Buying goods from LHR duty free and re-importing back into EU
Sep 13, 2017, 5:01 am
#46
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I don't think how long you have had it has much to do with anything in this context, other than affecting the value on which the duty/VAT is assessed. If it's more than the threshold then charges are due.
Now whether the person declares or not, is entirely up to them. It's like speeding - lots of people do it every day, few get caught. But those that do typically have no legitimate defence.
Now whether the person declares or not, is entirely up to them. It's like speeding - lots of people do it every day, few get caught. But those that do typically have no legitimate defence.
Sep 13, 2017, 5:02 am
#47
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I don't think how long you have had it has much to do with anything in this context, other than affecting the value on which the duty/VAT is assessed. If it's more than the threshold then charges are due.
Now whether the person declares or not, is entirely up to them. It's like speeding - lots of people do it every day, few get caught. But those that do typically have no legitimate defence.
Now whether the person declares or not, is entirely up to them. It's like speeding - lots of people do it every day, few get caught. But those that do typically have no legitimate defence.
Sep 13, 2017, 6:00 am
#48
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The worst case scenario, by the way, is a criminal record for dishonesty. For many of us, that could be quite career limiting.
Sep 13, 2017, 6:10 am
#52
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Yes, they would. That's from personal experience of what HMCE (as they then were) was prepared to do when someone I know tried to bring a substantively-new-but-used-once low-end SLR camera into the UK.
The worst case scenario, by the way, is a criminal record for dishonesty. For many of us, that could be quite career limiting.
The worst case scenario, by the way, is a criminal record for dishonesty. For many of us, that could be quite career limiting.
Sep 13, 2017, 6:12 am
#53
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Sep 13, 2017, 6:13 am
#54
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Sep 13, 2017, 6:27 am
#55
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Sep 13, 2017, 6:31 am
#56
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And obviously, for non-electronic goods, the thieves (HMRC for you liberals) have far less ability to prove anything, even a reasonable suspicion of anything.
Sep 13, 2017, 6:31 am
#57
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My chum got done for doing 76 on a motorway. Just because you haven't been caught doesn't mean there is a 10% rule, even though many people think there is / should be.
Sep 13, 2017, 6:35 am
#58
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Anyway, that's heading just a tad off-topic, so to redress the balance - as cws has said, actually the UK now has a comparatively generous allowance for self-imported goods of £390. For foreign currency transactions, the exchange rate used is determined at the start of every month and fixed (except in exceptional circumstances of large movements in rate), so when working out if you're beneath the limit you need to consult the HMRC website to determine the current rate. This is from the time of import, not purchase. You must hand carry the goods in personally - very much lower rates apply for items that are posted.
The allowance wasn't always this high - it wasn't so many years ago that it was, iirc, just over £100. Many, many years ago - long before Turkey was part of the customs union, and indeed probably before the union existed - my parents brought a rug back from a family holiday there which was over the value limit, along with a few other bits and pieces which therefore also become dutiable as a result. We walked through the red channel, declared the rug, along with about 30 boxes of Turkish Delight brought back for family and friends! The customs officer saw the funny side, and decided that probably he could let the sweets go ...
Sep 13, 2017, 6:40 am
#59
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And it's reasonably complicated to account for as well - just look up "second hand margin scheme" to understand how the dealer minimises the VAT content due to HMRC to maximise their profits.
Anyway, that's heading just a tad off-topic, so to redress the balance - as cws has said, actually the UK now has a comparatively generous allowance for self-imported goods of £390. For foreign currency transactions, the exchange rate used is determined at the start of every month and fixed (except in exceptional circumstances of large movements in rate), so when working out if you're beneath the limit you need to consult the HMRC website to determine the current rate. This is from the time of import, not purchase. You must hand carry the goods in personally - very much lower rates apply for items that are posted.
The allowance wasn't always this high - it wasn't so many years ago that it was, iirc, just over £100. Many, many years ago - long before Turkey was part of the customs union, and indeed probably before the union existed - my parents brought a rug back from a family holiday there which was over the value limit, along with a few other bits and pieces which therefore also become dutiable as a result. We walked through the red channel, declared the rug, along with about 30 boxes of Turkish Delight brought back for family and friends! The customs officer saw the funny side, and decided that probably he could let the sweets go ...
Anyway, that's heading just a tad off-topic, so to redress the balance - as cws has said, actually the UK now has a comparatively generous allowance for self-imported goods of £390. For foreign currency transactions, the exchange rate used is determined at the start of every month and fixed (except in exceptional circumstances of large movements in rate), so when working out if you're beneath the limit you need to consult the HMRC website to determine the current rate. This is from the time of import, not purchase. You must hand carry the goods in personally - very much lower rates apply for items that are posted.
The allowance wasn't always this high - it wasn't so many years ago that it was, iirc, just over £100. Many, many years ago - long before Turkey was part of the customs union, and indeed probably before the union existed - my parents brought a rug back from a family holiday there which was over the value limit, along with a few other bits and pieces which therefore also become dutiable as a result. We walked through the red channel, declared the rug, along with about 30 boxes of Turkish Delight brought back for family and friends! The customs officer saw the funny side, and decided that probably he could let the sweets go ...
Sep 13, 2017, 6:57 am
#60
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On the other hand if you do unilaterally declare your items, you may well find the HMRC are fairly charitable, unofficially, e.g. rounding figures up or down in your favour.
