Import Tax on items bought back from US?

[Dave]

Hi all

I'm going to the US in a few weeks time and I was thinking about buying a guitar and a couple of other music items as they're a fair bit cheaper over there. Will I get hit for import taxes at customs in the UK when I get back? It'll be quite hard to fob them off by telling them it's my guitar as it'll be brand new - was thinking about maybe taking an old case over and bringing it back in that if it gets me around customs.

Is the import tax just for when it's actually imported, and not when you bring it back yourself? Or is there a limit on the value of stuff you can bring back? I'd rather not pay $400+ in import taxes! (on a $1000 guitar)

Thanks

 

[Dave]

Even with the $210 on it'd be a lot cheaper than buying the guitar here - it's essentially double the price in the UK. (same price in £ as it is in $)

My flight gets back to the UK at about 8am - hopefully will be able to avoid customs! I was going to go down the take a beaten up case route (to make it look a bit older) but the guitar will come with a flight case, and I don't want to loose it.

I know legally it's a bit iffy, but as mentioned a bit up is it not possible to just tell them you got it off eBay for $300 or something? Or do you think that they'd not buy a brand new Fender guitar being bought off eBay for next to nothing?! (if it was someone like my mum on customs I'd get through scott free) I'd probably be bringing back all together about $2000's worth of music stuff, although I'll be taking essentially an empty suitcase with me so I'm not worried about going over the weight limit.

Probably be a good change I'd be able to take my guitar on board too - my stepbrother usually takes his saxophone on the plane rather than having it man-handled by baggage handlers, and in the past I've got away with a stupid amount of hand luggage. (I once took a bag, snare drum, guitar and two cases full of cymbals as hand luggage on a plane to France!) Will ring up the airline operator just to make sure though.