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iPad + Airport?
- Thread starter spikeyjac
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I've been stopped before.
You've probably less than a 20% chance of being stopped, but these people are VERY good at detecting someone who looks nervous.
They have the complete right to confiscate your device and even fine or prosecute you. Considering you've asked this question across two forums suggests to me that you're a bit unsure, and therefore will be bricking it coming back. The best thing you can do BY FAR is pay the duty, otherwise even when you take it abroad again in the future they can impound it until you produce a VAT receipt. Telling them you bought it in the UK is worthless unless you can produce a receipt to back it up.
What will you save once you add US sales tax on? Not enough to contemplate the above. Buy one in the UK with the PCW 5% discount, otherwise declare.
Don't say I didn't warn you my friend.
You've probably less than a 20% chance of being stopped, but these people are VERY good at detecting someone who looks nervous.
They have the complete right to confiscate your device and even fine or prosecute you. Considering you've asked this question across two forums suggests to me that you're a bit unsure, and therefore will be bricking it coming back. The best thing you can do BY FAR is pay the duty, otherwise even when you take it abroad again in the future they can impound it until you produce a VAT receipt. Telling them you bought it in the UK is worthless unless you can produce a receipt to back it up.
What will you save once you add US sales tax on? Not enough to contemplate the above. Buy one in the UK with the PCW 5% discount, otherwise declare.
Don't say I didn't warn you my friend.
Going thru customs when you get home and not declaring it is a chance you take right?
What about shipping it to yourself?
I'll be saving £85 by buying it in the USA..
I was just curious to be honest, and the PCW5 code doesnt work anymore..
Any other views?
I could live with not keeping the box ( although I could just place it in my friends case)
The iPad itself would be in my rucksack along with my macbook etc
Just seem's too big a saving to miss out on ( it's actually £100 with the exchange rate I got), but at the same time it is a risk as stated above..
If I declared it what would they work out the fee's at?
On a $793 iPad (thats including sales tax)
Jack
I could live with not keeping the box ( although I could just place it in my friends case)
The iPad itself would be in my rucksack along with my macbook etc
Just seem's too big a saving to miss out on ( it's actually £100 with the exchange rate I got), but at the same time it is a risk as stated above..
If I declared it what would they work out the fee's at?
On a $793 iPad (thats including sales tax)
Jack
Not that anyone should encourage tax dodging of course
But we did something similar when we went to Japan. We bought STACKS of stuff over there - We had had a rather epic shopping spree in the Sony HQ in Tokyo and the Apple centre - all of which was for our own use... we just 'lost' the boxes before we packed to leave. We also filled in the tax deceleration forms while in Japan, so we didn't have to pay Japanese tax either.
This was in 2007 mind you.
Keep your receipts. If you get stopped, be ready to pay the nice customs man the tax due on your credit card and claim an innocent mistake.
But we did something similar when we went to Japan. We bought STACKS of stuff over there - We had had a rather epic shopping spree in the Sony HQ in Tokyo and the Apple centre
- all of which was for our own use... we just 'lost' the boxes before we packed to leave. We also filled in the tax deceleration forms while in Japan, so we didn't have to pay Japanese tax either. This was in 2007 mind you.
Keep your receipts. If you get stopped, be ready to pay the nice customs man the tax due on your credit card and claim an innocent mistake.
You really don't want to be a smuggler, do you? You get services from Her Majesty's government, and the least you can do is pay for them as a democratic process decided you should. If you cheat and get caught, you'll be punished in a way designed to deter you and anyone who ever hears about your situation.
If you want to consider doing the right thing, you can find out the cost of fulfilling your civic duty here.
The rate you'll pay on what I believe is Tarrif Classification 8471 41 will be the amount in excess of the duty-free amount, which based on your purchase will leave just 182 pounds sterling to be levied on. Typically rates are 10% or less, but I can't find the rate online, just the number to call to have someone look it up for you.
