Help for a newbie in UK

Hello there!!

I've started to get back into collecting Tamas and learning about them, however browsing through eBay and Amazon etc, most are available from Japan, and elsewhere.

Living in the UK, Im curious how much of an Import Tax / Royal Mail will charge me if I tried to get some sent over.

What have other people done, or do you just pay the duty?

AHhhh Im so confused! So many pretty ones I want to buy, but not if they'll break the bank!!

Any help would be super awesome!!!


Thankyou!

It usually doesn't cost anything to import them from Japan, customs rarely bother with items under $100. I think in all my time collecting tamas, I've only been charged duty/tax one time.

Edit: Couriers will charge you though, so stay clear of FedEx and UPS if you want to avoid extra charges

The amount of import taxes depends on the price of the item/the invoice included in the box.

SakuraLove said:

It usually doesn't cost anything to import them from Japan, customs rarely bother with items under $100. I think in all my time collecting tamas, I've only been charged duty/tax one time.

Edit: Couriers will charge you though, so stay clear of FedEx and UPS if you want to avoid extra charges

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I think that might be different for someone living in Canada versus those of us living in the UK - I think that is why the question was asked (about Royal Mail UK).

I get packages from North America without paying import tax because they are a gift (private individual sending to private individual) and they are worth under £100. I've also had packages from Japan - low cost tamas - around US$35 - and not had to pay any charges.

If the tama is being posted to you in the UK from outside of the EU (like, Japan or North America, for example) it has to have a customs declaration form completed by the sender - including if the item is a gift / personal use and it's value.

The info provided will influence if you pay any import duty. Usually for items less than £135 AND intended for personal use / a gift you would probably not be charged. Or if the amount of tax due is small (less than £10) they don't charge you.

But to qualify as a gift it has to be something sent by a private individual (not a selling company) to another private individual.

It's complicated! You would probably need to do some research on the HM Revenue & Customs site: https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm#3

(or google UK import tax and check out some of the links)

Basically, if your seller doesn't give a correct value (pretends it is very cheap) it can delay the pack in UK Customs whilst they check on what the real value is - and then charge you tax on what they decide the true value of the tamagotchi is - which might be more than it's actually worth!

Edit: Mostly I browse and keep an eye on the UK ebay / amazon sites for deals. It takes longer but cuts out the hassle of import tax and you just pay UK postage fees - extortionate enough IMO. If you have any family or friends in the USA or Japan who can get the packets delivered to them and then post them on to you that's usually the best route - but relies on a lot of good will, love and trust!

It's probably different in the UK, but in Canada, shipments with less than 50$ of value inside don't pay custom taxes. Gifts with a value lower than 200$ don't have to pay custom taxes either!

Itsumo-nana said:

It's probably different in the UK, but in Canada, shipments with less than 50$ of value inside don't pay custom taxes. Gifts with a value lower than 200$ don't have to pay custom taxes either!

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That's why the topic starter was asking about information specific to the UK.... because they live in the UK and only UK import tax info will apply to them

Gosh I envy those who don't have to pay import taxes!!

@Tamamum; Thankyou ever so much for your input! I shall try and see if I can get things through America and hope for the best xD Urgh that HM Revenue and Customs website!! Cant make heads and tails of it!

Might just buy something and see how it goes. If I pay more, I won't do it again and can advise people on how much I paid etc

Yup.. that can totally explain my excessive need to buy loads!!

Thankyou again!!