Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 30th December 2020 at 23:07.
OK, here's a tangential question since we're discussing customs declarations on secondhand goods: what happens if someone has bought say, a Sinn or a Steinhart and sends it back for repair or service? How do you make sure that when it comes back it has the proper declaration? And what should that declaration even be, for something you already own? Or similarly if you want to send a vintage piece to a specialist watchmaker in the EU? I'd imagine that's different again.
AFAIK if customs intercept something with a missing or incorrect declaration, they can apply any estimated value to the goods they see fit. So you could conceivably end up having to pay VAT repeatedly on the same item if you have to send it overseas several times for any reason.
^ There is a specific ‘temporary export’ form that covers those situations. ( assuming it’s now valid for the EU zone)
Cheers..
Jase
The issue of value discrepancy between the carrier and any seconday insurer is a really interesting one, especially as we nowmust affix a customs declarations for all goods going to the EC.
As Ryan suggests, the seconday insurer wants the declared value to be minimised as a higher declared value creates more temptation to steal from the carrier's depot.
Especially if the insurance is "invisible" to the carrier (like Secursus, which is just bought afterwards, and not labelled on the package).
To the point where the secondary cover is invalid if the value esceeds a threshold?
But the (now compulsory) customs declaration requires the value to be accurate.
So it is perfectly possible that a tracked and signed for courier method that is usually reserved for carrying items under, say, £100 value is used, validly, for higher value items like watches.
As the item is worth many multiples of the service's intended compensation limit, it is insured with a third party.
This previously would have gone unnoticed within the EC, with no customs declaration, and any thieves in the sorting offices had no idea what they were handling.
Now though, it cannot go anywhere without the form attached, so the scale of the temptation is there for all to see, which is bound to lead to more theft, as well as unwelcome charges.
I just sent a watch to Ireland, doing exactly this, feeling very queasy about it.
I hope it gets there.
It may be that if I did the same next week, the buyer would also have to pay VAT on arrival, based on the same customs declaration..........
Dave
Is this the process you mean? https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to...cess-or-repair
That sounds complex. Also the phrase "reduce your duty payments" sounds ominous.
Indeed, IIRC ParcelPro actually requires as one of their terms of insurance that you do not declare the full value of the watch or say what it is anywhere on the packaging. So this raises the problem that if you comply with their terms you are breaking the law, but if you don't comply with their terms you are not insured. That seems like a problem they will need to resolve themselves, or there would be no point in using their service.
Usually US State sales tax is only applicable for in state purchase (or used to be). So mail order should be exempt. Hence why you often see the words .... Cal residents add 8% or whatever.
When I lived in Connecticut and worked in NYC I would buy in store and pay for home delivery as it saved on the sales tax.
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Definitely makes sending watches for service via a UK AD a more attractive option than it already was.
Another thing - I imagine that the habit of taking multiple watches on holidays within the EU will be reassessed to mitigate any potential risk.
As long as you don't plan to take mint watches with boxes, tags and everything, I doubt it could be an issue. I'm certain the truly well-off folks that travel (yacht, private jet) with their precious wrist ornaments in tow are not being assessed for duty every time they cross a border.
Those days are long gone:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...-sales-n873416
Last edited by Dan83bz; 31st December 2020 at 11:20.
Gov. states this:
------------------------------ (which is surely in line with the brexit deal now agreed?)
VAT
You pay VAT on goods sent from non-European Union (EU) countries and EU special territories (eg the Canary Islands) if they’re:
gifts worth more than £39
other goods worth more than £15
alcohol, tobacco products and fragrances (eg perfume, eau de toilette and cologne) of any value
You have to pay VAT on all goods sent by mail order from the Channel Islands no matter what their value.
You’ll be charged at the VAT rate that applies to your goods. VAT is charged on the total value, including:
the price paid for the goods
postage, packaging and insurance
any duty you owe
Customs Duty
You’ll be charged Customs Duty on gifts and other goods sent from outside the EU if they’re above a certain value.
The value includes:
the price paid for the goods
postage, packaging and insurance
Type and value of goods Customs Duty
Anything under £135 No charge
Gifts worth £135-£630 2.5%, but rates are lower for some goods - call the helpline
Gifts above £630 and other goods above £135 The rate depends on the type of goods and where they came from - call the helpline
Cheers..
Jase
There was always VAT on EU purchases if buying new, but not double - i.e. if buying a NEW watch from EU, it will be sold to you sans VAT, and you will pay VAT when it enters the UK. If however you are buying a used item from a private seller (eBay, forums etc.), said seller would have already paid VAT once when bought himself, but he cannot claim back the VAT once he exports it out of the EU, at least I see no easy provisions for that being laid out, meaning that once you would buy a used watch, you would have to pay VAT on its purchase price.
John, have you noticed any retailers now stating they can’t deliver to Northern Ireland? Could be a coincidence and item specific but I’m sure it seems like more items on Amazon aren’t deliverable here now and I’ve also noticed a couple of watches today on the Goldsmiths website that can’t be delivered. Perhaps that’s due to Tier restrictions and actual location of the watches in question though.
As a citizen of the Republic of Ireland it now makes no sense to buy from the UK. I am doing all my online shopping on EU based websites now. On the plus side, it has forced me out of my anglophone bubble and I am taking French refresher classes
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