customs for educational material

Mike · Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 120 Location: Ontario, Canada

I was just wondering (for you international, aka. non US residents) if you have to pay customs for educational items that are shipped to your house from the US. For instance, the Derek Gehl course. As being it including dvds, cds, and books would it be considered electronics/multimedia. I'm not totally sure - someone please shine light on the situation Smile

Thanks

Mike

boysbach · Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 195

Mike I have no answer to the specific question but I have bought from the States some software and we were charged an extra amount before delivery. We had a message from the Post Office they had a parcel for us and the cost was £..... when I checked it was 17.5% for VAT and an amount they deemed due for duty because the software was cheaper in the US than in the UK. This was software for our own use and bought from the US because it was out of stock in the UK and would take twice as long to get.

I guess it would depend on each country, but I know in the UK if you buy something then the people you buy from have to show it on the customs form and then our Customs and Excise tell you what is due. But if you can get someone to buy it and send it as a gift then no customs as long as the value isn't over a certain amount.

mogsta22 · Joined: 13 Mar 2006 Posts: 13

I bought a $67 DVD from Ken Calhoun the other week. The postman wanted £10.62 to give it to me.

I also buy car parts for my PT cruiser. There is a very nice man in alabama who always labels things as gift, less than $18 value even if they cost hundreds. Never been charged a penny for any of his parcels.

It is down to what is written on the customs declaration label. My guess is you will be charged 17.5% VAT plus handling charges.

regards

mogsta