Importing - small scale

[Hayles]

Hi all

This is my first posting - hope I've put it in the right place!

I have a close friend in Thailand who's wife is a dressmaker. She can make evening dresses for me much cheaper than I can buy them in the UK. Would I have to register to buy say, 20, per month from her to sell in my shop? All the info I've read on importing is scaring me off but I wonder if there's an easier way? DHL say they can take care of all the regulations but not sure if I need to employ them for such a small volume?

Hayles

[Jayne]

Hi,

Don't know the answer to this one...but welcome to the forum :D

You may want to put an hello in the introductions too :D

Best Wishes

Jayne

[Hayles]

I have (I think!) put an entry on the introduction page.

Thank you!
H

[ink4-u]

i have imported from China before, what a trouble. DHL what a rip off, unfortunatley i can't remo anyone else. Importing doesnt have to be so hard, all you really need to watch out for is import tax. The only think you can get away with import tax with is a gift. IF YOU GET MY MEANING!

[Tauctionshop.co.uk]

ink4-u === The only think you can get away with import tax with is a gift. IF YOU GET MY MEANING!

Hi
ink4-u how many times you can import a parcels as a gift to avoid paying import tax ?

[ink4-u]

as many gifts as you need to send. as long as they are gifts of course, but i dont suppose how anone would know.

[Hayles]

I guess the problem I'd face with having the dresses sent to me as gifts would be accounting for them in my books....?

I'm hoping there's a scheme for small scale importing. Anyone have any business colleagues who import?

Hayles

[fastfences]

Hi,
You'll be in heaps of trouble when the 'gifts' are randomly inspected and found to be of all different sizes. You'll have to have a good 'story' about your fluctuating weight!

If you're thinking about commencing a business, there really is no advantage in trying to start off on the wrong foot. Why jeopardise the whole venture by trying to cheat? Better to start properly 'up front' then later look at 'streamlining' the venture.

You'll get some good advice tomorrow when a great many of forum members have heaps of time to spare during their day dabbling on UKBF :lol: :lol:

Cheers, Nigel

[ink4-u]

good luck anyway. but good luck with a scheme because the way the goverment see it is TAX is TAX and it has to bhe paid. thats that. :-)

[Hayles]

There MUST be a human rights aspect here somewhere.... surely they can't penalise me with vat for my new found medical condition?!

Many thanks for your replies and I'll wait til I've heard from a few people on here before I decide how to approach HM Customs and Excise.

H

[ink4-u]

give them a call they were very helpful to be!

[IMEX Sourcing Services]

Hi hayles,

I import from India, and when i first began reading through all the help files and everything on the customs site it was scary, but once you begin, its not really that difficult.

There are local business education teams, which can really help. You can contact the BEST team in your region by phoning the National Advice Service on
+44 (0)845 010 9000.

Also I have got loads of documentation collected from different sites, while I was in the learning process. Let me know, if you want me to forward it you.

Ash