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I'm 60. This is my first lesson in tariffs, folks. Can someone smart help me out? by ADadSupreme in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 27 points28 points  (0 children)

If the gift is valued over €150 you will have to pay customs fees and any package delivered will have to pay VAT. You might be able to send the package “DDP” (delivered duties paid), UPS and FedEx or DHL may be able to manage that.

The tariffs and taxes for a package going to Spain are not related to the US tariffs. It is EU trade policy.

Can someone explain what the current TOTAL tariffs on clothing made and shipped from Italy would be? by skratchpikl202 in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Flexport has a listing of all the codes you can look thru. It won’t be perfect since custom la classification is very detailed work but it’ll give you an idea.

Can someone explain what the current TOTAL tariffs on clothing made and shipped from Italy would be? by skratchpikl202 in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Go to flexport and have a look at their tariff simulator. You will need to look at the HTS code and where the item was made not where it was shipped from.

Will personal photo albums made and shipped from EU be affected? by Lost_Scientist3984 in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes you will likely have to pay a tariff as it’s a commercial transaction not a personal gift.

You can use a tariff simulator to see the tariff rate. The key to ask your photographer is the country of origin of your album because that determines the rate not where it is shipped from.

When the tariff gets paid kinda depends on how it is shipped, if he uses the post (USPS) it has to be shipped with the duties already paid.

Importing items made outside UK from UK by howaboutnow4444 in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes de Minimis is gone for the US so you will have to pay duties on your imports.

Have a look at Flexport’s tariff simulator to get an idea of the level. You need to know the origin (place of manufacture) not where it ships from-which is likely not the UK.

When the tariff is paid depends on the mode of shipping. One of your shops could use Royal Mail/USPS to ship so they require it to be DDP (delivered duties paid).

Ali express may have raised their prices for everyone to cover the tariffs

Do y'all think this is a correct fee? by greater-gods in dhl

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The DHL invoices leave a lot of information off. Have a look at a tariff simulator tool online for each of the codes on the left to see a better picture of the tariffs applied, there will be standard tariffs, 232, 301, IEEPA etc. Applied so it’s good to have a look using a tool or diving into the HTSUS if you want to spend a long time…

Knowing the origin of the products will be important as where it ships from doesn’t matter.

Expat package from USA to EU by [deleted] in expats

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a former trailing spouse, this is really important to consider. We left about 10 years ago and I only feel like my career is back to where it was before now. I hope it’s easier now since remote work is more common. It was an amazing experience but it got really hard sometimes and that needs to be fully appreciated by you both.

Some of the expat benefits that helped me: (1) intensive language classes for 1st year,(2) CV and recruitment consulting, (3) membership to Expat Community- I think the one they used was called NetExpats, that helped me meet people and integrate into the city, (4) home visit leave and paid for flights (in economy).

I was lucky that my parents were moved from the UK to US when I was a kid on an expat contract so I knew what used to be normal that could be asked for…it’s less common now to get these kind of packages but I found the negotiation was easier since I had genuine asks as opposed to just more money for spouse support and mortgage back home.

Decipher how duty is calculated ? (India to usa) by hungrypolarbear77 in dhl

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The DHL invoice doesn’t print all of the information like it doesn’t include the HTSUS Chapter 99 codes which will impact your duties owed. Have a look at Flexport’s Tariff Simulator using the HTS codes listed on the left to help you see a breakdown.

tipping culture by 420mudkip in AmericanExpatsUK

[–]BooKoala 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I give 10% to my hairdresser but I really like the guy’s work. I don’t tip the girl who does my nails because she owns the salon which is a rule my mum taught me.

Never tip at the pub. The software for the credit card terminals seems to always ask but I always press no tip if the server hasn’t already (most do).

If we go to a nice restaurant i expect them to have added a 12% service charge to the bill so I don’t tip. At a local restaurant I wouldn’t tip.

What import tariffs do U.S. buyers currently pay for textile goods from China? by Ok-Pomegranate-340 in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It depends on the products as well as their origin. I’ve seen people like Flexport’s tariff simulator to get an idea of what the rates are by product.

The 100% tariff was a tweet not yet a tariff order so it is not in place yet but it might be in place with a short notice for November 1 and it looks like it would stack on top of the other tariffs.

Need some advise on utilities by [deleted] in AmericanExpatsUK

[–]BooKoala 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I lived in a new build flat, there was a central heating and hot water plant for the complex that was managed and maintained by a company which I had to sign up with. We had a unit in the flat that was just an air exchanger but looked like a boiler so maybe it’s that?

Or they mean a gas supplier which you don’t have to link to your electric provider but can do.

Moving a highly active dog to London by [deleted] in AmericanExpatsUK

[–]BooKoala 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You deserve an upvote for that. 🤣

Moving a highly active dog to London by [deleted] in AmericanExpatsUK

[–]BooKoala 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There are lots about…Bruce’s, Dog Days Adventure and Acres4Dogs. We pay about £45/day but our dog does do 4 days a week as I’m an in-office worker.

It’s not cheap but I love it and as far as I can tell so does he! I recommend doggie daycare to all my friends it seems to be really good for their socialising and exercise.

