[Elecraft] Import duties on amateur radio items

[T. David Yarnes]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "TF3KX" <kristinn1 at gmail.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 11:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Import duties on amateur radio items


>
> The "import duty" is not the problem, but the VAT 
> (somewhat similar to the US
> sales tax), which is exceedingly high in many European 
> countries.
>
> I wonder if anyone tops the Icelandic VAT, 24.5%, which is 
> added on the
> total package value:  Content price + shipping + 
> insurance.  Additionally, I
> may be charged for the paperwork ($10-20), and to top it 
> all they may
> occasionally request a permit from the Post and Telegraph 
> Authorities for
> "radio components".  This is what I had to go through when 
> ordering my K2 a
> couple of months ago.


Kristinn,

Oooooooooh!  That's nasty!  And they charge VAT on your 
shipping and insurance too!  Very punitive I would say.  I 
guess the U.K. does that too.  I can sort of understand 
including shipping, as it is a cost of acquisiton. 
Insurance, though, seems like a bit of a stretch.  But both 
seem inequitable if you consider the (fortunate) person who 
can carry the product in, and avoid the VAT charge for 
shipping and insurance.  On the other hand, taxes are rarely 
equitable!

This raises a question in my mind for you VAT payers.  If 
you pay the VAT, and then discover that your item has been 
more or less destroyed in shipping, do you get any refund on 
the VAT?  What happens on the replacement item, assuming you 
get one?  Perhaps your comment about the replacement part 
suggests you wouldn't pay the VAT twice.

I know Iceland is expensive, and the economy is fragile to 
some extent, but I didn't realize it was so harsh on its 
citizens who are forced to import many things, or go 
without.  However, I know it's a beautiful place with a 
fascinating history.  We did try to go there a few years 
ago.  Unfortunately, our cruise ship ran into a hurricane. 
We apparently got within about 150 miles of Reykjavik, and 
the captain had to give up.  The props on the ship came out 
of the water twice!  So, missed the chance to make a small 
contribution to the economy there.  Very disappointing.


Dave W7AQK