European import taxes.

[bubinga5]

If i were to trade for a bass in the EU what am i looking at paying etc etc. Is it a massive amount. ? Not sure what the deal is.  Thanks

[Doctor J]

It'll be about 25% of the declared values, including shipping costs.

[bubinga5]

This might sound stupid but what if you declare the value of the bass as less than its worth.?

[Downunderwonder]

Assume you are in UK and thinking of importing from EU?

 

  On 04/11/2021 at 18:01, bubinga5 said:

This might sound stupid but what if you declare the value of the bass as less than its worth.?

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You can have it confiscated.

[fretmeister]

  On 04/11/2021 at 18:03, Downunderwonder said:

Assume you are in UK and thinking of importing from EU?

 

You can have it confiscated.

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And destroyed!

[Downunderwonder]

You pay VAT on the sum of the bass and the value of the shipping. You pay a flat fee for customs clearance.

 

The 25% is for an average bass coming from an average EU place. An expensive bass from Calais will cost same as a cheaper bass from Estonia by the time you get it.

[Reggaebass]

If your trading and not parting with any money, so basically swapping, you wouldn’t pay anything would you?

[bubinga5]

Yes just a straight trade and im in the UK.

[Downunderwonder]

  On 04/11/2021 at 18:09, Reggaebass said:

If your trading and not parting with any money, so basically swapping, you wouldn’t pay anything would you?

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You would think that, but you'd be wrong.

[BlueMoon]

  On 04/11/2021 at 18:01, bubinga5 said:

This might sound stupid but what if you declare the value of the bass as less than its worth.?

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Sounds like a good idea until they check at customs or you have a claim against the courier if lost or damaged. It quickly ends in an expensive potential short-cut. Customs are switched on to most prices and will over-estimate in cases of doubt and levy a fine for trying to declare value below their estimate.

 

For 2nd hand gear, it's about 25% on top of the price paid locally to import.

[bubinga5]

I wonder if its cheaper to trade from the US.?

[ped]

  On 05/11/2021 at 20:57, bubinga5 said:

I wonder if its cheaper to trade from the US.?

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Same. 
 

I’d go and meet up. Take a full gig bag and return with one too. Maybe combine it with a couple of fights abroad 

[Reggaebass]

That’s what I was thinking, you could get a cheap flight to the EU with your bass and return with a different bass in the case 

[Downunderwonder]

When I flew to Japan with my bass they put a sticker on it ''Examined by Customs''. It was a cheap P impression.

 

On return I went to peel off the sticker and it was utterly unpeelable despite appearing to be the cheap temporary kind.

 

Careful as ye go. 

[bubinga5]

Does anyone know he equivalent % to import from the USA.? Is it any cheaper.? cheers.

[Downunderwonder]

  On 06/11/2021 at 06:56, bubinga5 said:

Does anyone know he equivalent % to import from the USA.? Is it any cheaper.? cheers.

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The equation is:

 

(Cost of bass + cost of shipping)× ( 1 plus local sales tax) + customs clearance fee.

 

The variables are shipping fee and clearance fee.

[BlueMoon]

This ^^^^^^^^^^^

 

And watch for spurious "administration cost" which courriers sometimes add if they act as go between.

[Woodinblack]

  On 04/11/2021 at 18:03, Downunderwonder said:

Assume you are in UK and thinking of importing from EU?

 

You can have it confiscated.

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And then if it doesn't get confiscated, but gets lost in the post you can only claim up to the value you said it was worth.

[BlueMoon]

  On 06/11/2021 at 11:01, Woodinblack said:

And then if it doesn't get confiscated, but gets lost in the post you can only claim up to the value you said it was worth.

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And good luck with that!!!