Customs duties when ordering from the UK

[randyb]

Interested in purchasing some track from a UK supplier.  Wondering what duties I might have to pay?  Is there a threshold I should remain below to make life easier?  (This is for personal use, not for resale).  I know there are no duties to/from Canada but have not previously ordered online from the UK before.  Thank you for any pertinent feedback. 

[GP40P-2]

I have bought out of Europe several times and never had to pay any duties. I doubt that I paid over $1000 on any of these orders, so if there is a threshold, it is at least that much.

[Frank]

Jan 10, 2024 16:48:19 GMT -8 GP40P-2 said:

I have bought out of Europe several times and never had to pay any duties. I doubt that I paid over $1000 on any of these orders, so if there is a threshold, it is at least that much.

I regular buy from Europe as well, the threshold was $2,500 last I checked. Never had an issue from staying below that amount.

[Gino Damen]

Lucky guys. The otherway around (US to the Netherlands) I pay often over 50 dollar shipping and over the combined amount (the items and shipping) 21% VAT and handlingcosts (~10 euro).

To give an idea. My last order from Plano was 52,75 dollar. Shipping was reasonable at 19,50 dollar. Total 72,50 dollar. I had to pay an additional 36 dollar taxes and handeling when the package arrived in the Netherlands.

[valenciajim2]

Gino,

I am a first-generation American citizen whose parents were born in Holland. I am amazed at how the VAT and other customs duties increases the cost of goods in Europe. After the war, my parents sent clothing and other needed household items to our relatives in the Netherlands. Our relatives could not accept them because the duties were so high they could not afford to pay them. They asked my parents to send money instead.

A couple of years ago, I went to a local hobby shop near den Haag (the Hague) and I was stunned to see the prices of American equipment. They had a number of Walthers locomotives that were selling for 50%-60% higher than MSRP in the states. I remember going to that same hobby shop in 1985 and purchasing two Rivarossi locomotives for considerably less than I would have paid in the US. That was because US interest rates were so high and the Dutch Guilder was worth fewer dollars.

Jim