Originally Posted by
danmushman
in theory, what if someone booked the cheapest reward international flight available that day, visited the boutique, then and decided they felt unwell so left T5 and went home? Haven't bough duty free for years but I assume they give you the goods at the point of sale, and not at the jetbridge like some US airports?
So as it happens I became an expert in this yesterday. I got to customs and literally had this thought. I went through the red channel to ask. Here were the questions:
Hi, I'm thinking of bring into the UK a bunch of whiskey. I know my personal duty free allowance is 4 liters. If I bring in 5 what tax will I have to pay.
Agent: you'll have to pay tax on 5 liters (which may or may not be correct I don't know but it seems ridiculous to have the pay the total and not the excess)
Me: how much is the tax?
Agent: don't know, we'll tell you when you do it.
Me: that doesn't make sense. Imagine I have a 700ml whiskey bought for £300 40%ABV. How much tax am I paying if I bring in excess of my allowance for that.
Agent: we'll work it out when it happens.
Me: nonsensical! It's a set tax rate not whatever you feel like on the day! I'm asking to know before because if you decide to tax me 80% on a bottle what's the point. If it's 20% than it's likely worthwhile. So whats the tax rate?
Agent: we'll work it out when it happens
Me: if I purchase duty free upstairs can I just abondon my flight and exit?
Agent: no, you'll be arrested. It's illegal.
Me: why?
Agent: because you never intended to take the flight, just to get the duty free items.
Me: fair enough. What if I do all the above but declare it and pay taxes?
Agent: still illegal.
Me: why? Buying duty free and then paying duty. What's the issue?
Agent: you'll be arrested.
Me: what if I buy duty free fly out of the UK and then get on the next flight back in?
agent: illegal. You'll be arrested
me: what if I go, stay abroad for a week then come back?
Agent: you'll be arrested.
Me: so how can anyone ever buy any (non consumable) duty free items when they have the full intention of bring it home after their holiday.
agent: mumbles
To point out, this is a summary. I was more polite in person and the agent was more annoying than they sound above.
I also should mention when I initially walked in I said straight away "I have nothing to declare I just have some customs questions for the future".
They were really genuine questions. If I can buy a limited bottle for £300, sell it for £1000 next day, I'm more than happy to pay 20% tax and being in as many bottles as I can carry. If I'm not being told the tax rate how can I work it out?
Needless to say after 15 minutes of incompetency I was searched for "raising suspicions" which to be honest is fair, I can't fault them on that but it is utterly ridiculous that the place you are supposed to declare imports cannot provide the tax rates for those very imports.