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Importing scopes?

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Importing scopes?

Postby Judge Ali » Thu Oct 18, 2012 5:57 pm

Hello all,

Am certain this has been discussed several times here before but if I purchase a scope from USA what is likelihood of it getting stopped and what will charges be if it is?

I have an ex in NY that I can have it shipped to who will re-wrap it as a gift and then post onto me if that helps?

Worth it or not? Anyone else done it? Please don't incriminate yerselves....

Cheers
Alex
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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby flintlok » Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:53 pm

This has been discussed on the site in other posts. Generally hunting scopes are ok to export to the UK from the US without an export permit. Military scopes and their components, i.e. scopes or components that been specially adopted by the military and had an assigned military part numbers (built to military specification) fall under the ITAR regulations and required an export permit. This gets confusing for lots of export folks also but things like and ACOG or an EO Tech are easily identified as military scopes. A Leupold rifle scopes designed for hunting would typically be considered a dual purpose scope and wouldn’t present a problem for export to the UK without a license. Note that Leupold does make some military issued scopes also. There are certain places that a black listed by the regulation and are illegal to export any kind of rifle scope to. Those countries would be instantly red flagged such as Libya or North Korea. That’s not the case with the UK.

From the US State Department (I copied this off of the net but I have done the research and contacted the folks at commerce about this issue before)

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT

MARCH 4, 2004

We have received the Commodity Jurisdiction determination for the mil dot reticle and the riflescopes that have a mil dot reticle.

The State Department has ruled that mil dot reticle or riflescopes with a mil dot reticle are not subject to the licensing jurisdiction of the Department of State, if the item is specifically designed for commercial applications or used without modification/adaptation for military applications.

The mil dot reticle and riflescopes that have a mil dot reticle are subject to the licensing jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. In accordance with the Export Administration Regulations, issued by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), riflescopes (ECCN 0A987) including any applicable parts or accessories are controlled for crime control and the firearms convention treaty. Riflescopes must have an export license prior to exiting the <ST1:COUNTRY-REGIoN w:st="on">U.S.A.</ST1:COUNTRY-REGIoN> to most countries. The Commerce Country Chart located in the Export Administration Regulations, Supplement 1 to Part 738 is a comprehensive list of the countries for which an export license is required. The latest issue to date of the Commerce Country Chart is attached for your reference. For future updates refer to the homepage of the Bureau of Industry and Security at www.bis.doc.gov. Once at the homepage click on policies and regulations, then export administration regulations (EAR), then EAR website, then EAR database, go to Supplement 1 to Part 738 for the listing.

A State Department license is required prior to shipment to any customer in any country, if the mil dot reticle or riflescopes with mil dot reticle are specifically designed, developed, configured, adapted or modified for use on United States Munitions List (USML) controlled items. Controlled items are subject to the licensing jurisdiction of the Department of State in accordance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR 120 through 130).


If the scope is built to military specification for use by the military it is governed by the U.S. State Department. The actual restrictions are spelled out in detail under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), more specifically under The United States Munitions List Part 121.1, 22 CFR Ch. 1, f. Riflescopes and sighting devices that are not manufactured to military specifications qualify as "commercial items and are governed by the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
U.S. State Department International Trade Administration Regulations (ITAR)
http://www.pmdtc.org/consolidated_itar.htm
http://www.pmdtc.org/reference.htm
Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby Judge Ali » Thu Oct 18, 2012 7:59 pm

Thanks for reply & info.

Scope in question is zeiss hunting scope and seller has already stated there is no issue with export to UK. Am wondering about what happens when it arrives with customs, import tax, etc....... If I am going to end up coughing up 20% vat on top of the £600 it's costing then all of a sudden it appears a lot less of a bargain!

Just wondering it anyone here had actually done it or know anyone who has?
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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby leadpig » Thu Oct 18, 2012 8:10 pm

duty calculator :)
http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-impor ... /99358610/
i looked into getting a sightron from the states,i worked out that if i got hit by the duty it would be dearer than buying from aimfieldsports ;)
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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby Triffid » Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:31 pm

Seen it, done it, paid the VAT.

If it's being imported by one of the main courier/postal services, you'll wind up paying VAT on what the declared value (ie on the shipping label) is. If you ship it via your ex, she'll still have to declare a value for it. I understand that most shops will only declare the full value of an item.

You pay 4.2% import duty, then 20% VAT on top of that (so you pay VAT on the import duty).

Worked out nicely for me though, particularly when Swarovski was having 30% price reduction across North America last year . . .
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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby crazyfrog » Fri Oct 19, 2012 12:08 am

If you check all the info, the buggers will even nail you if it is declared as a gift, they get you all ways.......
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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby Hornet 6 » Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:21 am

Triffid wrote:You pay 4.2% import duty, then 20% VAT on top of that (so you pay VAT on the import duty).

Worked out nicely for me though, particularly when Swarovski was having 30% price reduction across North America last year . . .
Triffid


You pay the duty and tax on the shipping cost as well, not to mention the surcharge Parcel Farce demand.
The chances of it slipping through, about 2% if your lucky.
As for a -30% deal on Swarovski, I just bought one from McCleods, list price 1k, paid £500 listed as grade 2, it was in fact brand new and bever been out the box.

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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby MikeAI » Fri Oct 19, 2012 1:12 pm

Am I not right in thinking that 2nd hand items don't attract duty? Get her to buy it open all the packaging etc and then re-send to you!
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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby Hornet 6 » Fri Oct 19, 2012 4:51 pm

MikeAI wrote:Am I not right in thinking that 2nd hand items don't attract duty? Get her to buy it open all the packaging etc and then re-send to you!


Nope paid duty on declared second hand ones as well, same rate of duty :(

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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby Judge Ali » Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:23 pm

Thanks for all info. Sounds like its going to be more trouble than its worth to be honest. I should have just picked one up myself when I was in US this summer but didn't need one then!

I guess am buying local instead. Will pay a bit more but don't have to much around as much.
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Re: Importing scopes?

Postby Hornet 6 » Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:30 pm

Alex Gibbs wrote:I guess am buying local instead. Will pay a bit more but don't have to much around as much.


You won't pay over the odds here http://www.rmacleod.co.uk/optical.htm

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