Hello Scott,
07-Nov-97 05:27:00, Scott Christensen wrote to Richard Mekka
          Subject: RE: Icom R-10
 RM>> The above all include VAT @ 17.5% - you can do the sum :-)) 
 SC> How does that work?  No income tax or other taxes, just a VAT "sales 
tax" 
 SC> in England?  
        ^^^^^^^
Yes, we have income tax and lots of other taxes too! But in terms of buying
most items (food, books and a few other items are exempt) all goods in the UK
attract 17.5% VAT (Value Added Tax). However, as you have guessed, non-EEC
citizens can claim this back, or rather not pay it in the first place.
 SC> With
 SC> that kind of surcharge, it's a wonder you folks aren't hunting to buy 
 SC> stuff outside of the country...
A lot of people do! Generally speaking any item of radio gear here is the 
ame
figure as in the USA - except of course you pay in dollars and we pay
in pounds sterling :-(( In other words we pay around 50% more for gear here!
I have heard people say that if you are buying an expensive rig ($4000+) it 
s
cheaper to fly to the States and get it there, even allowing for customs
duty and air fare!!
However, it is not all gloom and doom. My wife's best friend lived in
Washington for a few years, and needed quite a lot of dental work doing. She
worked out that it was cheaper to get on Concorde, fly to London, have the
work done privately, and fly back that same evening! Dumb or what?
Anyway, to get back on topic, if you do decide to buy any equipment here in
the UK (England is part of the UK - the "Queen of England" as you guys call
her is the Queen of the UK as well), and want more info, do feel free to
contact me.
  Richard Mekka G4AWY  
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