OT: VAT on imports

It's a minefield & it all depends on what you are importing? Toys are VAT free etc, so are 'gifts'

Minefield!

free etc, so are 'gifts'

I thought if you bought something here for export immediately then you didn't pay v.a.t, if so then you probably wouldn't pay it in Germany, just import/vat when you brought it in. BICBVW

Martin

Imports mate, keep up at the back!!!

No, he's quite right, it works both ways.

When you buy something in the EC, a Disco in my case, which you wish to import to this country, the purchase does not include tax in that country, but the VAT man will certainly expect his full whack as soon as you import it. You have to way up the purchase cost plus transport cost plus VAT. I saved about £6000 but the difference isn't as much now.

Bill

Never mind the rivets, get on with that sig change! ;-)

Martin

On Fri, 3 Nov 2006 17:42:13 +0000, Austin Shackles wrote (in article ):

If you are not registered for VAT and the vendor is based in the EU, you pay the VAT on the purchase at the prevailing rate in the vendor's country.

If you are registered for VAT and the bought item is a business supply on which you would reclaim the VAT in the UK, you should be able to give the vendor your VAT number and they will sell you the product at the pre-VAT price. If they don't, you can claim back the VAT at the rate at which you have been charged it through your normal UK VAT return. Since about three years ago, you have to fill in an extra form every time you do a return which gives details of transactions done with companies in other EU countries and (in theory at least) the money eventually ends up going back to the country in which the vendor is located.

However, the VAT rules on cars and vans are significantly more complex than for most other products. You cannot reclaim the VAT on the purchase price of a vehicle unless it is used wholly and exclusively in the course of a business - if there is any personal use of the vehicle at all then the VAT cannot be reclaimed even if you are VAT registered. Running costs, repairs etc. are either treated in the same way as normal purchases and then you pay the monthly 'scale charge' or you can apportion them according to the personal business milage you do, but be prepared to show credible records of your milage if you do this.

It's a PIA!

Nick.

I'm no VAT expert but it's my understanding that you will pay the German rate, though frankly the 1.5% difference is not going to make you rich. What you can't legally do is avoid both German and UK VAT.

Greg

On or around Fri, 3 Nov 2006 21:02:05 +0000, Nick Williams enlightened us thusly:

See? AFL, along with the shedde, is the fount of all knowledge.

OK, ta. That answers the main question

sounds it.

On or around Fri, 3 Nov 2006 23:45:36 -0000, "Greg" enlightened us thusly:

bummer...

actually, I've no desire to tangle with HMC&E, they make the Spanish Inquisition look like a nun's picnic. The only thing I wanted to avoid was paying 2 lots of VAT.

The things I'm after are neither toys, cars nor gifts, and as such it looks like I just pay the German VAT on them and end of story, and since I'm not registered I don't have to arse around trying to claim it back.

Austin Shackles uttered summat worrerz funny about:

Saussages ?

;-)

Let me help you out, I know some German, ahem....

"Varee ar zee papers" and "Vot is ure name"

Might come in useful you never know, if they dont work immediately shouting them louder seems to be the norm :-)

Lee D

|| Let me help you out, I know some German, ahem.... || || "Varee ar zee papers" and "Vot is ure name"

Anyone recognise:

"Sign ze peppers, Olt Man!" Cigarette noise. Ah, you vill not sign ze peppers? Zen try zis!" Pssssssssssssssssst. "He stuck it in his eye man."