If I buy from amazon Canada...

If I recall correctly you will have to pay import duty plus VAT on anything valued over a minimum figure (I think it's either £15 or £20 but check on the UK amazon site) plus Royal Mail will charge you a fee for clearing your item through customs.

Just had a quick check and when buying from US suppliers duty is payable on goods valued £18 or over. Import duty is payable at 5% but then VAT is also payable (20%) on the value of the goods plus duty. In addition the Royal Mail charge a fee of £8.00 as they have to pay the duty/VAT charges to clear the goods. 

They also add the shipping costs so it's quite possible you may have to pay more in costs than you originally paid for your item. I've been there and it's bloody frustrating, especially when you've bought abroad because it wasn't available here. In my case the original item was 30 dollars and I ended up paying an extra 100 dollars in various charges. I was bealing.

I raised this here several years ago and got a fair slagging for even daring to suggest it was unfair.

They actually lowered the limit last year to £15 for being charged VAT on the product. It doesn't matter if it is used or new.

This includes postage and you could be 1p over the limit and legally get charged VAT with no comeback. It all depends on the exchange rate they use on the day.

You don't pay Duty unless the product is valued at over £135 and the duty is waived if it is less than £9. The limit for gifts is £36 but the Customs declaration must be completed correctly (marked as a gift) but in my experience they slap on the VAT and then they expect you to claim it back which most people do not do. Also even if they mark it as a gift and it is below £36 if they put a business address anywhere on the outside or rear of the parcel you will be charged VAT. Gifts have to come from a private address.

My advice is to ask the seller if they will kindly declare a lower value on the Customs Dec which in my experience must will do as the market for cd's is being squashed over there.

To calculate exchange rates I always use Xe.com.

One last thing there has been a rise on ebay of sites in the US where you now pay your import charges upfront before the product is sent from there. These charges tend to be higher because of their handling fees and also it means that the seller forwards the product on to a holding facility who then forward it to you which obviously means it takes longer in some cases to arrive.

Thanks all, that's really helpful.  

The Dylan box set on vinyl is £75 cheaper in Canada but given risk of damage, complexity of charges looks like ill have to "suck up"  the UK costs - £200!

Appreciate your help

Gary

Also, bear in mind it matters not a jot if it's declared as a gift, or that the value is declared as well below the real value. If customs choose to do so they can assign their own value.

There are no guarantees with HMRC.

It's a complex old subject...... Found the box set at pop market for a good price but........ It looks like its from the UK but its shipped from USA - doh!

Gary

If you buy from Pop Market be careful they only manage to fulfill about 50% of their orders and their customer service well lets say sometimes  leaves a lot to b desired.

They are bad for listing product they do not have in stock and then you can wait months and I mean months only to find out you are never going to get it.

You can if you order from them choose to pay for the import taxes during check out.