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Can someone please just tell me straight... UK Customs

R

Riviera122

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 14, 2008
488
164
In August I will be going on a 2 week holiday to Chicago. Whilst I'm there, I'm going to buy a 16GB WiFi iPad with the keyboard dock and iPad case.

The problem I have is that I'm confused with extra charges that I will have to face when I get to UK Customs (e.g. VAT rates).

Can someone please tell me the exact charges I have to face if I have the iPad with the keyboard dock and iPad case in my suitcase, if any?

Thanks,

Justin

P.S: Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, it's 2AM in the morning and I'm pretty worn out from looking into this.
 
They won't open your suitcase because you have an iPad in there. It's up to you whether to walk through "items to declare" or "nothing to declare" when you arrive back to UK. If you do, I imagine it'll be 17.5% right?

M
 
matthewHUB said:
They won't open your suitcase because you have an iPad in there. It's up to you whether to walk through "items to declare" or "nothing to declare" when you arrive back to UK. If you do, I imagine it'll be 17.5% right?

M
Click to expand...

Yes, it'll be 17.5% which is roughly £60!

I'm trying to avoid paying that, so I might just have to take the risk and walk through "nothing to declare".
 
buy the item over in america, send all the packaging back by post, simples....i bought a watch and did exactly that
 
You will be fine just walk through like normal they hardly check anyway they are more interested in people bringing back large amounts of fags and booze not one ipad
 
Doubt they will search you. Maybe if you were bringing 15 back, but for one I'd just risk walking through "nothing to declare"!
 
Check what time you get back into the uk. If it's after 10pm and before 6am the desks are unmanned.
 
You've got a personal allowance of £390 when coming back to the UK.

The goods you are purchasing work out at £395 at todays exchange rate. You could either risk not declaring, get someone you are travelling with to bring the case back (remember to get a separate receipt for it), buy the case in the UK in a couple of weeks time or declare it and pay the VAT.
 
I don't have to mention that you are legally obligated to pay import taxes when buying things outside of the European Union, right?

Well, at least if they exceed "£270 or £340 (whichever is appropriate)" stated by the Customs.
 
Is it really that much cheaper for a Brit to buy in US?

Remember you have to buy Chicago sales tax which i believe is 6.5% and a exchange rate conversion fee of like 3.5%

The exchange rate can't be that great either, the pound has tanked just as much as the dollar during this crisis.
 
Yes. $499, at the moment of my writing according to Google, is £324. Keep in mind that Apple always charge more for their products here in the UK - so the iPad will probably be £499 minimum - not including the 17.5% V.A.T.

I am off to NYC on Friday... I am buying an iPad my first night there!
 
HughJ said:
buy the item over in america, send all the packaging back by post, simples....i bought a watch and did exactly that
Click to expand...

+1

This is what i do. If its open and no packaging then it'll look like you bought it in the UK and just travelled with it.
 
The Real Question

So you said you will go thru nothing to declare to avoid paying the VAT. So the real question is "is there an additional penalty beyond paying the VAT if you get caught". Just pay your taxes.
 
hamlinspahn said:
So you said you will go thru nothing to declare to avoid paying the VAT. So the real question is "is there an additional penalty beyond paying the VAT if you get caught". Just pay your taxes.
Click to expand...

Do they have the power to confiscate things if you dont declare them? I suppose it is a form of smuggling

But I really doubt that they will notice, as someone else said they are only looking to crack down on people buying multiples with the intention of selling them on.
 
Guys its one ipad its hardly worth the hassle for them , they are more concerned over people who are bringing back £1000+ worth of cigarettes and alcohol back
 
hamlinspahn said:
So you said you will go thru nothing to declare to avoid paying the VAT. So the real question is "is there an additional penalty beyond paying the VAT if you get caught". Just pay your taxes.
Click to expand...

Don't know about UK but in the US its a felony for not declaring items your acquired while abroad. If you get caught it can include fines, confiscation of items, and possibly jail time.

You can always chance it, but there is a chance you will be randomly searched. Personally I wouldn't chance it.
 
Really guys you are all so paranoid!

First of all by August the iPad will be out everywhere in the world.

Even if customs see you with it and the box how do they know you didn't buy it in England and just take it with you in the box?

This is way too much concern. I bought a GUITAR in the US and came back with it and they didn't stop me and ask me where it came from and that was obvious when I walked through so for an iPad just forget about it.

There is no way to prove where it came from so as the last guy said they only care about alcohol and ciggarettes as clearly you don't go on holiday with 245 packets and come back with the same amount ;)

On a side note remmeber that you get VAT free purchases in the departure lounge before you leave the UK so it may actually be cheaper to buy a duty free iPad in the UK BEFORE you leave the country depending on the exchange rate and how much Apple ends up charging us here in the UK.
 
the limit for personal goods is £391 I think. So the ipad won't attract VAT. The case in theory would, but I doubt customs would care. So just go through the 'nothing to declare' channel and be done with it.

This is all assuming you haven't bought one already. Make sure to check out dixons taxfree on the way out. It might be cheaper there than buying in the US. Don't forget to factor in sales tax in the US too - not sure what the local rate is in Chicago
 
+1 for duty free before/after leaving the UK.

I snagged a camcorder last yeas after breaking mine on the way to the airport. I googled around before leaving on my flight (on my iPhone might I add) but everything was only fractionally cheaper than the UK prices anyway.
Upon taking a walk I went into Dixons and found the exact camera I wanted and it was on sale. Without the tax it was nearly £200 off retail price.

Not sure if Dixons carry Apple products or maybe there is an Apple store tax free.
Worth checking though.
 
kAoTiX said:
+1 for duty free before/after leaving the UK.

I snagged a camcorder last yeas after breaking mine on the way to the airport. I googled around before leaving on my flight (on my iPhone might I add) but everything was only fractionally cheaper than the UK prices anyway.
Upon taking a walk I went into Dixons and found the exact camera I wanted and it was on sale. Without the tax it was nearly £200 off retail price.

Not sure if Dixons carry Apple products or maybe there is an Apple store tax free.
Worth checking though.
Click to expand...

+1 more

Bought my MacBook at Dixons LHR T5 - about £200 off the Apple Store price.
 
nickhutson said:
Yes. $499, at the moment of my writing according to Google, is £324. Keep in mind that Apple always charge more for their products here in the UK - so the iPad will probably be £499 minimum - not including the 17.5% V.A.T.

I am off to NYC on Friday... I am buying an iPad my first night there!
Click to expand...


I doubt even Apple would be quite so extortionate! Not sure how many they think they will sell if the base model is £586!!
 
imho

you wont have any issues at all

you can bring any portable electronic device provided its for personal use and each item has less value than around £370 (ala 16gb wifi).

my friend has done exactly that for me, i paid £370 for a 16 gb wifi including florida sales tax.

as they are far too honest for their own good they went through the red lane (declaring) and showed them my iPad and asked if there anything else that they needed to pay on it...

to be asked "is it for your own use sir", reply "yes"

"in that case its fine there will be no charge"

i think £370 is about right.:D

as an earlier poster stated send it to yourself = DONT its pointless you will have to pay packaging / shipping and still may well get VAT charged at the uk end???? just bring with you it will be fine.
 
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