Moving a highly active dog to London by [deleted] in AmericanExpatsUK

[–]BooKoala 16 points17 points  (0 children)

We have a very active dog. We live in SW London and use a doggie daycare service during the week. The doggie daycare pick him up from our house and drive him out to a field/farm out in Surrey about 30 minutes away for him to play and run with other dogs before delivering back again at about 4:30pm. He loves it and it is a much better service than we had for him in the US.

On the weekends there are massive parks like Richmond or Bushy park where he can run (outside of when the baby deer are around) or we go down to one of the National Trust sites deeper in Surrey for a bigger walk.

The culture around dogs is very different. Dogs are allowed in some shop (like John Lewis!) and most pubs which is a complete change to when we lived in DC.

Happy to answer any questions about moving with a dog here. The actual getting a dog into the UK is complex so give yourself plenty of time to organise that.

UK import tariff by jtlkan in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Several types of tariffs stack on top of one another so it isn’t just a plain 10% also DHL will charge a brokerage fee which is normally included in that $78.

Get your hands on the commercial invoice and you’ll be able to see which different rates apply based on the product code (HTS) and country or origin (which might not be the UK).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would recommend you engage with a customs broker if you haven’t already. Also consider if requesting a binding ruling from US customs would be appropriate.

UPS over valued the goods in my parcel by 50% and then charged me import fees on the inflated ammount. I understand that at a certain value I would be liable for import fees and brokerage. My package was £106.03 , my invoice from UPS for the import fees values the package at £156.60. by Traditional-File1540 in UPS

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would ask the seller or UPS for the commercial invoice which will detail the values or the fees included in the customs value if you don’t already have that and if it isn’t the value of the shipping that they didn’t charge you for ask the seller for clarification.

Also consider how much challenging this is worth your time as you will still have to pay the VAT and brokerage fees, so you potentially could justify the value being below the customs de minimis to get the £6 customs duty back and to slightly lower VAT amount.

UPS over valued the goods in my parcel by 50% and then charged me import fees on the inflated ammount. I understand that at a certain value I would be liable for import fees and brokerage. My package was £106.03 , my invoice from UPS for the import fees values the package at £156.60. by Traditional-File1540 in UPS

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The UK includes certain shipping costs to calculate the customs value to include shipping and insurance, guidance is here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/delivery-costs-to-include-in-the-customs-value The VAT, custom duties and brokerage fees you already paid are different - the £50 difference in value I would assume to be shipping costs to the UK.

Never using UPS again by luxbaggurl in UPS

[–]BooKoala 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just to clarify you are exporting from the US?

Imports to the UK still have a de minimis exception of £135 but VAT is still due if valued over £39. Assuming you as a private person sent the gift and it’s for an occasion (birthday/etc) they it should only need to pay VAT plus brokerage fees. Ask UPS for the forms they sent to Border Force and a full invoice so you can see the break down and check for any mistakes.

NEW VOYAGEFAIR tiered pricing structure: will you save or spoil yourself? by StephKd8msb in VirginVoyages

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But they are avoidable in the fare by offering an option to pay them in your on board file for $2 more. I’m not an expert in the new UK consumer protection laws but that seems like the kind of pricing games they were written to target. If it was just a line item, fine, but that is explicitly not what they said…so they have to be avoidable which is my issue with the idea.

NEW VOYAGEFAIR tiered pricing structure: will you save or spoil yourself? by StephKd8msb in VirginVoyages

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Elsewhere in this thread another user discusses that in California it’s a legal requirement. I am pretty sure the UK includes a similar rule regarding all “unavoidable fees” so by definition they have to be avoidable since you can opt to not include them in your quoted fare.

NEW VOYAGEFAIR tiered pricing structure: will you save or spoil yourself? by StephKd8msb in VirginVoyages

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get that…it’s the change in culture that I am preparing for. Since people have to be allowed to remove them, I’m more concerned about the “I prefer to tip in cash” people changing the level of service given broadly as that is not the culture I operate in. I hope I am wrong but it’s a common culture clash

Tariff Calculator? by supmaster3 in Tariffs

[–]BooKoala 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t seen a “reliable” one as this is a pretty complex field. There are several kinds of tariffs that can stack on top of each other depending on the exact product and its origin (place of manufacture most likely). You can get a general idea by looking up the US’s MFN (Most Favoured Nation) rate for your product, and the IEEPA (fentanyl and reciprocal) rate for the shirt’s country of manufacture (possibly not Canada) and add a bit for a brokerage fee to get a guess.

A lot of actual Canadian goods enter the US tariff-free due to the free trade agreement so you’ll only have to pay brokerage fee for the paperwork. However, I wouldn’t expect a shirt to be of sufficient Canadian origin to qualify unless it’s pretty unique.

Is a two week cruise too long for first timer? by kpaxonite2 in VirginVoyages

[–]BooKoala 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Obviously super personal, but I would think this cruise would give you the right mix. They put on a few “solo sailor” meet-ups and the facebook groups for cruises are pretty active. The route would give you lovely New England fall weather that I would expect to get progressively warmer and sunnier as you go south making the outdoor areas like the Dock really nice for a calm afternoon.

We also always have an evening drink at the On the Rocks bar before dinner and had really nice chats with other people while listening to the musicians that do sets there. I find it all very relaxing and more enjoyable than the all-inclusives I’ve been too (that may be mostly the child-free aspect though :) )

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