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Scarlet Package Import Duty and VAT

Tim Hole

Tim Hole

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The Import Duty and the VAT shipping into the UK is starting to worry me a little. I have a finite amount of money to spend on Scarlet and a new workstation but it seems to me that the one thing that is going to cost is the small LCD screen which would be 14% Duty. The camera would be probably 6%. If it is a package do people reckon it would be classed as one item? Or could we separate the items.

With Duty at 14% and the VAT at 17.5% that means I am paying 1/3 of the cameras price to get it into the country. I know some other countries are worse still on import but can anything be done? I know RED haven't stated as yet if it will all be straight from base or whether they are allowing companies to stock the camera - that would then be worse because of mark up from the intermediary company...
 
My plan (if possible) is to fly over to LA or Vegas when my order is ready and pick it up there.... unbox it, shoot some footage and carry it back through customs as my camera, in hand luggage.

I'll put the boxing, invoice/receipt etc in my luggage. I've done it a few times.... not 100% legal I guess, but so be it.
 
Tim,
I had the same worry, as I am looking at the S35 Scarlet package. So I got in touch with HMRC and spoke to them. They told me that all I would have to pay would be the 17.5% VAT as the duty is included in that! - That's what HRMC told me!

It would be nice for RED UK to have the cameras and accessories and for us to get the stuff from there - bit like the RED Rocket!

Hope that's a viable option.

Regards

Steve
 
Steve Johnson said:
Tim,
I had the same worry, as I am looking at the S35 Scarlet package. So I got in touch with HMRC and spoke to them. They told me that all I would have to pay would be the 17.5% VAT as the duty is included in that! - That's what HRMC told me!

It would be nice for RED UK to have the cameras and accessories and for us to get the stuff from there - bit like the RED Rocket™™™!

Hope that's a viable option.

Regards

Steve
Click to expand...

Note RED UK has to pay duty and VAT like us, so it may well not be any cheaper (although less hassle, and the percentage duty will vary from item to item). Last time Alan Piper talked about this he said that RED does have to pay some duty as well as VAT on some imported RED kit.

Also note - the RED LCD can ONLY be used with RED cameras - it is not a general purpose LCD. This makes it a RED camera accessory, so should attract a lower duty. Search up on the many previous customs duty threads on RED imports!
 
Thanks for the replies. I have been looking at previous red posts and seen that people have managed to get away with importing it as a Digital Camera intead of a camcorder (which indeed it is).

It does make sense for the LCD to be included as part of the 'camera' so to speak, rather than a separate entity. I will give them a call and see if they say as much to me.

Will let you know what they say to me. Compare operators ;)
 
I've got the same worries, all in all I'll be paying 37% extra for the camere plus overseas shipping and a rising dollar value. The 'go to USA' part is beginning to sound like a better and better idea.
 
Think customs might wise up after ten thousand people wander through McCurran airport in the same week! ;0
 
Sales tax

Sales tax

If you plan on flying there I suppose we have to add the U.S sales tax of the state you receive the camera. Or California sales taxes.... isn't like this it works in U.S?
 
I know the Search feature doesn't work very well, but.... I'll say it all again...

Here is a brief summary (for the UK):
- YOU don't get to choose how the goods are classified.
- RED has a legal obligation to ACCURATELY specify on the shipping manifest what TARIC codes (or the US equivalent) the goods match.
- the rate of DUTY for the Red camera bodies is 0%
- the rate of DUTY for the accessories varies
- if various items are packaged and shipped TOGETHER, then HMRC will allow them ALL to be rated at the rate of the MAIN item. This will normally be the camera body.
--> Summary: get your body and accessories shipped together and pay 0% DUTY

VAT will be charged at 17.5% on top of everything else paid (purchase price + shipping price + any duty)

If you are self employed or using the camera as part of a business, then why not register for VAT?
Then you can get the VAT returned to you.
If you realise after a few months that your level of income is below the required level, then you can de-register for VAT.

If you are just buying it for a hobby, then too bad :-)
 
Antony M said:
I know the Search feature doesn't work very well, but.... I'll say it all again...

Here is a brief summary (for the UK):
- YOU don't get to choose how the goods are classified.
- RED has a legal obligation to ACCURATELY specify on the shipping manifest what TARIC codes (or the US equivalent) the goods match.
- the rate of DUTY for the Red camera bodies is 0%
- the rate of DUTY for the accessories varies
- if various items are packaged and shipped TOGETHER, then HMRC will allow them ALL to be rated at the rate of the MAIN item. This will normally be the camera body.
--> Summary: get your body and accessories shipped together and pay 0% DUTY

VAT will be charged at 17.5% on top of everything else paid (purchase price + shipping price + any duty)

If you are self employed or using the camera as part of a business, then why not register for VAT?
Then you can get the VAT returned to you.
If you realise after a few months that your level of income is below the required level, then you can de-register for VAT.

If you are just buying it for a hobby, then too bad :-)
Click to expand...

Easy Tiger... ;)

Ha...sorry if I made you feel like you were repeating yourself but I asked a specific question which you kindly answered for me - relating to whether the kit (the LCD) would bring up the overall duty amount. Not just a generic question about duty, which I did find the thread beforehand. maybe I should have resurrected that...but I don't like resurrecting threads...not too up on the politics of it to be honest.

Thanks for your response buddy. I can take a quiet sigh of relief now.
 
17% ? You guys are so lucky. In Brazil we have to pay 110% of taxes.
Can you believe that ? Its cheaper for me to fly to the US and try to bring my future Scarlet FF35 hidden in my luggage. Not legal at all but what a poor soul can do ?
 
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