Well haha that depends where exactly you are in the world! I would have thought KNC's prices included VAT, it's rare a European company doesn't include it in the price. It's something the US does as sales tax varies state to state, and regardless where you come from, unless you are picking up a product and have 'used it' prior to boarding the plane it's going to flag customs and get charged. For UK and EU customers additional VAT won't be an issue when sold, where as products from outside of the EU including Avalon's are. The UK customs love big ticket items and Avalon aren't sending their products uninsured which always draws attention.

For the UK now it's +20% VAT plus an extra 9% of the cumulative value inc. the VAT for items over £135 plus 8 handling (ransom for the delay) for items imported from outside the EU, hence all the fuss about staying in and out of it for industry etc. The pros for members are freedom of trade and movement, the cons are supporting less productive members.

I was stung early this year with this extra BS 9%, had to ring up and pay and quizzed the customs guy on what it was and he couldn't tell me, he just kept saying it's a duty tax innit - for what? - err well you've gotta have duty tax - yes that's the VAT, what's the 9% for - err well it was from April 2012- no 'for' not 'from' - err duty - no that's VAT - err it's a levy for items over £135. In short our own customs officials don't know, but they kidnap your items and hold them to ransom. The £8 handling is the pisstake, as regardless of paying for expedited shipping your items are confiscated, delayed and they want to charge you for the privilege!

If you're outside the EU you just claim tax exemption and then pay your appropriate country's import duty, you don't pay VAT twice!