I did a search and found some old info, but was just wondering on the ease of importing a rifle from the states to the UK? Anybody done this here?

Actual costs involved and ways around avoiding extra duties vat etc?

Cheers

I have looked into the reverse in the past, importing a rifle from South Africa. For that I needed a licensed firearms import broker. For your purposes you would need an export broker, or a manufacturer or dealer that was so licensed. I do not believe it would be difficult. As far as defeating the tax vultures, I have no idea. Perhaps an invoice understating the price paid for the rifle. But those tax SOBs probably have a list to refer to......a used one would be easier....

The rules on the US side have not changed for quite a while. These are the basics:

1) you need the guns either bought from or transferred to a US FFL with a valid exporter's license.
2) your exporter needs the original of the (in your case, UK) valid import license. (If the original import license is not in English, you also need a verified translation of said license). I ususally have the Swiss Authorities stamp two copies of my import license to also hold an orginal, should the Swiss Customs want such original documentation. I don't know if this is possible or needed in the UK?
3) your exporter needs a "purchase order" for the firearms in question - note for later.
4) this documentation in hand, your exporter will submit an application for a US export license. (I gather this can be done on-line these days, which seems to speed things up quite a bit).
5) export license obtained, your US exporter can ship the firearms to you. I have only had rifles shipped, and for that Fed-Ex has worked well (UPS will not accept firearms in Switzerland). I have also had guns shipped via the Postal Service, though, and that also worked.

At import time in the UK, the amount of VAT due is based on whatever the value the firearms is declared as. I typically put this value on the purchase order.

Note: you need to find a trusty exporter. Speak to our very own 1894mk2, he has recently exported from the US. In one case, an AR member ran into an exporter who got in trouble with the BATF. The guns to be exported ended up as evidence in a court case, and although ownership was never questioned, that sure did not speed up export proceedings...

The actual cost of the export proceedings varies from exporter to exporter. With the new on-line application system, I gather the amount of work involved in obtaining the export license is limited. On the other hand, the exporter's licence has become quite expensive, so your exporter will need your business to offset that cost - plus he will offer this service as a business, and will want to make a profit. In addition to the actual export procedures, he also has to hold and ship your firearms. Typically, the price of an export does not depend on how many guns you put on one license, though.

- mike

If I am not mistaken, it will also have to pass a British or at least European proof test to be legal. Not sure at what stage that would have to be done?

Not heard about the proof testing bit before, all good info, I will look into it a bit more. The exporter is a FFL so not a problem there.

Cheers

As i understand it, american guns are not ALL proofed, just a sample from the batch or something similar i believe, whereas in europe each individual weapon has to be proofed.

This is how I did it.

1. Find US dealer who will do the export paperwork for you.

2. Find UK dealer with in date open import licence and obtain a copy.

3. Check that the seller of the gun in the US is willing to send to your US dealer.

4. Buy the gun and have it sent to the US dealer with a valid receipt for the transaction

5. Send US dealer a purchase order with details of the gun, seller, purchaser which is signed and a copy of the UK dealers import licence.

6. Sit back and forget about it for about 6 months

7. Collect gun from UK dealer - might have to pay tax on value of goods and postage.

Do understand that returns etc are not going to happen! Didn't have to go to proof - just as well as I'm collecting.