Buying goods from LHR duty free and re-importing back into EU
Sep 13, 2017, 4:14 am
#31
Join Date: May 2012
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Now whether you choose to flout the system or play it straight is up to you - but don't kid yourself it's legal.
And on that note, we should probably park this discussion anyway, since FT rules prohibit promoting such things.
Sep 13, 2017, 4:15 am
#32
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Furthermore, aren't bags originating in the EU tagged with a green stripe and those from outside the EU not for easy identification by HMRC? So really, the only way to get around it more safely would be to land in the EU, get your bags, and recheck them with a fresh tag.
Sep 13, 2017, 4:19 am
#36
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If you declared your goods at an EU or Turkish airport (plus or minus a few obscure places) and they were deemed to be exempt from duties or you paid the required duties then you are OK to use the Blue channel.
Sep 13, 2017, 4:21 am
#37
Join Date: Apr 2005
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you are not messing with anyone, you are bringing a personal used laptop into the country from the EU where there is no customs! you are not bringing things to sell illegally and you are not bringing any illegal items in the country. this has really gone over the top now!
I'm certainly not going to put it to the test for the sake of a few quid.
Sep 13, 2017, 4:28 am
#39
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No because Dixon's paid VAT on it. The prices are lower because Dixon's averages the ex-EU and EU travelers (paying VAT on purchases by travelers going to the EU).
Sep 13, 2017, 4:38 am
#41
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When you buy a laptop at Dixons and stay within the EU, yes you can go through the Blue line, because - this is the critical bit - you did actually pay VAT, being a trip within that Customs Union. Dixons work on a 30% margin generally, and on a high value item at an airport shop they will knock off a big discount, but you are paying full VAT. They may, confusingly, market it as "tax free prices".
The "border" here is not the UK, it is the EU, Turkey and a few other places. The rules are the same throughout - you must pay the same level of duty where ever you cross the border, this is known as the Common External Tariff. Going into the UK just gives HMRC a second chance to nab you if you broke the law when entering into (e.g.) Greece. It is your personaly responsibility to declare dutiable items, it's not the customs' authorities duty to do that discovery. If you import an item into Europe from outside the customs union and you avoid payment, whether for personal use or selling on, it's a form of theft.
Sep 13, 2017, 4:49 am
#43
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After 6 months of use you would be OK, but you are required to pay duty in Greece if the items come to 430€ or more, assuming you did something like JFK-ATH. In the UK it is £390. Thereafter the same duty is payable in both countries, so the UK is marginally more cost effective than Greece.
Sep 13, 2017, 4:55 am
#45
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So I cannot buy a laptop in America open it, use it, then go to Greece, stay there a bit, and then eventually come to the UK with the laptop? I am based in several countries, that's why I am asking.
What is the cut off point for this by the way ? 6 months of usage?
By the way thanks everyone for the very imformative posts here, now I know that I must buy the stuff in Heathrow airport on the way to EU and fly back without having to worry about breaking the law with HMRC or getting my stuff seized! I shop at Heathrow frequently as airport prices are usually cheaper than the high street. As I said, I bought my laptop at Dixons heathrow and always buy clothes at Reiss Heathrow with EU trips.
What is the cut off point for this by the way ? 6 months of usage?
By the way thanks everyone for the very imformative posts here, now I know that I must buy the stuff in Heathrow airport on the way to EU and fly back without having to worry about breaking the law with HMRC or getting my stuff seized! I shop at Heathrow frequently as airport prices are usually cheaper than the high street. As I said, I bought my laptop at Dixons heathrow and always buy clothes at Reiss Heathrow with EU trips.