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Tom Fenton Inner circle Leeds, UK (but I'm Scottish) 1477 Posts |
I'm not sure if this post belongs here or not. It is an ethical question though.
I live in England and I have recently bought form RNT2, I did this as they produce excellent products, have excellent after-sales service and the company came very highly recommended by members of the Café. Before I received my purchase I had to pay VAT (Value Added Tax) to the government. I did not buy the product in the UK, it was not made in the UK so it rankled a bit. I wish to buy some more from RNT2 and as I am going to the USA early next year I was thinking of getting any new purchases mailed to my holiday address to save paying 17.5% extra in tax plus a handling charge by Parcel Force. an offshoot of the UK's postal system. Would any of you consider this unethical behaviour? I would value an opinion, Tom
"But there isn't a door"
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stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
Quote:
No. Jeff |
kannon Inner circle BCN 1025 Posts |
VAT: I'd love to avoid it as well and sodding hating pay taxes ... but taxes fund a lot of what we in the UK take for granted...but we pay a lot of them, so the odd VAT avoidance
Handling Charge: Thieving ***s.
My work and the Mtangulizi here http://kannonsworks.weebly.com featuring work on drawing duplications, a fiddle-free billet tear, bar mentalism, pendulums
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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Not, as long as you propoerly declare the goods once returning to UK
Cards never lie
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stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
Andy is right. Most countries allow a certain dollar amount of goods to be brought in undeclared. For the UK, a quick internet search brings up the following:
"When travelling from a non-EU country (including the Canary Islands, the Channel islands and Gibraltar) you can bring the following into the UK for your own use without paying UK tax or duty: [snip] * £145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs." Beyond the £145, you must pay the VAT. I personally might question the ethically legitimacy of the VAT, but the Magic Café is not the appropriate place to do that. So buy your stuff in the U.S. Just don't bring back more than £145 worth of stuff and you'll be beyond accusation. Jeff |
Drew Manning Special user Dallas, Texas 913 Posts |
While I don't advocate circumventing taxes, I think that the gov't isn't always ethical in the way they tax citzens. I realize two wrongs etc, but you shouldn't be penalized because no one in your own country cn supply you the goods you want/need.
I live my life for a layer of ice
Just like those poured by my bartender vice Any taste of vermouth would be really sublime, When you have a good martini time! -The Reverend Horton Heat |
eddieloughran Special user 942 Posts |
I don't know much about importing goods;
but, if you have found a loophole it's not unethical to use such a loophole. If you send the goods to, say, Spain, would you not be lible to Spanish VAT, and in any case when you do bring the goods into Britain you will still have to show invoices and may be liable for British VAT. Maybe paying VAT twice. Also, moving the goods in this way may raise the suspicion that you are trying to avoid tax and land you in even more trouble. H.M. customs are not daft; if such a loophole existed once I'm sure it would have been closed long ago. You really need proper advice. One answer would be to register yourself for VAT and then you can offset the VAT you pay against your income, it is a lot of paperwork though and probably not worth it. |
Tom Fenton Inner circle Leeds, UK (but I'm Scottish) 1477 Posts |
It's not a loophole really, I order them and pick them up in the US. When I come home and go through customs, depending on the value of the cups, I can go through the green "nothing to declare" channel therefore paying no tax if the cups are under 145 pounds.
If I get them posted to my home I have to pay tax even if they are under 145 pounds. As I am going to the US next year I might as well take advantage of this to save some money. The reason I posted this was I really do not want to be seen as "underhanded" in any way. I suppose I could have just never mentioned this to anyone but there are some on the Café whos opinions I value greatly and I wondered what the thinking was amongst other Café users. Thanks for the replies, Tom
"But there isn't a door"
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