Importing Cycling Kit into SA

[Dgas]

My mom lives in the UK. She wants to send me some cycling kit for my birthday. She is going to send it by courier. I know that people that have bought kit on line had to pay import duty at around 40%. But if she is sending it as a gift does import duty still apply? Has anybody had any experience with a similar situation?

[rock]

its hit and miss, *a friend I know* gets kids clothing from relatives overseas all the time with no duties being charged by the post office.

 

Technically their is a rebate item for a bonafide gift, I see the value has increased

 

Not certain if VAT is still applicable as the below rebate item is for Duty only

 

412.10       GIFTS     00.00 01.00 02 Bona fide unsolicited gifts of not more than two parcels per person per calendar year and of which the value per parcel does not exceed R1400 (excluding goods contained in passengers' baggage, wine, spirits and manufactured tobacco products) consigned by natural persons abroad to natural persons in the Republic

[Dgas]

 

its hit and miss, *a friend I know* gets kids clothing from relatives overseas all the time with no duties being charged by the post office.

 

Technically their is a rebate item for a bonafide gift, I see the value has increased

 

Not certain if VAT is still applicable as the below rebate item is for Duty only

 

412.10       GIFTS     00.00 01.00 02 Bona fide unsolicited gifts of not more than two parcels per person per calendar year and of which the value per parcel does not exceed R1400 (excluding goods contained in passengers' baggage, wine, spirits and manufactured tobacco products) consigned by natural persons abroad to natural persons in the Republic

 

Thanks for that, helps a lot. Will tell my mom to make sure that the value is under R 1400.

[carrera4s]

Jip, import duty will apply.  And she will not save the UK VAT (20%) if she buys in-store - the best solution will be if she buys it online and then courier it directly to SA - then she will get the UK VAT off.  

 

My mom went there today, coming back 10 Sept.  She will buy the stuff for me, claim back the UK VAT (20%) on Heathrow and pay the import duties at ORT when she arrives.  However, the first R 5 000 of goods carried on you is also duty free (this does not apply for courier delivery).

[carrera4s]

 

its hit and miss, *a friend I know* gets kids clothing from relatives overseas all the time with no duties being charged by the post office.

 

Technically their is a rebate item for a bonafide gift, I see the value has increased

 

Not certain if VAT is still applicable as the below rebate item is for Duty only

 

412.10       GIFTS     00.00 01.00 02 Bona fide unsolicited gifts of not more than two parcels per person per calendar year and of which the value per parcel does not exceed R1400 (excluding goods contained in passengers' baggage, wine, spirits and manufactured tobacco products) consigned by natural persons abroad to natural persons in the Republic

 

 

Interesting - did not know this!

[carbon29er]

My mom went there today, coming back 10 Sept.  She will buy the stuff for me, claim back the UK VAT (20%) on Heathrow and pay the import duties at ORT when she arrives. If caught by customs.

Fixed.

[rock]

.  However, the first R 5 000 of goods carried on you is also duty free (this does not apply for courier delivery).

 

The officer at the airport will probably only charge you a flat 20% 'tax' and not the actual duty rate applicable and VAT. So you can save on items like clothing.

[TheBikeRoom]

My mom lives in the UK. She wants to send me some cycling kit for my birthday. She is going to send it by courier. I know that people that have bought kit on line had to pay import duty at around 40%. But if she is sending it as a gift does import duty still apply? Has anybody had any experience with a similar situation?

[TheBikeRoom]

i recently imported cycling kit and the duty was 40% and there was vat on the rand value. Even if a gift there is duty and vat.

[Patchelicious]

I've just gone through this, it's a hassle.

 

In celebration of the I Hate Roadies Thread, I ordered some extra Rapha stuff.

 

Trust me, They will tax you 45% plus VAT on that for Cycling Kit.

Also be careful of the amount you put on the package. The guy who sent it to me from the UK thought he would do me the favour of insuring the £240 package for £400 just to be "safe". DHL liked his amount more than mine. So they tried to charge me R4800 on a package that only cost me R4500.

 

After a massive fight and threats of fraud etc, I got them to only tax me on the correct amount, but still came to over R2800.

 

Spoke to them about how to do it in future. Basically you are allowed to receive 2 gift per year and you will not attract a tax if the value is lower than R1400 per package. Use that info how you deem fit.

 

All I'm saying is that next time I get kit from overseas, I will make sure that the tags are off, so that's its "second hand" and the value of the contents is not "worth" more than £50.

[Cippo]

I recieved 6 clothing items as a gift from Middle East and couriers charged me close to R1000 for duty and vat. Customs will charge you wherever they can. Safest option is to have someone bring it in for you with tags removed and out of packaging.

[SpecialK]

Jip, import duty will apply. And she will not save the UK VAT (20%) if she buys in-store - the best solution will be if she buys it online and then courier it directly to SA - then she will get the UK VAT off.

 

My mom went there today, coming back 10 Sept. She will buy the stuff for me, claim back the UK VAT (20%) on Heathrow and pay the import duties at ORT when she arrives. However, the first R 5 000 of goods carried on you is also duty free (this does not apply for courier delivery).

I looked into claiming VAT back when I went to the UK in June, and it's not as easy as here in SA.

 

You can't claim back on online purchases.

 

The store needs to give you a form to fill out for the items you bought there, so ask for it when you are shopping. You might need to prove you're not an UK resident by showing your passport. The form plus the goods must then be shown at the airport.

 

I found out about this only a day before I was leaving, and most of my purchases were made online so I didn't bother in the end...

[Lexx]

[Lexx]

I've just gone through this, it's a hassle.

 

In celebration of the I Hate Roadies Thread, I ordered some extra Rapha stuff.

 

Trust me, They will tax you 45% plus VAT on that for Cycling Kit.

Also be careful of the amount you put on the package. The guy who sent it to me from the UK thought he would do me the favour of insuring the £240 package for £400 just to be "safe". DHL liked his amount more than mine. So they tried to charge me R4800 on a package that only cost me R4500.

 

After a massive fight and threats of fraud etc, I got them to only tax me on the correct amount, but still came to over R2800.

 

Spoke to them about how to do it in future. Basically you are allowed to receive 2 gift per year and you will not attract a tax if the value is lower than R1400 per package. Use that info how you deem fit.

 

All I'm saying is that next time I get kit from overseas, I will make sure that the tags are off, so that's its "second hand" and the value of the contents is not "worth" more than £50.

mmmmm, I see  

[porqui]

Get your mom to contact the courier company to get the right info.

 

If it is a bonafide gift from a family member and below a certain value there is no vat or duties.

Limited to 2 gifts per year.

[Patchelicious]

mmmmm, I see

What you getting at?