Help required on import duty in UK on Flashlight

[Archangel_i]

Hi there,

1st post her, new to the community, previously had 3 maglite... Then wa enlightened ( bought a leatherman wave and now getting int the flashlight addcition ).
I am ordering a LT1 & a LD1 from Fenix store ( getting a CPF discount ). I live in mauritius and here the import duty & VAt amount to 45%. I am thinking of sending it to UK at a friends place. he 's coming to MRU next month. Question :is there any duty in the UK, and if yes how much??
Are there any other way to do it ( transiting in another country with the lowest import duty ? )
Can 7777 put another description on the package to bypass the custom duty on flashlight in MRU( microlight ; sample accessory in laser microscope, marine biology technology, handle with care)

Any ideas

Thks a lot

 

[Inova his head]

Hi,

Tax in the UK tends to be around 20% but can vary a fair amount. I've no experience of the tax policies of other countires but I'd guess that most governments will have a similar set-up.

As for declaring the package as something different, it is technically possible by declaring the value as below the tax threshold ($40 rings a bell) but that complicates postal insurance (you can't declare it's worth $40 then claim $100 on the insurance) and perhaps more to the point it's illegal. I doubt an email saying 'Hi, fancy comitting tax fraud to save me a few bucks?' would go down that well.

I guess basically if you want to wait a while for the sake of a few bucks the tax in the UK is substantially less than 45%, but I wouldn't say it's worth the bother. I recommend you just pay up and have fun with your torches!

Tom

 

[Jay R]

I'm in the UK and have spent thousands on light and remote control stuff delivered from the USD, China, Hong Kong, etc. I have never been asked to pay import duty on anything.
Most shippers put a declared value of 20 to 30 dollars no matter how much it's worth.

 

[Niconical]

I wouldn't suggest asking Four-Sevens to lie on the customs form.

The answer will be no, as it quite rightly should be.

Fenix-store does however offer shipping included on orders over $20, so what you could do is to split your order to make each declared value a lower amount, but whether that amount will trigger customs interest in the destination country is something you would have to decide for yourself.

 

[DM51]

The evasion of import duties or other taxes is not a suitable matter for discussion here. Thread closed.