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  #1  
Old 08-04-2018, 06:38 PM
galt1074 galt1074 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Lakenheath, UK
Posts: 49
Default RV Shipping to the UK

My first post...

I'm US Air Force stationed for the next three years in the UK at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.

This is probably a long shot but I'm wondering if anyone in here is in the same status or can tell me about VAT charges?

I've researched shipping and spoken to Vans at Oshkosh this year and I understand that most import duties are free for aircraft parts. However, VAT (Value Added Tax) in the UK is 20% and I'm not too keen on giving Her Majesty 20% of the price of a good purchased from a company in the US for a good that will be constructed here but not used until I get back to the States.

Anyone know anything about this kind of thing?

Thanks,
Greg
Future RV-7(A) builder...and maybe an RV-10 hopefully someday.
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  #2  
Old 08-07-2018, 07:03 AM
Mikeandmaz Mikeandmaz is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: England
Posts: 67
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Hi Greg, welcome to the Vans party.

I?m UK based and building a 14A. When I imported the kit there was no duty to be paid but as you rightly mention, VAT is 20% which is a real pain.

Maybe it would be an idea to ask around, I know a lot of American servicemen drive around in left hand drive American cars, did they pay vat on them?

Alternatively why not check out if you can have the kit ferried over by the USAF transport guys, I?m sure you could organise an allowance. It would then never show up on the HMRC accounts. Just don?t build too fast as you might want to register and fly it while your still there!

Atb,

Mike
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  #3  
Old 08-07-2018, 12:09 PM
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Mark Albery Mark Albery is offline
 
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Location: Warwickshire UK
Posts: 703
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There is a VAT exemption for personal effects imported on change of residence to the UK.

But, to qualify, you must have owned the items outside of the UK for at least six months and you can not sell them in the UK for a further 12 months.
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  #4  
Old 08-07-2018, 12:33 PM
chris mitchell chris mitchell is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: near Harrogate, England
Posts: 391
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A SoCal friend of mine imported a sailing dinghy and was charged VAT, but was able to reclaim the VAT when he re-exported it back to the USA (that?s the short version).

I think just putting it on a MATS flight won?t get round the problem, but worth checking. How will all your hiusehold and personal effects get to Mildenhall?

It may be worth checking by phone with a VAT office local to your new home - believe it or not I have found them to be helpful. I will ask a US friend who has moved back and forth several times for US government employment if he has any helpful knowledge or contacts.

A final thought - it may be possible to avoid VAT if you can demonstrate that you have paid a US state tax.

Hope all that helps!

Chris
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  #5  
Old 08-07-2018, 01:01 PM
galt1074 galt1074 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Lakenheath, UK
Posts: 49
Default Many Thanks!

Thanks for the warm welcome folks.

Many thanks for all of the ideas. I've got our base legal office looking into a couple things. Our household goods and vehicles are all shipped over here by the government and they avoid the takes and duties based on the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)...at least that's what I'm assuming.

I could indeed try to throw it on an aircraft and fly it over here...the UK would never know it even happened but I'm a little uncomfortable with that idea for several reasons. 1) It's not a good use of the taxpayer's money and 2) There's been a number of officials that got arrested for things similar to that.

I will definitely look into the idea of getting the taxes back when I move back to the US. That would be a good backup if I can't get the taxes removed outright.

Mark, I don't suppose you've ever heard of anyone "buying" the kit from Vans, getting the invoice and telling them to wait six months to ship it? It would kind of suck to wait six months but it might be worth it.

Thanks everyone for the ideas.

Greg
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  #6  
Old 08-07-2018, 01:56 PM
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az_gila az_gila is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by galt1074 View Post
......

Mark, I don't suppose you've ever heard of anyone "buying" the kit from Vans, getting the invoice and telling them to wait six months to ship it? It would kind of suck to wait six months but it might be worth it.

Thanks everyone for the ideas.

Greg
Might be worth it to get one kit shipped first with 20% VAT and pay Vans - and get an invoice - for the other kits and have them 'held up" in the US for 6 months.
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  #7  
Old 08-07-2018, 08:57 PM
fr0gpil0t fr0gpil0t is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado Springs
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Check

https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-shopping/taxfree-shopping

Unfortunately it doesn't look like you can re-claim the VAT when you leave.

I moved to the USA nearly 20 years ago and took pleasure in claiming the VAT back on socks etc. I bought from M&S ;-) on visits back. I'm sure the Brits here will understand old habits die hard and getting some money back from the government !!

Do they have Harbor Freight in the UK now ?

Robert
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  #8  
Old 08-07-2018, 11:32 PM
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Gash Gash is offline
 
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You'll have to pay VAT no matter what. It's how they get the colonists to pay back the cost of all the tea that was dumped in Boston harbor.
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  #9  
Old 08-08-2018, 06:01 AM
Adrian Bonwitt Adrian Bonwitt is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Alton, Hampshire
Posts: 25
Default RVs in the UK

As they say there are only two certainties in life...death and taxes..

There are plenty of RV builders in the UK, the rvsqn on yahoo groups is one place to connect with like minded folk.

There are also plenty here on VAF.

Mildenhall is a nice base, I used to be a few miles away at Marham. I remember a few very enjoyable Happy Hours there.
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  #10  
Old 08-08-2018, 11:01 AM
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Mark Albery Mark Albery is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Warwickshire UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fr0gpil0t View Post
Do they have Harbor Freight in the UK now ?

Robert
Kind of! They call it Machine Mart

It may be worth a call to HMRC to see if there are any options like getting it classified as a temporary import. Potentially you could build an RV and sell it in the UK so they would expect VAT to have been paid.
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