Furious

Many sites will offer "free worldwide shipping." What they are infact doing is effectively charging you the VAT instead of shipping charges. VAT is not deducted, but you don't pay any shipping charges. I don't know if they find a free shipping offer to look more attractive, or if it is just a logistical issue for some of them, but it is a minor annoyance nonetheless as shipping can actually cost less than the VAT they leave in the price for larger orders...something to bear in mind.

mrwilson

Harmonized Tariff Schedule for the US

Chapter 85 may what you're looking for. I don't believe there are any tariffs for individuals bringing in consumer electronics or videos. I know I've had orders OVER $300 and have never had to pay anything.

indycohiba

Does HKL deduct VAT from their prices. I ordered recently from them and did not get a reduction for VAT unless their prices reflect this reduction already.

Josh Z

The prices on amazon.co.uk are listed with VAT included, because the site is primarily viewed by UK citizens for which the VAT would apply. However, once you place your order and enter a US ship-to address, their calculation will automatically deduct the VAT when it gives you the total. You will be able to see right then what your actual price is (in Pounds) before you confirm the order.

Blackstar does not automatically deduct VAT. They will charge it to you regardless of where you live. I don't know if they will refund the VAT if you request. I've never tried. I found it easier to just use Amazon instead.

FilmFanSea

Thanks, Josh. Looking at BlackStar's website help section, they say: By contrast, MovieMail states: An added 17.5% to cover S&H??? (above and beyond the 50p per DVD). Pretty outrageous.

Benson's World doesn't state their policy on VAT, so I've written them an email to clarify it.

mrwilson

I've written Benson's and Blackstar and they both stated the same.

philo

Interesting thread.

Just to be clear on this, the prices we see at Benson's and Blackstar already include the VAT on each title they have for sale?

FilmFanSea

My (very quick) reply from Benson's World:Based on this reply, I compared Benson's (BW) and BlackStar's (BS) prices with a recent order I received from Amazon UK (AUK). Prices are in GBP (£):

Fanny and Alexander: 19.99 (BW) 23.99 (BS) 17.01 (AUK)
The Apu Trilogy: 44.95 (BW) 44.99 (BS) 37.44 (AUK)
Un Chant d'amour: 12.79 (BW) 15.99 (BS) 14.46 (AUK)
Secrets & Lies: 8.95 (BW) 5.99 (BS) 8.34 (AUK)

Subtotal: 86.68 (BW) 90.96 (BS) 74.01 (AUK)
S&H: 3.00 (BW) 6.40(BS) 6.05 (AUK)

TOTAL PRICE: 89.68 (BW) 97.36(BS) 80.06 (AUK)

Thus, compared to Amazon UK, Benson's World would've been 12% higher in price (a savings of $15.63), and BlackStar 22% higher (a savings of $28.12)--at least for these four items.

In the online ordering process, it appeared to me that BlackStar was prepared to charge me VAT (in contradiction to their stated policy noted in my previous post). I don't think it's "legal" for EU-based businesses to charge VAT to non-EU-based customers, but many simply redefine that extra 17.5% as the additional cost of doing business with international customers.

I'm certainly a fan of comparison shopping, but for now I think I'll stick with Amazon UK (BTW, my order from them arrived within 4 days of the shipping date--London to Seattle--which pleased me as well. Recall that Amazon is based in Seattle, yet I never receive a US order that quickly. ).

Steve Phillips

I use Amazon UK, and I do not get charged VAT.

zoossh

i thought a database on such issues will facilitate an ease in importing dvds and would help people who got panic wondering if their customs had held the stuff.

hope to get lots of replies. cheers.

eXcentris

Canada

Max merchandise: $20 CDN
Max gift: $60 CDN

So it's better if you can get the etailer to mark the package as a gift although this doesn't always work.

Charges if you get "caught": 6% duty + $5 handling charge + GST + PST

Boxes tend to get intercepted more than envelopes so it is wise NOT to order more than 2 titles at the time.

Some etailers are more "customs friendly" than others. Seems that the smaller they are the better.

In my experience:

Friendly: Bensonsworld, dvdzone2, dddhouse, yesasia, yeondvd

Not friendly: all amazon sites, cd-wow

Butch Coolidge

UK

Had to pay the VAT once on a $36 DVD received from Amazon.com

If I remember correctly I had to pay £6 (~ $8) to the Royal Mail. Half of it was "handling fees"

whitecot

UK is:

Max tax free purchase: GBP18 (excl postage) (approx US$30)
Max gift: GBP 36 (excl postage)


Charges if "caught" are 17.5% VAT (Customs view on the value plus postage) + 5% import duty + GBP 2-3 handling fee - ouch!

Full details are available at www.hmce.gov.uk

Elrond

Germany:

Max. Merchandise: 22€ (25 US$)
Max. Gift: 50€ (58 US$)

merchandise from contries that are members of the european union are free of charge. every once in a while they check parcels for contraband.
parcels from outside the european union are checked more thoroughly. I mention this because importing certain movies(porn, banned movies) into germany is prohibited.

Squirrel God

Worth mentioning that the above only applies to purchases imported from non-EU member states

Kumar J

Japan
I got gifts or purchases up to $200 no tax
But I heard laptop or computer stuff do get taxed about 5%
But not the parts of a computer.
DVD's they never taxed me even though I once got 12 DVD's in 1 order.

samuelowens

Australia: $A500 ($US360) unless imported by a courier company like UPS. Then it's $A250.

