VAT on imports to UK

[Rayuela]

VAT on imports to UK

by Rayuela » Jun 16th, '11, 19:04

Could anyone tell me if you pay VAT on tea (not teawares) bought outside the EU and shipped to the UK?

Thanks

Ray

[nada]

Re: VAT on imports to UK

by nada » Jun 20th, '11, 14:36

The short answer is no.

The long answer is that tea is rated 0% for VAT (I think, apart from green tea in immediate packagings of over 5kg, but I can't find reference to this just now). So unless you're importing crates of green tea you shouldn't have any problems.

[Rayuela]

Re: VAT on imports to UK

by Rayuela » Jun 20th, '11, 16:36

Thanks Nada,

I'm not aiming for kilos and kilos of green tea, just some nice Yan cha for days when yours feels like too much of a luxury.

[apache]

Re: VAT on imports to UK

by apache » Jun 20th, '11, 16:56

I find the page regarding UK tea import tariff:
http://online.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/tariffFilter?export=false&key.commodityCode=0902&r.s=a&simulationDate=20/6/11

[nada]

Re: VAT on imports to UK

by nada » Jun 22nd, '11, 05:20

Thanks Apache. It looks like it's 0% for all the categories. I had it in my mind that the bulk import of green tea was 5% for some reason. It certainly makes more sense that it's all 0%.

As someone who imports a fair bit of tea, I'm happy to live in a country where there's no VAT on this one of life's necessities. Apparently Thailand likes to charge 30%!!!

[Rayuela]

Re: VAT on imports to UK

by Rayuela » Jun 22nd, '11, 05:34

thanks to both of you.

[apache]

Re: VAT on imports to UK

by apache » Jun 22nd, '11, 15:54

Thanks Apache. It looks like it's 0% for all the categories. I had it in my mind that the bulk import of green tea was 5% for some reason. It certainly makes more sense that it's all 0%.

As someone who imports a fair bit of tea, I'm happy to live in a country where there's no VAT on this one of life's necessities. Apparently Thailand likes to charge 30%!!!

Let hope it will stay like this, but as you know the UK deficit situation is horrendous due to bailing out the banks, when the government is desperate, who know ...