[Elecraft] Ordering from the UK?

[Frank Hunter]

Peter Howson wrote:

Hi Peter!


 > Your email touched a nerve with me.


This doesn't sound good....I placed my order last night.

 > I ordered my K2 on the 19th Jan, received on the 29th Jan. Before Parcel
 > Force would deliver I had to pay Customs Duty, VAT and the Parcel 
Force fee.
 >
 > Reading a review in Rad-Com from earlier last year, the writer said 
that he
 > had been charged the Customs Duty, but had managed to claim it back.
 >
 > Has anyone else in the UK had to pay Customs duty, if not what was the
 > description for the customs declaration and have you managed to 
reclaim it.
 > In my case it was 18 GBP.


Here's the stuff with the relevant commodity codes that I found from 
various sources on the 'net:

-------------------------------------------------------------

"K2 custom free for the whole European Union"
and gave the fowling customs commodity codes.
8525 2099 00 for the K2. and 8529 9040 00 for the accessories.
This is for Six years starting from January 1st 2000.

I checked with the UK customs & excise, they said yes the same
codes apply to the UK.

These codes can be used for all radio kits imported into the EU from the 
USA.
So far I have used them for two K2`s and five other kits & accessories
without paying duty. You may or may not be asked to pay VAT.

You must make sure that the sender puts them clearly on the parcel.

I will take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas and good
QRP DX for 2002.

72 Les G4JDC. J.3:16


Dear All,

Thank you for the swift replies. As far as I understand by getting Elecraft
to describe the K2 and SSB add-on kits as "Transceiver apparatus for
radio-telegraphy', with Commodity Code No 8525209900 (for K2) and 8529 9040
00 (for SSB addon [acessories]), so I can save on import duty for the UK.

Then all I have to do is check this with Elecraft by e-mail. Then mention
the codes and descriptions in the comments field of the order form or as an
additional note.

73

2E1LOK (soon to be M3LOK)


IRC "Transceiver apparatus for radio-telegraphy" is duty free from the USA
if the sender quotes the EU commodity codes 8525 2099 00 for the radio and
8529 9040 00 for any accessories. Must be clearly stated on the parcel,
though...


Duty on Imported . Equipment
A couple of months ago I imported from the USA a K2 transceiver in kit
form. I paid VAT at 17.5% and Customs (Import) Duty. You can't get away
without paying VAT, but I have recently established that such equipment
is exempt from Import Duty. The Customs & Excise tariff lists the items
that are exempt and the relevant heading reads as follows: "Transmission
Apparatus for Radio Telephony, Radio-Telegraphy, Radio-Broadcasting or
Television, whether or not incorporating Reception Apparatus or Sound
Recording or Reproducing Apparatus; Television Cameras; Still Image
Video Cameras and other Video Camera Recorders".
This heading covers items that are many and varied but it is the first
two mentioned that are relevant where amateur radio transceivers are
concerned. Each item mentioned has, what is called a 'commodity code'
and that relating to transceivers is 8525209900.
My helpful contact with the Customs & Excise told me that consignments
arrive in this country with very obscure descriptions on the Customs
forms. He said that if there was any doubt about an item duty would be
charged. There must be many amateurs who have paid import duty
unnecessarily. I have been advised that when gear is ordered from
abroad, the supplier should be asked properly, and fully, to describe it
on the customs forms, e.g. "Transceiver apparatus for radio-telegraphy'.
It is also essential for the supplier to include on the custom forms the
Commodity Code No 8525209900.
The suppliers of my K2 included the Commodity Code on the forms but
described the consignment as a "Hobby kit of Electronic Parts for
Amateur Radio". Clearly this description did not meet the requirements
of Customs & Excise who slapped on import duty. I am now negotiating
with them for reimbursement of the sum involved.
Another point worth mentioning is that when the US suppliers sent my K2
kit they included the optional SSB kit that I did not order. At their
request I returned the SSB kit by air mail but I am still trying to get
a refund of the VAT and Customs Duty that I paid on it. Fortunately I
have proof of posting but Customs & Excise have advised me that it would
have been easier to process my claim if I had approached their local
office before exporting the unwanted item. I am still waiting,
optimistically l might add, to get my money back.
Pete Windle, G8VG



1) You can't avoid VAT
2) Some items are exempt from import duty (including transceivers)
3) You need to get the supplier to quote on the customs forms :

i) "Transceiver apparatus for radio-telephony / radio-telegraphy"
ii) "Commodity Code No 8525209900"

Hope this helps - I downloaded manual for K1 the other day - even better
than the old Heathkit ones - difficult to see how you could go wrong!


There are to other commodity codes you should know:

852 99040 000 all accesories for the above apparatus e.g. Band modules,
IF-Filters, power supply. Yes, power supply if you declare, that it is an
accessory for a transceiver!!! Same is with antennas! If it is a TV antenna,
you have to pay import duty, you pay only VAT, if it is an accessory antenna
for a transceiver (they call it apparatus to Transmit and receive.


851 79088 000 all apparatus to generate morse like keys, morse-keyboards

This is common in the ECC

If the number is not on the invoice (on elecraft invoices it normaly is
because the know it), it is ok to give the officer the number. If the text
on the invoice is in correlation in some way, he will accept it.

-------------------------------------------------------------

If anyone at Elecraft reads this could you make sure you use the proper, 
relevant code? Thanks, phew! Of course what we really need is a UK 
distributor.

 >
 > I must add that the service from the US Mail and Parcel Force was 
excellent,
 > you can monitor where the parcel is, if you know the parcel number, 
from the
 > Parcel Force web site.


Thanks for all the info Peter amd many thanks to all those who replied 
to my original post. As I stated earlier I've placed my order 
(everything but the dsp) so I should be busy for a while to come Really 
looking forward to its arrival and building it.

73 de Frank, Gi4NKB


-- 
"Today is a good day to die" - Anon: Klingon