Well you went with your guitar didnt you?! ?

Nah I'd rather jut pay it. I just have no idea how much it is going to be.

Well, definitely VAT then....
But sometimes not even!

Take the neck off, put it in your backpack and tune them you intend to fix it and "sing kumbaya beside a campfire". Just hope and pray the customs official knows jack about guitars.

It might get a little awkward if the official ask" Nice!, fully loaded Music Man Jpm in mystic dream finish. Whoa! How much did you pay for this?"

If it's a personal item you are bringing back with you, you are not required to pay customs on it.

I bought a guitar from USA and bought it back and I didn't pay any customs because it was a personal item they said?

buy a secondhand one, or play it extensively on your travels, wont be new then

Best you can hope for is a rule or formula. Exact amount to be paid - if there is an amount - will depend on the value of the instrument.

there is no import duties on guitars, new or otherwise..

if stopped, use customs tariff code 9202.90 for an acoustic guitar or code 9207.90 for an electric guitar..

so u may be asked to pay VAT, but not duties.

Thanks guys.

OK just got off the phone with customs.

It's official: no import duties on musical instruments but one does pay VAT on the price of the instrument + 10%

So formula is (cost *1.1) * 1.14

Conrad

Okay, so what is the extra 10% for then? ???

excuse if its a dumb question, but i would REALLY like to know!

To ensure that the neck and body are not delivered to you on separate days ?

Can't remember what it's called, but I have seen the charge on other itmes I've ordered from overseas. Think it's some kind of levy/ad valorem duty.

Thanks Rob!

But then it isn't just VAT, as that would still count as duties?!
or am i being stupid? :-\

I don't have the answer to that. I suspect that customs might also not know.

Anyone want a slightly 2nd hand kidney? Discount for GFSA members.

Norman, the 10% is supposed to be for a forex correction factor (or something like that) so it is probably just a way to charge 10% more Vat. Same question could be asked why we are paying all these Green Taxes, is the government using these taxes to save the planet or for election campaigns, luxury cars and parties??? > > > (The tax on plastic bags is a good example, what has the tax raised been spent on? It was originally going to pay for recycling plants......that was about 7 years ago).

Thanks Prince...
As i thought... its duties under a different name!

But thankfully it isn't a large amount (14% * 10%) extra.