Purchase Sword/wakizashi From Eu To Uk，any Custom/vat Duty?

[JasonLee55555]

Hello everyone

 

I would like to ask if anyone has experiences of purchasing swords from EU to UK?

Does it require any custom/vat duty?

 

Thanks 

[Fuuten]

If the piece is already in the EU, costs have been paid. Brexit won't really do anything till 2019 if ever the way its going.

[brannow]

You can buy a sword from anywhere in the world and there would be very little duty.

[Brian]

Maybe in the EU or USA, but that doesn't apply here in SA.

We pay 14% vat regardless, and clearing fees. And duties if they feel like not accepting the antique description.

[stephan_hiller]

If we import a sword to Germany from outside the EU we have to pay 19% VAT + 1,5% customs fee.

[kissakai]

I buying from outside the EU use the correct tariff code and import duty = 5%

[Jean]

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/1860-importingexporting-and-customs-queries-and-advice/page-1?do=findComment&comment=172225

[Marius]

Gee, the sword is in the EU No custom fees

[Fuuten]

If we import a sword to Germany from outside the EU we have to pay 19% VAT + 1,5% customs fee.

 

I did some research on this back in the end of '13. The main difference is whether or not something is an antique or not (papers help with that, otherwise its just "someone's" word against the border inspection). For antique stuff, pretty much doesn't matter what it is (except for instance ivory). there is a 6% tariff. For non-antiques/modern objects the tariff is much higher.

 

Also the correct HS code helps a lot as well. They seem super important to border control worldwide (think China).

[cisco-san]

I did some research on this back in the end of '13. The main difference is whether or not something is an antique or not (papers help with that, otherwise its just "someone's" word against the border inspection). For antique stuff, pretty much doesn't matter what it is (except for instance ivory). there is a 6% tariff. For non-antiques/modern objects the tariff is much higher.

 

 

You are fully right,

currently I am importing a blade after restoration in JP.

Here in Austria you have to pay 10% if the blade is older than 100 years, otherwise you have to pay 20%.

If you buy within EU, no additional cost (except shipping....)

[stephan_hiller]

Hi Fuuten,

 

I don't know if you are referring to importing antiques into Germany or into another EU country. If you are able to prove that an item is antique then you can skip the 1,7% import duty for antique items but you can not skip the VAT (you can skip also the VAT if the FOB value does not exceed 22 € :-) ). For an antique japanes sword (HS code 9307.00.0000) you have to pay 19% import tax into Germany.

 

Furthermore proving that a sword is antique is quite difficult. Any origami (NBTHK/NTHK) stating a period of manufacture is useless as you have to proove in GERMAN by a "known" authority that a sword is antique. Taking into account that you then could only save 1,7% import duty is not worth the hassle.

 

For an overviev of worldwide import duties and VAT please have a look here:

 

http://www.dutycalculator.com/hs-code-duty-rate-import-restrictions/930700/katana-sword/9307.00.0000/9307.00.0000/96/

 

I am importing Japanese swords into Germany now for over 20 years and would be glad if there is a way to avoid (or even reduce) this "nasty" VAT (from non-EU countries).

[Jean]

Stephan,

 

Find an agent in France. He will import the good and pay (if antiques) 5,5%. He can reexport it after within UE without any added taxes.

[Fuuten]

Stephan,

 

apologies, I'm in the Netherlands, what i said was applicable to dutch taxes etc, although the import is because of EU bureaucracy. I was under the impression they were applicable to all countries that are part of the EU(?). Is it like a replacement in Germany for EU importation, or is it on top of it?

 

 

You are fully right,

currently I am importing a blade after restoration in JP.

Here in Austria you have to pay 10% if the blade is older than 100 years, otherwise you have to pay 20%.

If you buy within EU, no additional cost (except shipping....)

 

Yes, because at one point the duties for importing said item into the EU border were already paid for. Its a miracle they don't charge you every time it moves across a border (as far as there are borders in the EU).

[paulb]

Jason

this seems to have become rather a long and confused set of responses. In answer to your original question

You do not pay duty or VAT on importing swords in from the EU

From other parts of the world for antique blades (or any other antiques) you pay 5% VAT and no duty

these things are of course always open to change but as of now it has been stable for some years

regards

Paul

[JasonLee55555]

Thank you very much for all of your kind and knowledgeable replies , I ve not only got the answer of my oringinal question, but also have learnt a lot knowledge regarding the import of a sword outside EU to UK.

So If I want to buy a sword from another EU country to UK, I just simply make the payment and expect the parcel at home.

[Jean]

Yes