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So worst case I assumed I’d have to pay a further 20% reflecting U.K. VAT.
You pay VAT on the price of the goods, plus the cost of delivery, plus the Import duty (which varies, depending on item).
Plus any UK-side handling fees (which will already include VAT. So, you know, silver linings...)
The global shipping program should take care of everything though - it has when I've bought from the US.
NotThamesWater
Well I’ve not purchased anything via eBays global shipping program before, but in general my understanding was that any import charges owed are due in the U.K., so when your item comes through UK customs it’s then any tax or duty is calculated and charged. At that stage it’s your postal service or courier who inform you and only release the goods when the bills been paid. So worst case I assumed I’d have to pay a further 20% reflecting U.K. VAT.
In the blurb on EBay it’s seems to say that their “import charges” don’t include your domestic customs charges, so what is it Ebay are charging for? Doesn’t that mean you could easily be double taxed? Regardless my main issue is that there was no forewarning about the extra charge or any way to estimate it on the listing. In the past on other listings there were delivery cost estimators where you enter your country and the shipping cost was calculated, why not the same for these import charges?
Is it really too much to ask to know what you’re going to be charged for something before you buy it?