Customs duty free US to UK

banja · 6 Jan 2011 at 11:08

Apparently the duty free allowance when travelling back from the US to the UK is £390.

If I therefore buy electrical goods under that value do I still have to declare them? Or is it okay to not bother??

I know some will say, just pack em up and forget it, but I'd like to know what the law is - I can't find specific details on this on any customs website, they just list the allowance amount.

Will Gill · 6 Jan 2011 at 11:09

pack and forget, as you say they have a combined value under the allowance, if they stop you no harm no foul

Dutch Guy · 6 Jan 2011 at 11:37

Alternatively unpack them so it doesn't look like you bought them in the US but took them with you when you left for the US.

Zowghi · 6 Jan 2011 at 11:45

Just tell them you took it out there with you. Its quite common for americans to have a lucky food blender with them at all times

banja · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:18

I know I could do those things, but that wasn't my question.

Anyway, more reading seems to suggest that if you're under the allowance you don't need to declare.

Jokester · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:21

Aye, if you're under the limit, you just go through the "Nothing to Declare" lane at customs.

Will Gill · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:22

banja said:
I know I could do those things, but that wasn't my question.

Anyway, more reading seems to suggest that if you're under the allowance you don't need to declare.

Which is what I said :confused:

arknor · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:38

Jokester said:
Aye, if you're under the limit, you just go through the "Nothing to Declare" lane at customs.

on our las holiday arriving at manchester airport very early in the morning no one was even at the nothing to declare lane? we just walked straight past wished would would have bought loads of bottles of spirits lol

Dutch Guy · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:48

Does anyone ever declare something, whenever I fly I never see anyone going to the 'Declare' lane, just a huddle of people trying to go thru the 'nothing to declare' doors.

Yas786 · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:49

arknor said:
on our las holiday arriving at manchester airport very early in the morning no one was even at the nothing to declare lane? we just walked straight past wished would would have bought loads of bottles of spirits lol

Yep thats why i always try and make sure i catch the 'red eye' flight home if im travelling because 9/10 times theres no one there at the customs especially in heathrow...last time i flew into heathrow, a few mths ago i brought back much more than the allowed 200 cigs which is the limit....lets just say the amount that i brought back lasted me a good while

.

JBuk · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:51

I've never declared anything

been stopped twice though at Newcastle, first time the customs guy asked if I had anything , prodded my suitcase then let me on my way (i actually had 3000+ ciggies in my bag)

2nd time I had nothing and got asked loads of silly questions for about 10 minutes

Snooble · 6 Jan 2011 at 12:55

I never have anything to declare..

banja · 6 Jan 2011 at 13:27

Will Gill said:
Which is what I said

Yeah, thanks Will. I did read, just meant my response at the other two.

Will Gill · 6 Jan 2011 at 13:32

banja said:
Yeah, thanks Will. I did read, just meant my response at the other two.

ah gotcha

Lunatic Dreyfus · 6 Jan 2011 at 14:01

Jokester said:
Aye, if you're under the limit, you just go through the "Nothing to Declare" lane at customs.

...and try not to look shifty.