Import cost calculator
Buying a camera from Japan, the EU or the US? Put in the eBay price and postage to see what it costs delivered to the UK.
| Camera | £450.00 |
Every price on 35mm Film Cameras for a camera posted from abroad already includes the 20% import VAT estimate, so you can compare it with UK sellers at a glance. Duty and courier fees aren't included: add them here.
Import VAT and duty on cameras
Do I pay VAT on a camera from Japan?
Yes. Goods sent to the UK from abroad pay 20% import VAT on the price plus postage (plus any duty). On eBay, for orders up to £135 eBay adds the VAT at checkout. Above £135 it's collected when the parcel arrives, unless the seller uses eBay International Shipping, which collects import charges at checkout.
Is there customs duty on a used camera?
There's no customs duty on goods of £135 or less. Above that, duty depends on the commodity code (cameras are under 9006) and where the camera was made: it can be 0% or a few per cent. Check the commodity code on GOV.UK's Trade Tariff if you want to be sure.
What is the courier handling fee?
When VAT or duty is collected on delivery, Royal Mail, Parcelforce and couriers such as DHL, FedEx and UPS charge a fee for paying it on your behalf, usually around £8 to £20. It isn't charged when eBay collects the import charges at checkout.
Is it still cheaper to buy from Japan?
Often, for cameras that are rare in the UK (the Contax T2, Ricoh GR1, Mamiya 7, Pentax 67) and for top-condition examples. Japanese dealers grade carefully and stock is deep. For common cameras like the Canon AE-1 or Pentax K1000, a UK seller is usually cheaper once VAT is added.
Do I pay VAT on a camera from the EU?
Yes. Since 2021 the same rules apply to the EU as to Japan or the US: 20% import VAT, and duty above £135 unless the camera qualifies for the UK-EU trade deal's zero tariff.