United Kingdom - Import Tariffs United Kingdom - Import Tariffs
Customs duty is assessed on the fair market value of imported goods at the time they are landed in the UK. Import prices for products entering the UK from non-EU states generally consist of: Cost, Insurance, Freight and Duty, with standard VAT of 20% levied on the aggregate value. VAT is reduced to5% for some goods and services such as children’s car seats and home energy. VAT is further reduced to 0% for certain goods such as food and chi;dren’s clothing. More information on VAT can be found by visiting VAT Rates.
The commercial invoice value is usually accepted as the normal price, but if a preferential arrangement has been established between the overseas supplier and the importer, or an unrealistic value has been declared, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reserves the right to assess a fair market value for duty purposes. The duty is payable at the time the goods are imported, but established importers can defer payment for, on average, 30 days. In addition to customs duties on imported goods, an excise tax is levied on in-country sales of alcohol, tobacco, and road vehicles, and on sales of oil and petroleum products.
The applicable import duty and excise tax rates can be obtained from U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Centers.
The Integrated Tariff of the Community, referred to as TARIC (Tarif Intégré de la Communauté), is designed to show various rules applying to specific products being imported into the customs territory of the EU or, in some cases, when exported from it. To determine if a license is required for a particular product, check the TARIC.
The TARIC can be searched by country of origin, Harmonized System (HS) Code, and product description on the interactive website of the Directorate-General for Taxation and the Customs Union. In the UK, the Tariff database is maintained by HMRC.