Import duty and TVA

[Stevehudson]

Does anyone have experience of buying items from the USA and having them delivered to France. I am considering purchasing an expensive watch and the prices available in America are around 40% cheaper than I can find in europe. However, I expect to have to pay import duty and TVA so the savings may not be worth the trouble. Any information welcomed.

Thanks

Steve

[Nick Trollope]

In theory, import duty is (on a watch, i believe) 11% and VAT is 19.6% = 30%, so not much cheaper. If your package gets caught by Les Douanes, then you will pay a admin fee, so it will probably work out more expensive.

Of course, if it doesn't get checked, then it will cost you nothing (apart, of course, from a guilty conscience.......).

You makes yer savings and yer takes the risk.. Do yer feel lucky, Punk.. well do yer .... ?

I've bought about 30 items via eBay from the states & have never been caught (perhaps 50% to France).

 

[Jacks]

We have just bought some headlights from ebay in America, they were 108 dollars each, when UPS delivered them we had to pay another 80 euros import duty.