Sales and Import Taxes

Sales and Import Taxes

TaxIf you're buying goods directly from us, after the banks have got their cut of the money you've transferred to us, the Government will want their bit.  Here's how it works:

You will at some point either have to pay a sales tax, or an import tax.

Sales Tax

The UK Government will charge you (currently) 15% tax if you use the product in the EU.  We have to charge you this tax on their behalf, and pay it to them. There are a few factors however:

  • Live in the UK - whoever you are, we will have to charge this 15% VAT charge.  If you are a VAT registered business you can then claim it back on your VAT return.
  • Live in the EU - if you are a private individual, or a non VAT regsitered business, we will have to charge you the 15% VAT charge. If you are a VAT registered business, as long as you can supply us with your VAT number, we will not charge you any sales tax.  However you will have to account for it on your local VAT returns,
  • Live elsewhere- you are exempt: we will not charge you any VAT. Your government will charge you import tax instead!

Import Tax

If our goods are imported into a non EU country, your local Government will levy an import tax when the goods are imported.  This is how it works:

  • We classify the product according to an international code
  • The couriers pay tax on your behalf to the local customs depending on the value of the goods, and this code.
  • The couriers will deliver the goods to you and either bill you, or require you to pay the tax before handing over the goods.

Typically this import duty is about 3.5% of the declared value of the goods.  We can't prepay this for you, so you need to make allowance for this.

For some reason depending where you live, it's a lottery whether the couriers will charge you or not.  However it is your responsibility.