FlyerTalk Forums - Transporting new hard drives

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Quote:

Originally Posted by hfly (Post 12098520)

SBM, what on earth are you smoking??? The value of these drives are slightly more than GBP 100, there is no reason WHATSOEVER that he or anyone else needs to declare anything to anyone about them.

My suggestion is 100% in compliance with the laws that govern then import of goods. Even if they are of low value they still must be declared on a customs form. I know that the form used in the USA would require it. You might not owe any duty because of the low value, but failure to declare them can subject you to a fine. Chances of being caught are tremendously low, but considering that there is no real down side to declaring them I'm not entirely sure why you'd risk it.

The customs form requires the declaration of everything, not just things that are expensive.

100% in compliance of where? You cite the US, but he is neither bringing them into the US, nor does Sweden generally distribute such a form. Most Eu countries do NOT require you do declare ANYTHING as long as you are under the duty free amount, and $170 or so is under that amount. You are the one who cited London, and there for example, there is no such requirement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbm12 (Post 12114529)

The US is significantly more draconian in its customs regulations than most of the EU. Here are the UK regulations, for example (I don't have the Swedish ones):

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriv...ivingnoneu.htm

Quote:

Other goods including perfume and souvenirs

You can bring in other goods worth up to £340 without having to pay tax and/or duty.

If you arrive by private plane or private boat, you can only bring in goods worth up to £240 tax and duty free.

If you bring in any single item worth more than your allowance, you must pay duty and/or tax on the full item value, not just the value above the allowance. You also cannot group individual allowances together to bring in an item worth more than the limit.

This is just over $550 at today's exchange rate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hfly (Post 12115205)

You are the one who cited London, and there for example, there is no such requirement.

No form, but if asked (which I was last time I entered the UK) one still must answer the question honestly, no?

The fact that they are commercial goods being imported, not gifts (though that is debatable depending on the circumstances) also changes things. Were the OP bringing perfume to their friend things would be different than that they are bringing computer hardware to be installed in a server there.

I would ship them. Just what you need, to be delayed for several hours while some Barney Fife at some border scours your formatted drives looking for hidden data of interest.

Oh you were asked now, you didn't chase down the often non-existant customs agents in the UK, instead one approached you, asked you a question and you answered. That sir is NOT a declaration as you previously advised. Four relatively small capacity hard drives of small value far under the declaration value of any country would not be considered "commercial items".