Importing stuff from South Africa...........Anyone done it??

[exrm193]

I've just ordered a rally fairing and instrument tower from South Africa.
They are sending it to Luton airport, for me to clear through customs????

I've never done that before, any know what it involves??

Thanks

[steve the grease]

Is it new or second hand?. Import duty on 2h motorcycle parts is 1/2%
How it works is this (IIRC)
there is the item call it I
there is the carriage call it C
Import duty is paid on I+C lets call it D
on a second hand item the duty is next to nothing.
Then vat is charged on I+C+D=V
you then have to pay D+V Plus a usually a handling charge H from the carrier could be 10-25 notes for dropping it off at customs plus the admin sorting out the payment. and then re collecting it and delivering it. After you have paid C+D +V +H to them you get your package.
inmy example lets assume the package is £100 and the carriage is £20 100+20 = 120 duty at 1/2%= 60p
vat on £120.60= £24.03
24.03 +60p= 24.63 + 25 notes handling = about 50 quid.
dont know what duty is on new stuff
Thats about it . Give customs a ring , they are very helpful.

[steve the grease]

Just an update on the importing thing.
I've just had a parcel from Aus off Ebay - £30 for the item and £30 for the post.
I have to pay £11.36 at the post office.
That it would seem is made up of an £8.00 fee from the Post office for collecting what is due and forwarding it to our wonderful Government. (HMRC) The rest then, £3.36 is what is due . I checked up and there is no excise on items less than £150 ( item and carriage) so it's just the VAT then. Not sure how they get to £3.36 , but I'm happy with that.
The moral of the story is Importing is not too much hassle ..... Go for it!

Respect to Aus Post office too less than a week Aus > GB , faster than some UK Ebayers!