the handling co who is responsable for the shipping will contact you, also your seller/supplier must post you all the relative documents, which detail ships name arrival, your contact shipping agent this side etc. As for the vat talk directly to the vat dept.
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Brian Fin

www.businessbx.com

www.courtico.com
on

You should employ the services of someone like Danzas/DHL who can complete the customs clearance procedure for you. You will have to pay the freight cost, duty on the goods (a percentage of their value which varies on different products) and VAT (which is calculated on the value of the goods and all the other charges). You will need a bill of lading or a proforma invoice from your supplier and details of the value of the goods (should be on the proforma) and the type of goods, where they are coming from and where they are being imported into. Your clearance agent can then give you a price to clear the shipment and deliver it to your door. Clem.

What about if the items are coming by air mail?

If your supplier indicates that all charges are to be referred back to him I think you won't have to pay. Otherwise you will probably get a call from the shippers when the package lands in the UK to see who is going to pay any duty or VAT due. I think. Clem.

If your goods are shipped by air mail from abroad, China is a good example as this is what I deal with you will have to pay duty and VAT on top of the product cost and shipping unless the item is valued at under 18GBP then it is exempt. If you ship via EMS service, UPS, DHL then they act as your handling agent and will pay the taxes and invoice you. To get an idea of duty rates take a look on the web. Remember cost of the item plus shipping, then add duty and finally VAT.
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Your Gateway to Asia - Global procurement services.
www.anglosino.co.uk

Hi, I have a very similar enquiry. I am planning on importing different goods, but I have contacted C&E. I have found out the classification code, the VAT & import tax amount. The prices I have been quoted from the supplier are FOB (Free on Board), CFR (Cost and Freight) and CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight). The most appealing would be CIF as it's insured. However I’m uncertain as to weather this is a good idea. Secondly, this gets the item to the Port defined. How do I go about paying the relevant taxes? I have heard I need an agent for this. Being that it is only a small shipment, again I am unsure. This might sound really silly, but can i just turn up at the docks, pay the tax, and pick up the goods? Is it possible to go through clearing myself, rather than use an agent? Thanks in advance! Regards, Dave

Dave, Be careful, be VERY careful. Dependent on the value (and significance) to your business, go for CIF. The insurance is (usually) such an insignificant amount compared to the purchase price that it is not worth worrying about it. As an example we import containers with goods valued at 20k-40k on board and if the ship sinks (unlikely, but it does happen), then that would be a significant loss to our business (both through cash, and the time taken sorting it out, appeasing customers expecting goods etc.). The insurance on that is nothing. Secondly, get an agent. For the amount they usually charge, you are (again relatively) free of the hassle involved with shipping, clearing, haulage etc. Again, as an example, it usually costs us between 2k and 3k for a shipment from the USA INCLUDING; Loading in the US Haulage to the docks in the US Shipping Insurance Clearance in the UK (customs etc.) Haulage to our warehouse The dangers involved in clearing it yourself are time, getting tied up with the C&E / VAT (and if they think ANYTHING is SLIGHTLY dodgy, or paperwork not done they WILL impound the shipment until it's sorted - and when you consider you get on average 7 days free time on the docks from ship docking to container leaving and it then costs you £75 p/day stowage costs - you DO NOT want ANY delays!!!) etc. If you're importing, you'll have to pay the VAT up front and you'll need a TURN number as well as your VAT number. In our opinion, unless you're well versed in what you intend to do and you're certain you can handle it, then employ an agent - they do not cost that much (dependent on the purchase, obviously). Having said all that, make sure you keep your finger on the pulse with the agent because if they "go slow" or delays happen, it's YOUR goods and YOUR money tied up, not theirs! Just our thoughts, but be careful!
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Kind Regards,

Martin @ LTA Leisure Ltd

enquiries@lta-leisure.co.uk

Thanks for the quick reply. Where would i find an agent for a few small parcels?

Ah...... you didn't mention "few small parcels"..... That's not the type of "importing" we deal in, sorry. You sound like you just want the Co. to post them to you (via "surface mail" - i.e. on a ship)?? How many items/weight are we talking about and what sort of cost?
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Kind Regards,

Martin @ LTA Leisure Ltd

enquiries@lta-leisure.co.uk

2-4 parcels ranging in value from CIF Southampton US$149.80 - US$195.75 Around 100 x 35 x 56cm=20 20-40 kg per parcel cheers