Are there taxes from items purchased in the UK?

'The standard rate of VAT will reduce to 15 per cent from 1 December 2008. The rate will stay at 15 per cent until 1 January 2010, when it will go back to 17.5 per cent.'

Thanks for the responses, guys. To give a little more detail, the speakers here in the US costs $16,000 + sales tax + shipping. From the UK, they would be $10,900 (including shipping). What do you think? I'm hesitant at all the hidden costs that may be involved.

- Doc

Considering the economic times I would try to negotiate a lower price here, at that price level there should be a considerable profit margin. If they are being shipped to another state you shouldn't pay sales tax. I have had all kinds of experiences in the past, including a US customs agent telling me he wasn't going to let my speakers off the ship until I gave him $5. I was there and I don't believe it either. I never had a broker but that was years ago, I brought some electronics in by air in the early 90s and picked them up at the airport myself, but 9-11 hadn't happened then.

What is the make of the speakers? just out of curiosity.

Buconero117, I personally hope the pound sterling will not go as low as $1.30 as for me $1.50 is bad enough, the forecasts I have heard from those 'in the know' is that it will go up to about $1.60+, it has been hovering around the $1.50 minus a few cents for the past few months or so. In these climes nothing would surprise me, well maybe the 2,500,000 jobs lost in the US in 2008 with 500,000 lost in December 2008 alone!, the worst since WW2.