Steve Browning

The shipper will produce the commercial invoice and either you will be charged directly (if you are he importer of record) or you will be charged by the shipper, for reimbursement of the various import charges. I would guess you fall under the latter camp. You need to check the incoterms of your agreement with your supplier. It is possible they are not mentioned, of course.

They're here!!!!!!

Hopefully folk have got the message now.

That's interesting (and worrying). That is not the Tariff free that was highlighted. Thanks for pointing that out.

They're in the UK. Getting excited!!!

I used to have one of those amps. It was an absolute killer guitar combo.

The 6 questions below are how HMRC determine whether there is a business. They are 6 points that have arisen from earlier tax cases. The first of these may be open to interpretation but, as I sad, profit is not an issue. I was involved in demonstrating to HMRC that a certain drummer with an interest in Arab horses can still be running a business, even though it ran at a spectacular loss. He could easily afford to subsidise it. The clincher here is that last one. It's not the only one but it's hard to argue against it. Is the activity a serious undertaking earnestly pursued? Is the activity an occupation or function, which is actively pursued with reasonable or recognisable continuity? Does the activity have a certain measure of substance in terms of the quarterly or annual value of taxable supplies made (bearing in mind that exempt supplies can also be business)? Is the activity conducted in a regular manner and on sound and recognised business principles? Is the activity predominately concerned with the making of taxable supplies for a consideration? Are the taxable supplies that are being made of a kind which, subject to differences of detail, are commonly made by those who seek to profit from them? This is probably more than we need to know but my point is that anything we buy could easily be seen to be an asset to be used by such a business. I would imagine that goods we buy will not qualify for any kind of relief or allowance as being 'private'. This may well be irrelevant but I wouldn't want anyone to believe that there is a way of avoiding the costs relating to import. The extract from taunton-hobbit seems to put a threshold of £1k income (not profit) on it. VAT law uses only those 6 questions and that is harder to quantify. You can answer yes to all of those without getting to £1k.

As I have said, we need to be careful how liberally we interpret private use. If we are gigging or getting any reward for our labours then the law says we are a business and any stuff we bring in could be seen as a business asset. This gets a bit tax technical but business doesn't equate to profit.

I have searched for an answer on this and have found none anywhere. It will be chaos to begin with so I think anyone would be loathe to predict. The tax point is fine when dealing with timing issues (which return to include it on or when the rate changes). We are in uncharted water here and I have no idea. I have an unfortunate hunch but I won't express it here as it's no more than that. As we are discovering, the agreement is rather more sieve-like than was originally trumpeted.

I've been 37 years a VAT professional. Shall we do willies next?

I did suggest that but the idea was rejected.

DHL seem to charge £11 or 2.5%, whichever is the greater, as an example. Luckily it looks as though Duty is not going to be charged.

I have never figured out ymmv. What is the phrase? I know I will kick myself.

Absolutely right. We are no longer charged VAT by the EU business but pay UK VAT on importation.

I do the same. A version of Bernard Edwards 'chunking'.

If anyone has his address and phone number, they are welcome to PM with the information, I am happy to report my suspicions to HMRC. I have no qualms about 'snitching' as I don't actually understand anyone's reluctance to report criminal wrongdoing.

You can also report tax fraud online. My VATman past tells me he isn't declaring any tax on any of his activities. This guy doesn't deserve any protection.

The following link is to report a rogue trader to Leicester trading standards. I would say the level of t5rading suggests a business. In any event, it gets awareness of him to one of the right authorities. This is to report a scammer. Victims of his may want to look at this. https://ssl.datamotion.com/form.aspx?co=3438&frm=general&to=flare.fromforms

Delivery due on Wednesday next week. Fingers crossed!!!!!

Just heard from Kris (the artist relations guy) that my amps are about to be shipped. Not too long to wait now. Very cheery news for Christmas!!

The current crises (impending Brexit and covid) means that many containers are in the wrong place. That on top of all the chaos at the ports. Logistics are impossible at the moment and so it is no wonder we are experiencing these delays. No help here but that's the reality of it at the moment.

This is perfectly true. To that end, reporting him to the police could bring him the support he clearly needs. He is stealing from other people as we speak (or attempting to).

Excellent choice, you won't regret that. I am trying to tell myself a Subway 2x12 isn't a good idea I can picture the 2x15's and a 2x12 powered by the TT 800s.

Definitely this. Stuff like that takes on a life of its own and there are those who would say no smoke without fire. However ridiculous I would nip that in the bud.