Sourcing conjuring trick sets from China
Conjuring trick sets under 9505 90 00 00 carry 2% UK duty from China, with no trade remedy or suspension recorded. For sets designed or intended for children under 14 to play with, confirm with the relevant authority whether toy rules apply. Specify working props and approve the complete instructions before production. Cambridge China Bridge sources conjuring trick sets.
Duty on conjuring trick sets
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 3 October 2026, heading 9505 covers festive, carnival and other entertainment articles, including conjuring tricks and novelty jokes. Its supplied rates range from 0% to 2%, but the relevant conjuring line, 9505 90 00 00, carries 2% for goods from China. No anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension is recorded. The table shows set variants using the same tariff line.
The tariff attaches cat and dog fur import controls and fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls. Imports of cat and dog fur and products made from it are banned. Products containing banned fluorinated gases must not be placed on the Great Britain market. If a set includes an aerosol or gas-filled prop, ask your customs broker to confirm the import requirement before ordering. The supplied record also lists cat and dog fur export controls and a cultural-object export licence measure.
Send your broker the complete component list, materials, photographs and intended use to confirm the commodity code. Do not assume separately supplied cards or replacement props use the complete set's code. For the wider product family, see toys and games.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conjuring trick sets with cups and balls | 9505 90 00 00 | 2% | None |
Specify the trick, its props and its instructions
Give the factory a component list for each set and describe the effect each trick should produce. Specify cup fit, concealed compartments, rope finish, card printing, moving parts and the retail insert. Approve a complete working sample, then have someone unfamiliar with the trick perform it using only the supplied instructions.
For sets designed or intended for play by children under 14, confirm with the relevant authority whether toy rules apply. Plan testing and warnings before production. For any set, you must be able to demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations and safety requirements before placing it on the market. Ask for evidence covering the actual materials and props being supplied, rather than a report for a different assortment.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 500 boxed conjuring trick sets under 9505 90 00 00, invoiced at £5,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £5,700. Duty at 2% is £114. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £5,814, so it is £1,162.80. Import taxes total £1,276.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £114 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Contents: open packed sets and compare every prop, accessory and instruction sheet against the approved component list.
Operation: perform each trick from the instructions; check concealed parts stay hidden and moving props do not jam.
Finish: check cups, wands and compartments for sharp moulding edges, loose fittings, cracked plastic and exposed adhesive.
Packing: check the insert holds props in place, ropes remain untangled and printed instructions are legible. Repeat these checks on arrival using the approved sample as the reference.
What goes wrong
A set can contain every listed piece yet fail because the cup fit exposes the secret, a sliding compartment sticks or the instructions omit the reset step. A demonstration by the factory does not show whether a customer can repeat the trick. Test the packed assortment from its own booklet before approving production.
Material substitutions can change how props work: a stiffer rope will not handle like the sample, while different plastic can change the fit of concealed compartments. Record approved materials and forbid substitutions without written approval. Keep the sample, component list and artwork together for repeat orders.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on conjuring trick sets from China?
The supplied tariff record gives 2% for 9505 90 00 00, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty or suspension recorded. Confirm that your complete set belongs under this code.
Are children's magic sets treated as toys?
If designed or intended for play by children under 14, confirm with the relevant authority whether toy rules apply. Plan the testing and warnings before production, using the actual props and materials in the set.
How do I check that every trick works?
Ask someone unfamiliar with the set to perform and reset each trick using only the supplied instructions. Compare the props with the approved working sample.
What should I send a factory for a magic set quotation?
Send the component list, intended age group, materials, trick descriptions, reference sample, instruction artwork and packing layout. Identify any aerosol, gas-filled or fur-containing prop.