UK Import Duty

Hi, has anyone here have to pay import duty on model kits? I've never had to pay any before - even for some really expensive kits like the Gundam Perfect Grade, but it looks like customs stopped one of my 1/12 DOYUSHA kit for duty.

How much is the duty for kits imported into UK?

And why the inconsistency? It's the first ever time, and I had many imports (from Japan) now.

We have the same problem here in Portugal...

Almost everything that comes outside of the european union, has to pay taxes at the import duty.
In my 2 experiences with situations like that, i´ve paid 25/30% over the final price of the kit plus the value of shipping.

That sucks...

if i recall correctly, they will charge anything over £18.
and it's not really inconsistant; it all depends on how the other side labels the package.
With HLJ who label everything correctly showing the correct costs of items, anything over £18 will get stopped and charged; at least they have with mine but that might be because of my past bi-weekly deliveries from overseas.

Just for the record, some sellers will offer to mislabel the package to save you the import duty, but if it gets pulled it's you who's liable for the fine.

It's not just import duty you have to worry about. When one of my recent parcels was processed by Customs I had to pay Import Duty, VAT, a handling charge and some other charge as well.

The parcel (an MFH kit from Hobby Search) including P & P was £141.54, I was charged £1 by my bank for an overseas transaction and I was charged £48.04 by Customs and Parcel Force. So I received one kit from Japan (I'm in the UK) that cost me £190.58 whereas I could have bought it from Hiroboy in the UK for £165 maximum including P & P.

So, the message here kids is that it's not always cheaper to buy stuff from abroad even if the price of goods is less.

I had my S27 Williams FW14B stopped by the customs for duty.It came from HLJ.I ended up paying about £34 to Parcelforce to cover import taxes and duties.It still worked out cheaper than buying in the UK but only just.

I've shipped quite a bit of stuff into the UK from all over the world in the past few years, including 1/12th kits, radio controlled kits, and multiple 1/20th & 1/24th purchases. The only times I've been hit for import duty was when I've had stuff come EMS (trackable mail) from HLJ, who on certain occasions will only use this method of shipping when an item, such as a large r/c kit, has high value.
So to avoid the problem, get stuff sent SAL (surface mail?) - it may take a few days longer but, more often than not, customs don't bother with it.

Hi guys, I'm sorry to bring up this old thread but I thought this was the best place to ask and get more up to date answers.

I've just placed my first order with HLJ (3 kits + 2 accessories = £60-ish), awaiting them to process the order, and I read from their FAQ that I might be charged for import duty. After reading several other threads on this subject (all fairly old threads), I'm getting nervous about being charged huge amounts.
I've mainly been ordering from within the UK and one time, a 1/10th RC kit from Hong Kong but I haven't had to pay anything other than product + shipping. I've opted for SAL shipping from HLJ so would that help me avoid any extra taxes, even though it's above £18? Are there any additional steps I need to take or can I just sit and wait for my delivery?

Many thanks, guys.

Hi guys, I'm sorry to bring up this old thread but I thought this was the best place to ask and get more up to date answers.

I've just placed my first order with HLJ (3 kits + 2 accessories = £60-ish), awaiting them to process the order, and I read from their FAQ that I might be charged for import duty. After reading several other threads on this subject (all fairly old threads), I'm getting nervous about being charged huge amounts.
I've mainly been ordering from within the UK and one time, a 1/10th RC kit from Hong Kong but I haven't had to pay anything other than product + shipping. I've opted for SAL shipping from HLJ so would that help me avoid any extra taxes, even though it's above £18? Are there any additional steps I need to take or can I just sit and wait for my delivery?

Many thanks, guys.

You can't do much about it now.
HLJ will not send them labeled as gift, so your only hope is that it slips through without you having to pay anything. But there are slim chances. From my experience since the financial crisis deepened the customs are trying to make people pay taxes even for packages labeled as gift. Unless it is really a gift, you might have to prove it, the only way around it is to ask the sender to declare a value under 20€ (around here).

Next time order from Rainbow Ten, they do label all packages as gift and declare them at a low price, however you should ask them NOT to include the invoice in the package for the case the customs decide to open it.