Charge is usually 10% GST plus service charges.

zoossh

lovely, anyone else from the other parts of the world? and of cos, for the above countries listed, feel free to add more details. U may like to contribute information about the custom practices in your country, about what to look out for, what is allowed, what is not allowed, what to do if your DVDs are intercepted or what consequences u may have to face, etc.

cultshock

Hell, I've gotten "dinged" even with only a 2 title shipment.

For Canadians living close to the border, if you order alot, you might consider looking into renting a mail box in the US (the customs limit over there is a much more reasonable $200). I rent one, and when the shipment arrives, I open up the box, unwrap the DVDs (or whatever I bought) and throw them in the back seat of my car. I bring them over the border myself and never have a problem with customs. This also comes in handy for buying things from ebay sellers that ship to the US only and getting all those free magazine subscriptions I find on the Hot Deals forum (most of them ship to the US only)

icondude

I've been searching all over the USPS webpage to see what the customs is for bringing DVD's into the US is. I assume that I have them mark it as a gift even though it's 3 DVD's?

khai

International Postal Service: Merchandise shipped through the international postal service is forwarded upon its arrival in the United States to one of Customs International Mail Branches for clearance. If the item is less than $2,000 in value and is not subject to a quota or is not a restricted or prohibited item, a Customs official will usually prepare the paperwork for importing it, assess the proper duty, and release it for delivery. This procedure is generally referred to as a mail entry.

Packages whose declared value is under $200 ($100 if being sent as a gift to someone other than the purchaser) will generally be cleared without any additional paperwork prepared by Customs. However, Customs always reserves the right to require a formal entry for any importation and generally exercises this option if there is something unusual about the importation, or if important documents such as an invoice or bill of sale do not accompany the item.

If any duty is owed, Customs will charge a processing fee for clearing your package. Duty and the processing fee are usually paid at your local post office, where your package is forwarded.

http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/impor..._purchases.xml

Djangoman

Indonesia:

First regarding my experience in ordering DVDs. I usually use couriers (UPS, DHL, TNT) or other trackable method (EMS). I rarely use Post Office because some bad experience of users: some fancy items may get lost.

Now about tax, first by using courier. The magic number I know here is USD 50. So if the value is below USD 50 you won't be charged. Only the courier charge you for handling charge and it varies but for this value usually it's not expensive, about USD5-6, but specially for DHl, they charge nothing for DVDs package with this value (below USD 50).

If it's higher than USD 50, nasty stuff starts to happen. The official rate is 10% income tax (Pph) + 10% VAT (PPN) + 7.5% (I forget what it is) so total tax rate is 27.5%. How to apply it? Well, different couriers: different application. DHL is the best: They only calculate the value after deducted by USD 50. Say the value stated is USD 70, the 27.5% tax is only applied on USD 20 (70-50) handling charge which is bigger. Other courier? well, the whole value will be levied! The handling charge? Stay out of Fedex, they are the craziest courier - charging the craziest charge for this item (over USD 50) sometimes bigger than the tax itself! Why varies? Well, this is Indonesia man! Different couriers use different "tax brokers" having different intensity of "relationship" with officials. DHL seems have best relationship - so far.

But anyway, the official rate is indeed 27.5% - so don't get "caught"! Avoid ordering in bulk, it would make the package extrely large - this is sitting duck for those bloodsucker at custom office. If you're a company that might be no problem - you can have easy access there. But if you're individual, I don't think you can negotiate sucessfully.

EMS is better - sometimes items passed successfully - only small charge - less than USD 1. Provided that you can persuade your supplier to state the package as gift and not stating any value - or not including invoice there! As long as it's not very suspicious - (e.q. very big, fancy packaging, etc.) it will get through easily!

So the safest way is by using courier - as long as you stay wih magic number: USD 50.

I dont know about adult titles, but in EMS the package will certainly be opened so I won't take any risk.

Those are DVDs. Other items would have different rate, but I must advise you: Never order medicine / supplement or food. Trust me, if you're unlucky you'll get into biiiiiig trouble.

pat00139

Korea

Max merchandise: US$ 100
Max gift: US$ 100

This is the official number. Size doesn't matter: I've had a 16-DVD package, but the price was less than a hundred bucks so it went through, no problem. By the same token, I've had a 2-DVD package, but had to pay taxes. Standard rate for stuff over $100 is 20%. Pretty stiff. I keep my orders less than $100 each now. I pay twice for shipping, but it comes out to be far less when you have to pay taxes.

If there's no price, it should come in no problem. I got a box with 40 DVDs in it, but had no tag on it, and it didn't get checked by customs, and I didn't get a fine. I've gotten a few other packages, all over US$ 100, but they had no price on the outside, so I didn't pay anything.

If you come back from vacation, make sure you don't have anything ridiculous in your luggage. In my last trip to Hong Kong I went crazy, buying some 80 DVDs. My luggage was tagged and I had to show customs what I bought. Luckily the guy thought they were all used (I took off all the plastic coverings) so I got through with no trouble.

One last thing: if you're ordering from Japan, it'll probably get stopped. Koreans have a... slight dislike of the Japanese.

DanishDVDfreak

I think that here (Denmark), we have to keep any DVD purchase under approx $12 including shipping !! Anything over this amount will be taxed with 25% !...but thankfully, we have a few cool online shops that does some things to ease our import

As I use the above mentioned cool shops for my dvd purchases, the $12 limit might be a little low...but this is what I hear from others that order DVD´s in the UK, Canada, US and Korea

asianxcore

Yes, I apologize if this has been asked a million times before.

I am planning on ordering stuff from the UK (through amazon UK and cd-wow) and I was just wondering what is the maximum limit I can spend, without having to pay any charges through customs/postal service?