Has anyone done this post brexshit?
Apparently import duties are about 4% on frames which isn’t too bad compared to full bikes.
VAT is confusing the hell out of me though. Iv been looking at LAST and liteville frames and the prices include 19% VAT…I’m guessing this is German VAT as UK is 20% (I think).
When I contact sellers to enquire I am told I should expect to pay uk VAT on top. This makes them unaffordable. Surely I should not be paying VAT twice??

Posted 10 months ago

Apparently import duties are about 4% on frames which isn’t too bad compared to full bikes.

Made in the EU? Or just shipping from there?

(I’m not sure where Last frames are made).

VAT, in theory your supplier doesn’t charge you VAT, and you pay on delivery. Or they use a specialist company to allow you to pay UK VAT in advance. In reality they might not be prepared to do all the work to sort it for you because at the moment they’re busy trying to fulfil more straightforward EU orders.

Posted 10 months ago

This makes them unaffordable. Surely I should not be paying VAT twice??

Agreed. Assuming it’s not a (very) cheap frame, you need to find a seller that gives you the exc VAT price.

Posted 10 months ago

Last aluminium frames are manufactured in Asia, Carbon inn Germany. They offer collection in person which may be an option

Posted 10 months ago

Sounds like you need a holiday in Germany. Take any BSO over with you, donate to local charity shop then collect your lovely new bike. Use it on your holiday then return home.

Obviously you declare it when you come back to the UK.

Posted 10 months ago

I would absolutely visit to collect… the problem is there is also long waiting lists to contend with…also still think I might end up paying VAT twice unless I hide it in the car

Posted 10 months ago

German sites will take the 19% VAT off your purchase price when shipping to the UK. You will be asked to pay the import duty and 20% UK VAT between it arriving in the UK and delivery to you.

Posted 10 months ago

Last aluminium frames are manufactured in Asia

4%

Carbon inn Germany.

0%

there is also long waiting lists to contend with

Which is why, at this point, they may prefer to sell hassle free to EU customers, rather than jumping through hoops to sort the vat for you. Think of that 19% as a charge for the hassle, time and additional cost of sorting out a UK order post-Brexit. When supply/demand for bikes calms down, and our import procedures get finalised and settle down, I’m sure they’ll put the time and effort in to make buying from the UK easier. They might even be working on it right now, but over the last 18 months dealing with Brexit hasn’t been the top priority for all companies inside the EEA & CU.

Posted 10 months ago

Ordered a GX cassette from Germany the other day. Will share the import bill breakdown when it arrives. Import duty won’t match but VAT portion should.

Posted 10 months ago

I never paid German Vat on my last frame

Posted 10 months ago

Which is why, at this point, they may prefer to sell hassle free to EU customers, rather than jumping through hoops to sort the vat for you. Think of that 19% as a

This I think is pretty much what I’m experiencing. It’s possible to click buy with the vat included price but when you try to ask for a vat free price communication breaks down.

Too much hassle when bikes are flying off shelves. 100% understandable given the circumstances

Posted 10 months ago

It might just require speaking to the right person. Always worth asking twice, or asking for it to be escalated. It not being automatic yet is understandable. Good luck. The Carbon Lasts look lovely (I spent half an hour looking through their range this morning, after seeing this thread).

Posted 10 months ago

Last cinto in raw would be my dream bike but sooo expensive…also love the liteville mk15 works….to replace my old mk10

Love the versatility of these bikes as I don’t know whether I want to go full 29er or mullet

Posted 10 months ago

If you go through the checkout and select UK delivery on the last website then German vat is removed.

If you want to collect it from Germany then they’ll have to charge you vat.

You*should* be able to reclaim that vat from German customs before you bring it back to the UK.

But you will then need to pay UK import duty and vat.

Posted 10 months ago

But you will then need to pay UK import duty and vat.

Be prepared to pay both, however I was not charged import duty only vat on mine

Posted 10 months ago

There should be no import duty to pay, if they get the paperwork right for you, assuming it’s a (mostly) EU made frame. Might be wise to buy without a shock to be sure.

Posted 10 months ago