
Frequently asked questions about VAT
What is VAT?
VAT stands for Value Added Tax, a type of sales tax that is charged on goods sold within the UK.
VAT is only included in the price if you're shopping from within the UK. If you're an international customer, VAT is not added to your final price — what you see is what you pay (before any local taxes or import duties).
Are import taxes included in the price for international customers?
If you're ordering from outside the UK, the displayed price already excludes UK VAT. However, you may still be required to pay import taxes and customs fees charged by your local authorities when your order arrives.
Do I pay VAT twice if I order from outside the UK?
You never pay VAT twice. UK customers are charged VAT by Elise Audio.
International customers only pay their local taxes, as they would on any other consumer product. The local taxes are calculated when the package reaches your country.
If I am not from the UK, how much tax should I expect to pay?
This will depend on the country. The exact amount is calculated by your local authorities. Audio products do not attract additional duty but local VAT and other standard consumer taxes will apply. These are the same taxes charged on all consumer products.
What happens if I refuse to pay import taxes when the product arrives to my country?
If you import a package but refuse to pay import taxes, you should first consult with the courier company. In many instances, import taxes are irreversible and the package may be destroyed by the import authorities. If the package is returned to us, we may be asked to pay the taxes and extra shipping costs on your behalf. These amounts would not be refundable.
Why can I not just pay the full amount (including import taxes) to Elise Audio?
We understand that you may not want to worry about import taxes and we apologize about any inconvenience. We are currently exploring solutions to streamline the process for all our valued international customers. This is quite a quite complex process as the rules vary by country.