I imported stuff until a few years ago and then gave up. Never used to get charged for anything then all of a sudden I was charged for every parcel I received. I got the impression my address was getting flagged up each time - the monkeys!:shakehead

Ever since the 'Credit Crunch' came about in the UK and coupled with the fact that Royal Mail are in serious debt, they are being super vigilant regarding overseas parcels. I used to purchase big orders with HLJ and they almost always seemed to 'slip the net'. Nowadays, I always have a customs charge, for example, the Fujimi F248 I was caught for that and it was only one kit. You may get lucky though.

import duty belongs to customs and excise. It has little to do with royal mail being in debt.
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import duty belongs to customs and excise. It has little to do with royal mail being in debt.
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Yep, you're right it has all to do with the UK being in debt! ;)

Thanks for your feedback guys.
It seems now more than likely, I'll get "caught" especially considering the size of my order :frown:...if even your one kit, exhaust smoke, gets customs charge. I'm also kinda hoping it won't be delivered by Royal Mail, since I read about how one member had their kits stolen by the postie! If I get charged, do I have to go down to the sorting office to pay? Sorry, I'm totally new to this.
What's also confusing is my order status is now back-ordered but when I placed my order, they were all in stock. You'd think if they were in stock when you order them, you should have that quantity reserved for you.
On a plus side, despite Hiroboy saying orders will be processed after the 15th, I'll be receiving mine on the 14th! Top notch service...I'm well chuffed :biggrin:. Thanks as always Steve.

Thanks for your feedback guys.
It seems now more than likely, I'll get "caught" especially considering the size of my order :frown:...if even your one kit, exhaust smoke, gets customs charge. I'm also kinda hoping it won't be delivered by Royal Mail, since I read about how one member had their kits stolen by the postie! If I get charged, do I have to go down to the sorting office to pay? Sorry, I'm totally new to this.
What's also confusing is my order status is now back-ordered but when I placed my order, they were all in stock. You'd think if they were in stock when you order them, you should have that quantity reserved for you.
On a plus side, despite Hiroboy saying orders will be processed after the 15th, I'll be receiving mine on the 14th! Top notch service...I'm well chuffed :biggrin:. Thanks as always Steve.

Well, if it's on backorder you still stand a chance to backtrack on it and try a shop that sends them as gift or declares a lower value.

Over here in Germany we have the same situation. Once awhile a package from HLJ.com gets stuck in the customs-process.

The funny thing is that when I picked up two of them from customs they didn´t know how to calculate the costs and let me leave without me paying anything. Let me asure you that this happened in Germany - unbelievable. I mean it´s not like I live in South America (no offense, guys)!

Robert

Over here in Germany we have the same situation. Once awhile a package from HLJ.com gets stuck in the customs-process.

The funny thing is that when I picked up two of them from customs they didn´t know how to calculate the costs and let me leave without me paying anything. Let me asure you that this happened in Germany - unbelievable. I mean it´s not like I live in South America (no offense, guys)!

Robert

Usually you only have to pay the VAT for scale model kits and toys in general.
It's funny they didn't know it.

It's worse around here, Austria, they see the package is a gift and has a declared value, however without opening it they come up with an estimated value, much higher than the price I've paid, so I end up paying at least 10 Euros more than what it should have been. Also because the post takes care to bring the package to the customs and than back to me they charge a supplementary 6 Euros!

This is why I only buy from HLJ when it's under 20 Euros shipping included.

I´d love to pay the extra 6 Euros for the postal service to do all the customs. But since it seems to be uncommon to import modeling kits and accessories I need to do the customs stuff myself, which is pleasure regarding the working schedule of our "Beamte". Everyday from 9 to 4 excluding the weekend.

Oh yeah - of course they located in the port of Rostock. So it´s just a 30 minute drive from where I live.

Worth the hassle. Yes, Sir!


Robert

I´d love to pay the extra 6 Euros for the postal service to do all the customs. But since it seems to be uncommon to import modeling kits and accessories I need to do the customs stuff myself, which is pleasure regarding the working schedule of our "Beamte". Everyday from 9 to 4 excluding the weekend.

Oh yeah - of course they located in the port of Rostock. So it´s just a 30 minute drive from where I live.

Worth the hassle. Yes, Sir!


Robert

I don't even know where they are located in Vienna. But the first time there will be a case worth the money and my time I'll pay them a visit.