- This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 16 years ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Hey guys,
I live in Finland and getting any decent hardware here is impossible. I’m keen to pickup and NC10 and was ready to pull the trigger on OCUK but I thought I should ask first – I’m leaving the EU in a month and it’d be great to be able to claim back the VAT on this. But is that possible if I buy the computer online from the UK, receive it here in Finland and then leave? So far I have spoken to OCUK and Finnish customs but they were no help. This is probably the wrong place to ask but I thought it’d be worth a shot!
Cheers!
I’ve not done this with brand new computer equipment but I have done it with brand new car parts (don’t ask lol).
In essence it’s up to the company. If Finland is outside of the EU then it can be sent there at no VAT (although there’s usually a surcharge of £25 to non EU countries).
Basically the company you’re buying from is able to send it to you with no VAT charge IF they themselves are VAT registered.
If you went to the UK to buy it though, and then took it back to Finland, you’d have to pay UK VAT upon purchase and sadly I don’t think you’ll have much luck in getting this back.
Not sure I’m making this particularly clear so sorry about that!
If you pay for the product in the UK but get the company to send the item to Finland then you can in effect pay no VAT, as it’s being sent out of the UK (and EU). If you took it back with you on the plane then you’ll have to suffer VAT.
I believe that’s correct but by all means I should say don’t take my word for it. It’s also up to the company whether they want to do it or not as it is sometimes more hassel for them. They’ll have to fill in extensive annoying customs forms and declare the items being sent, plus will require your full details in Finland to where it’s being sent. Some countries also require your unique personal ID card (if your contry issues one) unless it’s being sent to a company (your company) in which case they will want your VAT number.
It all gets a little confusing and basically they’re trying to make it difficult for individuals to do!
I think you can buy VAT free from shops in the UK (Harrods springs to mind – not that I shop there lol). There is some stuff on their page here. But if you are shipping out to Finland via an online order I guess they would look up the EU status and that would decide it.
For what it’s worth any advice you get on an internet forum should be taken as a rough guide, try and check with official sources to get a real answer. I’m sure you knew that anyway!
And if you have to pay VAT, be glad that you are contributing to the Great British economy ;)!
yeah it will depend entirely on the company and who you speak to.
the legality of it is that because you are buying from outside the eu you don’t HAVE to pay vat, but most companies doing online orders will not factor this in and the price is a standard charge.
you would probably have to phone them up and order directly and ask about this.Thanks for all the replies guys. Finland is in the EU so there’s no escaping VAT. I’ve checked and checked and I think that if I want this computer, I’ll just have to cop it on the chin. A bit of a shame seeing as I could order it from home (Australia) and the total would be less even though it’s tens of thousands of kms further away! I’m waiting to hear back from HMRC about it but yeah, not hopeful.
Yep Finland being in the EU means VAT’s gotta be paid like you said.
I think we’re all agreed that even including VAT the NC10 is great value for money though 🙂
Well I have perhaps found a small way to make my situation better. If I buy from Dixons and use the discount codes, I can get it delivered to my mate in England for 289gbp (along with a 4gb cruzer flash drive, why not use the 10 gbp coupon eh?). Then 11 gbp for 2kg Royal Mail to Finland and thats bang on 300gbp. Sure wouldn’t get the VAT off but in my eyes its better than paying 320 gbp. Lets see how I go 🙂
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.