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Spudmurphy

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Aug 23, 2005
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Cardiff, United Kingdom
You were worried about this at the time ya got the guitar and you posted a thread on it. - I thought that you may have to end up paying tax/duty at a later date - seems like my suspicions were right.

I guess you factored the VAT/import duty into the end price ? - which I bleeb is roughly the cost of the guitar + postage costs = total cost. Then
Total cost times roughly 20% = your tax bill?

Here, have a tissue. ;)
 

Pittman75

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Sep 18, 2007
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414
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Massachusetts, US
You guys should throw a Guitar Party! We in america did the same thing, only...with tea...that didn't turn out so well...I wouldn't actually see the point in throwing EBMM's off a boat.....sooo.....

On second thought, pay the taxes ;)
 

Multiversal

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Jul 31, 2007
Messages
687
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Boston, MA
I don't care what kind of party you throw as long as I get to wear a mawashi loincloth.

what1.jpg




What is the deal with taxing it out the ass like that? I don't understand.
 

Spudmurphy

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Aug 23, 2005
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Cardiff, United Kingdom
^
VAT (Value added tax) is 17.5%, and if you purchase any non VAT exempt item in this country you pay VAT of 17.5%.

(Other EU countries have their own rates of "VAT".)

On top of that is 2 - 3% import duty. - These taxes are charged on the cost of the guitar plus the postal charge.

The MRRP of guitars in the UK is higher than that in the USA because of the cost to EB for the import duties freight charges and the cost of the distribution network.

We, in the UK have learned to live with it, as it is the same with many other commodities.
 

Petersonic

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Dec 13, 2007
Messages
81
Well, there ARE ways around import taxes, some of them even legal... ;)
Here we have to pay 62,5% import tax plus 18,5% into the result. Plus, local music store owners aren't exactly the best people around, so you can see why we learn (and are happy to) to avoid import taxes...
Anyway, congrats on the new guitar. Even with the taxes, it's worth it!
 

Spudmurphy

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Aug 23, 2005
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Cardiff, United Kingdom
That's insane.

I know what you mean, but insane no.
Hard to accept - yes.

I remember when I was in the US being stung for taxes when I purchased commodities - a state tax I think it was?

If we didn't have taxes we would be still throwing our slops into the middle of the road, we would not be governed via our current monarchy but by a foreign dictatorship and we'd all prolly have a life expectancy of 38 because of the lack of medical care.

We have to pay taxes because we are not for example like the UAE or Monaco, who rely on sources of revenue other than Taxes. (UAE = Aluminium(yesirree) and oil) Monaco (gambling taxes).

UK = Income Tax PAYE & SA, VAT, petroleum tax, Corporation tax,Capital Gains tax,import tax, gambling taxes,death duties, inheritance tax,National Insurance contributions Classes 1, 2 & 4 blah blah blah.

I've paid taxes for over 30 years and it hurts baby, it hurts!!
 

Beth

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Aug 16, 2002
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Indio
Well, there ARE ways around import taxes, some of them even legal... ;)
Here we have to pay 62,5% import tax plus 18,5% into the result. Plus, local music store owners aren't exactly the best people around, so you can see why we learn (and are happy to) to avoid import taxes...
Anyway, congrats on the new guitar. Even with the taxes, it's worth it!

WOW, where are you?
 

Petersonic

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Dec 13, 2007
Messages
81
WOW, where are you?

Brazil.
The percentage varies depending on what you're importing, but for musical instruments and CDs it's the rates I mentioned. Not sure which one of them is the import tax, but since you have to pay both when importing stuff, I never really bothered to learn...
 

MrMusashi

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Mar 26, 2007
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69 degrees north
there will always be price differences, because of freight, import tax, value added tax and a distributor in between there who also have to make money!

MrM
 

colinboy

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Apr 15, 2007
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Corkcity,Ireland
i dont mind paying tax because that what makes the world go round but there is such thing as taking the piss and thats whats happening these days with too much tax going on every damn thing the can get away with.
 

peat

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Sep 15, 2005
Messages
317
Location
Sydney
just get whoever is sending it to you to mark it with a much lower price
and maybe get insurance and hope it doesnt get lost

i should have done this when i bought a mark IV from the states
$400 AUD import duty !!!
 

TNT

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Joined
Aug 18, 2005
Messages
3,576
Location
Oakland - Raider Nation!
RIP OFF!!!!

Taxes don't make the world go round - that's what the politicians want the citizenry to "accept and think."

That is sooooooooooo farrrrrrrrrrr above a logical, reasonable, fee - BUT if they can get away with it they certainly will!!

I give BP all the credit in the world for trying so hard to keep an American company going, especially when he is discouraged at every single turn by this government.

I guess our great leaders won't be happy until EVERY single American company folds, and ALL our products (not just 97%) come from China.

I HATE GOVERNMENT - Let freedom ring!!
 

Spudmurphy

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Aug 23, 2005
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Cardiff, United Kingdom
The import tax works out in this example to be about £25.

The rest is attributable to VAT and we pay VAT on everything except :-
*Food
* Books and Booklets including newspapers and journals
* Public transport
* Goods exported outside the European Union
* Certain goods and services supplied to Charities
* and I bleeb childrens clothes

Current legislation does not exempt guitars from VAT.
 

Spudmurphy

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Aug 23, 2005
Messages
12,037
Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
^ MMMmmmmmm - (thinks!!) now if EB were to set up shop in the EU then (if say the Factory was in Paris), then I would not have to pay VAT just import duty.
 
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