If you want to consider doing the right thing, you can find out the cost of fulfilling your civic duty here.
The rate you'll pay on what I believe is Tarrif Classification 8471 41 will be the amount in excess of the duty-free amount, which based on your purchase will leave just 182 pounds sterling to be levied on. Typically rates are 10% or less, but I can't find the rate online, just the number to call to have someone look it up for you.
That's not the case, if a single item exceeds the allowance the tax is levied on the full value.
I would not risk it for the small saving. You'll be unhappy when it gets impounded.
So say I buy £300 + of clothes, and then an iPad as well, if I was to declare, I would have to declare everything?
Jack
I managed to get a $1000 Macbook Pro back to the uk from the states, in my suitcase unopened in the box. Had no problems.
but maybe i was just lucky.
but maybe i was just lucky.
Mail the empty box and docs back to yourself.
Bring the iPad back with you it's not going to be impounded, your not going to be fined.
Worst case scenario if pulled you may be asked to pay the VAT.
Frankly mate C&E have much bigger fish to fry than you and your ipad.
Bring the iPad back with you it's not going to be impounded, your not going to be fined.
Worst case scenario if pulled you may be asked to pay the VAT.
Frankly mate C&E have much bigger fish to fry than you and your ipad.
If you are going to chance it I would not mail the box but carry it in your case instead. If it looks like you're trying to evade them, you'll be in for a lot more grief than simply pleading stupidity and hoping all you need to do is pay the VAT.
Even paying the VAT you'll probably find it turns out slightly cheaper.
Even paying the VAT you'll probably find it turns out slightly cheaper.
Okay, say I do decide to pay VAT.
What is that actually on?
Is it on 17.5% of the US price converted to £, does it include the US sales tax, or is it 17.5% of the US total price?
If you search around there are some states with zero sales tax. I think Delaware is one. Your other problem may be warranty. I don't think Apple warranties are worldwide. If it went wrong, you might have to get it back to the US.
Wilson
I'm going to only NY so I will unfortunately be stung by sales tax
And as for the apple warranty, it is worldwide on everything apart from the iPhone!
Do you know anyone else in the UK who has bought one online that could e-mail you their sales invoice? If they bought online apple e-mail the sales invoice.
I bought a macbook a couple of years ago for going on holiday and it never occurred to me we could have probs. Planning to get an ipad very shortly for hols in September so will make sure that I take a copy of my sales invoice with me.
I bought a macbook a couple of years ago for going on holiday and it never occurred to me we could have probs. Planning to get an ipad very shortly for hols in September so will make sure that I take a copy of my sales invoice with me.
Pay the duty. I bought a Nintendo DS in London, only to have it confiscated by Canadian customs until I paid.
I'm not advocating evading the tax but I'm curious: if you don't have the box and docs with you how would they know you didn't buy it at home before you left and just took it with you on your trip? Do you have to declare that you have things like this with you when you leave the country?
If you've a UK charger then you've probably not less too much to worry about, but the real answer is that if they 'suspect' you bought it in the US they can hold it until you produce a UK receipt for it. If you've got it in the bag complete with the US charger then you've sort of given the game away.
We've had members of staff who have had their laptops impounded until we produced the invoice for them. This is despite them having a UK keyboard, they just "looked too new".
As I said early on in the thread, the chances of you being stopped are low assuming you're not acting strangely and not too nervous about what you are trying to do. The consequences of being stopped can be serious, however. Is it worth it? For a top-of-the range laptop saving you a fortune then perhaps. For what in reality is the cost of a meal and a few drinks, probably not.
i've just come back from Cincinnati with a 32Gb Wifi & 3G as it was the only one i could get there as all 16Gb and 32Gb Wifi only were out of stock, i had it activated before leaving the store, then before i flew back, ditched the packaging and just had it in my carry on, used it on the plane, walked straight through customs without declaring with no issue. as long as you don't act nervous or think about it, you should be ok.