Importing bike bits from China - VAT?

[Snorty]

If I'm importing sonmething from China with a value of around £250, I believe I am due to pay 20% + handling fee from Royal Mail.

How would customs even know the value of the items I'm importing? I don't want to be stung for ludicrous customs charges as this is supposed to work out cheaper.
____________________
Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[Fisty]

The seller puts a customs declaration on the parcel with the value of the contents. Our customs pick this up then rape your wallet.
____________________
Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[Dave_R]

There's VAT, duty and a handling fee to be paid.

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

The value and contents should be declared by the exporter, usually by means of a little declaration document stuck to the outside of the packaging.

However, there is a small chance that customs will miss the package which means you won't get a bill.

The exporters can also under value the item, for example, $250 worth of parts valued at $20, therefore no tax, duty or handling fees. Naughty, but from experience the stuff I buy from the Far East is regularly undervalued, not by my doing mind.

[mudcow007]

will the classic "sample" not suffice?

to avoid duty etc?

[Atomic Punk]

Or Gift
____________________
I may have lost my way but I'm way ahead of schedule.

[Dave_R]

Gifts valued at less than £35 are free of VAT, anything under £135 is free of Duty anyway.

[Rogerborg]

You won't know how deep that HMRC and Parcel Farce / Royal Fail are going to spit-roast you until the bill arrives.

The only thing I'll suggest is that if the declared value is £15 or below, it should be nothing. However, you can't know for sure what the seller is actually going to declare, regardless of what they assure you before they have your money.

Best of luck.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Snorty]

As long as it doesn't go above the value that I actually paid and believe the items are worth, I am not bothered, expecting to pay around £60-70 on top of it.

£0 would be an ideal amount, mind.
____________________
Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[a3316534]

[Snorty]

Did I read correctly that they can charge VAT on the actual shipping amount as well?

Item is £200 + £50 P&P.
____________________
Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[Fisty]

[lihp]

https://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/saved_calculations/view_details/190023587/

This suggests that the landing cost will be £311
____________________
covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

[Rogerborg]