Customs Duty and VAT on imported scopes?

I'm looking at buying a scope the likes of a Meade ETX90.

I've found a few online stores that look like good value....
www.telescopes.com/products/meade-etx-80...autostar-42229.html#

But has anyone had to pay Customs Duty and VAT on top
of what you already paid for the scope & shipment to release the goods?

Judging by the info on the Irish revenue site
www.revenue.ie/leaflets/pn1179.htm
it'd work out at 3.5% on the value of the goods & postage,
PLUS 21% VAT on top of that.

That kinda sucks, no?




:evil:

Hi Frank,

If they are shipping using a courier you will probably be charged VAT @ 21% + a smaller customs charge. The courier firms now often inform customs before the item even arrives in the country.

I've got done a few times. In fact, I just bought a 2nd hand SAC 10 which is coming in next week and have already had to pay duty of €160 on the $800 value we put on the item.

I spoke to UPS yesterday and they said that the only items that do not get charged coming into the country are items marked as a gift of less than €45 in value. If not using a courier it's rare for small packages to be detected though.

There's also another thread in here with some more info here:
www.irishastronomy.org/boards/viewtopic.php?t=4161

Sorry for the bad news. It sure does suck!

By the way, I didn't think Telescopes.com ship Meade items outside of the US due to commercial agreements (along with Celestron, Tak, Televue, and a few others). You may want to check with them.

Hope this helps,

Trev

Thanks for that Trev,
I could'nt find an old thread about this for some reason.

I'm looking at buying a scope the likes of a Meade ETX90.

Judging by the info on the Irish revenue site
www.revenue.ie/leaflets/pn1179.htm
it'd work out at 3.5% on the value of the goods & postage,
PLUS 21% VAT on top of that.

Frank - the Taric code for telescopes puts the duty at 4.2%, not 3.5. But its the VAT that's the killer - and a double tax...

Dave