After a point raised in another thread, I thought it might be handy to compile a list of the various import taxes which are applied in various countries.

So, if you're outside the UK (or have knowledge of a particular country), please post what you would normally have to pay in the form of any import tax, handling fees, etc.  I know these can vary depending on what you're importing and where from, but if we focus on wargaming products, and bought from the UK for now, that'd be great!

Thailand is all over the place; frequently no tax, sometimes a trifle (like half the price of a 'bus ticket), and then the odd stinger of up to 25%. I import quite a lot I can't get here - wargames figures, Japanese woodblocks, CDs. The same taxation policy for all.

Hello

In Australia the GST (Goods and Services Tax - similar to VAT) for overseas purchases kicks in at $1000, however currently retailers are campaigning to have it dropped down to $30 because they are finding that years of unbridled profit margins and slashed customer services haven't prepared them to survive in the Internet age  .

It would be a very brave (hands up 'Yes Minister' fans) government to bring in this change. Also it would likely cost more to collect than it would raise in revenue.

Cheers

GrumpyOldMan

South Korea is hit or miss.  I've been contacted by customs on two occasions but only when ordering 28mm stuff from Gripping Beast.  They thought that perhaps it was a sneaky way to import lead for making bullets.  My wife promptly told them that it was for her husband's "Toys". 
Nothing came of it and no duty was paid.
The second time was when I ordered a bunch of resin dark age buildings from Gripping Beast.  I had to fork over about 10 pounds in duty. 
Never had to pay anything for 10mm though.  It is one of the reasons that I've been switching to smaller scales; shipping for 28mm metals can be prohibitive.
I hope this helps.

Mark me down as a Yes, Minister devotee.

In the U.S., I've never paid any import duty on anything I've purchased in the 12 years I've been buying direct from the UK.

For NZ our customs advise...

MINIMUM DUTY COLLECTABLE - Customs does not collect tariff duty and GST where the total payable (tariff duty plus GST combined) on any one importation is less than $60.

Which in English means that I can bring in upto $400 of equipment before I need to pay GST at 15%.

in China, no tax for personal goods (ie value under 100 pounds), if more: it's to the appreciation of the customs. Once, they refused to release the packet and it was sent back to Leon. Another time, I had to pay an extra 40 pounds to the customs.

Quote from: FierceKitty on 24 September 2012, 12:43:26 AM
Mark me down as a Yes, Minister devotee.

Ditto !

Quote from: far4ngn on 24 September 2012, 02:13:37 AM
For NZ our customs advise...
Which in English means that I can bring in upto $400 of equipment before I need to pay GST at 15%.

That doesn't seem too bad....though I haven't checked the rate of the NZ$ to the pound yet !

Quote from: Le Manchou on 24 September 2012, 04:22:23 AM
in China, no tax for personal goods (ie value under 100 pounds), if more: it's to the appreciation of the customs. Once, they refused to release the packet and it was sent back to Leon. Another time, I had to pay an extra 40 pounds to the customs.

Ouch !

But from what some of the forum members have written, it looks like it depends which side of bed the appropriate custom official has got out of that particular morning !
Cheers - Phil.

Quote from: Techno on 24 September 2012, 07:54:45 AM
But from what some of the forum members have written, it looks like it depends which side of bed the appropriate custom official has got out of that particular morning !
Cheers - Phil.

Yep, unfortunately that does seem the case.  It used to be like that here as well upto a few months ago even, but they've really clamped down on all packages now.

Its a bit of a lotto here in Canada, and I don't think I have had a pendraken order pulled over. 

Orders over 20$ are eligible to be charged Harmonized Sales Tax (15% here in Nova Scotia) plus a 5$ handling fee.  This is collected at whatever postal retail outlet (usually in the back of a drug store or the like) is holding your parcel.  I've never had anything in an envelope charged, nor anything with a value less than 20 *anythings* since they don't bother doing currency conversions.

The most consistent source of charges I have had is on orders from a US company that has a skull logo.  Go figure 

That's by mail.  Anything by courier, the courier charges a customs brokerage fee of $15-25 even if there is no duty or HST.

Quote from: Shecky on 24 September 2012, 02:04:50 AM
In the U.S., I've never paid any import duty on anything I've purchased in the 12 years I've been buying direct from the UK.

You happy one, when I imported a Hotz Mats Mat,  I´ve payed 19% for the Mat and 19 % for Post & Package.
Otherwise, when I order in the UK, it is all Tax free due to the European Union....

Austria here, no import taxes. EU and all of that.

Yup the documented level is $400 NZD before GST however I have had orders in over recent months higher than that and got through okay.

For the english gentry current exchange rates about .52p per NZD, heaps better than the days of 28p per NZD...and I was buyign 28s back then! (80's -90's)...yes I'm an old fart 

Quote from: rexhurley on 24 October 2012, 04:53:52 AM
..yes I'm an old fart 

Me too ! 
Cheers - Phil