Importing & SARS (Customs)

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XennoX

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So I'm looking at importing a leather jacket from the UK. Cost is 195 pounds (hopefully ex VAT as I'm not a UK citizen). My plan is to ship it to a buddy of mine in the UK and then get him to use my other buddy's courier company to bring it here.

Have a couple of questions:

1. Is SARS going to zap me on the import? If yes, how much am I expecting?
2. Is their a way around this? i.e., getting my buddy to remove the tags, pull it out of the bag and send a document along that says "You left your jacket here, just returning it."
3. Alternative is, anybody dealt with Vivante Leather? How much are they going to charge to create a jacket for riding purposes?
 
You're not likely to be able to avoid paying UK VAT. Only likely possibility is if the item is shipped from somewhere in the EU, and then only if sent to you, not the UK.

Duties on the leather jacket will be 30%, unless it was made in the EU/UK, then 20%. Plus VAT at 14%. Total cost approximately GBP292, assuming it was not made in the UK and the 195 price includes UK VAT.

If you attempt to sneak it by as you describe it may get stopped and you'll be asked to present proof it was purchased within South Africa, as well as perhaps proof that you have recently been in the UK.
 
If you can get someone to strip all the labels and wear the jacket when coming in or pack it in a luggage bag and made to look like it has been worn a few times, you can skip on the import duty.
 
You dont feel comfortable having this item posted to you?
 
Mystic Twilight said:
If you can get someone to strip all the labels and wear the jacket when coming in or pack it in a luggage bag and made to look like it has been worn a few times, you can skip on the import duty.
Click to expand...
There's no need to remove anything other than the price tag if a foreigner is going to come over wearing it or with it in their luggage.

seanyp00h said:
Just get your buddies delivery man to wear the jacket ;)
Click to expand...
The problem is they'd have to fly someone over here wearing it.
 
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