell items under £135 directly to customers in the UK now needs to register with UK HMRC and collect VAT on their behalf at the time of sale. As you might imagine many retailers cannot be bothered so simply no longer sell low value directly to UK customers.

I’ve had mixed experiences with these new regulations, both importing and exporting. Exporting now needs more paperwork completing but once you know what is required becomes tolerably annoying. The import situation has worked in my favour a few times in the last year where parcels well over £135 were sent to me here in the UK, all had the correct paperwork and declarations but were delivered without any duties or taxes being charged. It’s a hot mess!

Cuprajake

No looks like it’s not. The biggest pisser is they also charge it on the shipping.

So the handles could of been £10 and shipping £140 and you would pay 20% of £150, even though shipping is paid at point of origin.

Had this all the time with ice hockey goalie equipment

It’s a right con.

Cuprajake

Italy

Cuprajake

And as per our government the guidelines are as clear as mud.

Jacquesburg

tompoland that’s what I’ve figured! Everyone who owns one seems to love it so can’t go wrong with that!

dfk41

Jacquesburg Playing devils Advocate, how many people spend a lot of money on high end kit, then do not love it? I have to confess that I am not really up to speed on all of these ‘modern’ machines but, and I am going to have a look at them now, understand what makes it such a great machine!

Jacquesburg

dfk41 I suppose it’s just a risk I’m going to have to take! But in my calculated estimation I don’t suspect I will regret a beautiful, manual lever machine that I can enjoy pulling shots from for many years :)

Cuprajake

i suppose you get to a stage where they all make great coffee and a blind taste test wouldn’t tell you which is which, it then comes down to personal preference, ascetics etc, cost

LMSC

Gagaryn Thanks for clarifying. I had thought £135 is the free limit.

Going forward, I don’t see most of the overseas retails registering for paper work in the UK except possibly those who have been doing it already.

I think the best way forward is simplify the process and charge VAT at the point of import. But, we won’t as we will always have to complicate everything…NHS, Brexit, net zero, and so on!

Gagaryn

LMSC There is no free limit. There used to be a threshold below which VAT liability was ignored - think it was around £15.

The new rules came into force on 1 Jan 2021 so foreign businesses have already adapted, either by registering with HMRC or by stopping UK sales.

Worth noting that this now applies to the world and not just EU. For example, Ali Express in China now add UK VAT to small purchases during checkout.

I tried to make a <£135 purchase from a small US firm and they declined as they understandably aren’t interested in increasing their red tape. They were happy to sell to me as long as I increased the order to over £135 so that they didn’t assume VAT collection responsibilities.

MediumRoastSteam

Gagaryn They were happy to sell to me as long as I increased the order to over £135 so that they didn’t assume VAT collection responsibilities.

And I think this is the stunt many European business are adopting with the UK: It is all very well buying over £135 - a coffee machine, a grinder. But the spares market - as seen in this forum a member’s experience in trying to simply order a new OPV worth worth approx. £30 for the Elizabeth from Italy. They simply politely declined the sale, understandably.