Guitar import VAT and duty calculator
What a guitar from eBay US, Germany, Australia or Canada really costs once it reaches the UK.
Exchange rates from the European Central Bank (updated daily). An estimate, not tax advice: check your guitar's duty rate in the UK Trade Tariff. Your courier and HMRC have the final word.
Questions
Do I pay VAT on a guitar bought from the US?
Yes. Goods over £135 sent to the UK from abroad are charged 20% import VAT, worked out on the price plus postage plus any customs duty. The courier usually collects it, with a handling fee, before delivering.
Is there customs duty on guitars?
Often a small one, a few percent of the value. The rate depends on the commodity code (acoustic guitars and electric guitars sit under different headings) and on where the guitar was made: one made in a country with a UK trade deal, with proof of origin, can be duty-free. Check the UK Trade Tariff for the exact rate before you buy.
Is a guitar from the EU free of import VAT now?
No. Since Brexit, a guitar sent from Germany or anywhere else in the EU to the UK is charged 20% import VAT like any other import.
Is it worth buying a guitar from abroad?
Sometimes. US prices can be lower, especially for American-made models, but add VAT, duty, insured international postage for a bulky box and the cost of returning it if something's wrong, and the saving often disappears. Use the cheapest-by-country table on each guitar's page, then run the numbers here.