Can I bring a guitar in as hand luggage from the states?

Cleeecooo · 13 Feb 2013 at 21:46

Pudney said:
What has the fact it's "used" got to do with it? It's never been in the EEA used or not. You are evading tax.

The same with your $1000 boots.

I thought used goods weren't taxed?

If you buy something whilst living in the US and then move back home to the UK, you can't be expected to pay VAT on all that :confused:

Rich_L · 13 Feb 2013 at 22:56

You can apply for relief if you are moving from outside the EU to the UK, generally speaking you have to have owned the possessions for over 6 months for them to qualify.

All here: http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...document&columns=1&id=HMCE_CL_000282#P56_5168

easyrider · 13 Feb 2013 at 23:28

Rich_L said:
You can apply for relief if you are moving from outside the EU to the UK, generally speaking you have to have owned the possessions for over 6 months for them to qualify.

Thats ok then.My uncle gave me this guitar last year.And I have only just been able to pick it up from him.

Rotty · 13 Feb 2013 at 23:35

surely it will be oversize for hand luggage

Rich_L · 14 Feb 2013 at 00:06

easyrider said:
Thats ok then.My uncle gave me this guitar last year.And I have only just been able to pick it up from him.

Yeah, no.

have possessed and used them for at least 6 months outside the EC before they are imported

It's almost like when they drew up the rules, they put some thought into it that meant it couldn't be got around with 30 seconds thought :eek:

Not to mention that you have to show you actually lived outside the EC for a year to qualify for the move of residence exemption.

easyrider · 14 Feb 2013 at 00:48

Rich_L said:
Yeah, no.

It's almost like when they drew up the rules, they put some thought into it that meant it couldn't be got around with 30 seconds thought Not to mention that you have to show you actually lived outside the EC for a year to qualify for the move of residence exemption.

As I have stated earlier in this thread

I would just say my uncles guitar. He is following me on in a few weeks for a Family Birthday gig and he asked me to take it to the UK for him as he is to old to carry it himself.

I would have a number for them to ring to clarify my statement.

So what the crack If I say its not mine?

easyrider · 14 Feb 2013 at 00:55

Rotty said:
surely it will be oversize for hand luggage

Some airlines allow them on, and the airline staff put it in their wardrobes.

Raymond Lin · 14 Feb 2013 at 00:58

easyrider said:
As I have stated earlier in this thread

I would just say my uncles guitar. He is following me on in a few weeks for a Family Birthday gig and he asked me to take it to the UK for him as he is to old to carry it himself.

I would have a number for them to ring to clarify my statement.

So what the crack If I say its not mine?

You are admitting in this thread that you are a liar.

easyrider · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:04

Raymond Lin said:
You are admitting in this thread that you are a liar.

Hardly. It doesn't hurt anyone does it?

Raymond Lin · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:13

easyrider said:
Hardly. It doesn't hurt anyone does it?

There is the pragmatic side - no, it doesn't hurt anyone, not physically in flesh and blood.

There is the technical side, and you are a liar. This whole thread from start to finish you are admitting it. Not hardly, there is no grey area. It's your guitar, you are going to tell the HMRC that it is not and it belongs to someone else.

That is a lie.

Sure, go ahead and do it, but don't broadcast it all over the internet, and don't complain about the fine if you get caught.

estebanrey · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:25

Raymond Lin said:
There is the pragmatic side - no, it doesn't hurt anyone, not physically in flesh and blood.

There is the technical side, and you are a liar. This whole thread from start to finish you are admitting it. Not hardly, there is no grey area. It's your guitar, you are going to tell the HMRC that it is not and it belongs to someone else.

That is a lie.

Sure, go ahead and do it, but don't broadcast it all over the internet, and don't complain about the fine if you get caught.

Would it make you happy if after buying the guitar he sells it to his uncle for $1, who in turn (after playing a couple of chords) gives it back to him as a present?

easyrider · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:27

Raymond Lin said:
There is the pragmatic side - no, it doesn't hurt anyone, then again, nor does stealing money from banks.

The bankers stole money and millions of people all around the world are suffering due to the greedy bankers and the economic collapse. So stealing from banks does harm people.

There is the technical side, and you are a liar. This whole thread from start to finish you are admitting it. Not hardly, there is no grey area. It's your guitar, you are going to tell the HMRC that it is not and it belongs to someone else.

That is a lie.

Sure, go ahead and do it, but don't broadcast it all over the internet, and don't complain about the fine if you get caught.

I won't complain.

Along with all the other millions of people not declaring stuff. I can sleep at night. There are far more evils in the world than me waling through customs with a musical instrument.

Anyway I would class it more as a fib-
A fib is a lie told with no malicious intent and little consequence.Thats if I'm even stopped...

If I walk through then its not telling lies by definition.

Raymond Lin · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:38

Technicalities, i am not trying or going to convince you not to do it, clearly it won't work.

I am calling it what it is.

You are obliged to pay taxes over £390. Your guitar is going to cost and worth more than £390. You are actively evading the tax owe on that guitar when entering the UK.

Those are you intentions.

I am sure you are not going to lose any sleep over it. Don't expect you do but if you have the audacity and conviction to do it, at least have the courage to say it.

easyrider · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:43

Raymond Lin said:
I am sure you are not going to lose any sleep over it. Don't expect you do but if you have the audacity and conviction to do it, at least have the courage to say it.

Say what?

Raymond Lin · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:45

easyrider said:
The bankers stole money and millions of people all around the world are suffering due to the greedy bankers and the economic collapse. So stealing from banks does harm people.

.....

Along with all the other millions of people not declaring stuff.

I edited that post earlier because i meant physically...but if we are going to talk about bankers and millions....you just made my point with your second sentence.

Millions of people and if each one of those owe £1, that's a million, £100 owe (at a £500 guitar) each, which I am sure your guitar will be as I can't imagine you go through all that trouble to save £20....So £100 each will equate to £100 million.

Think of the number of schools you can build for £100 million.

But like i said before, i am wasting my time, your morals clearly on the other side on this.

easyrider said:
Say what?

Say that you are a liar.

estebanrey · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:50

Raymond Lin said:
Say that you are a liar.

estebanrey said:
Would it make you happy if after buying the guitar he sells it to his uncle for $1, who in turn (after playing a couple of chords) gives it back to him as a present?

easyrider · 14 Feb 2013 at 01:50

Raymond Lin said:
I edited that post earlier because i meant physically...but if we are going to talk about bankers and millions....you just made my point with your second sentence.

Millions of people and if each one of those owe £1, that's millions, £100 owe (at a £500 guitar) each, which I am sure your guitar will be as I can't imagine you go through all that trouble to save £20....So £100 each will equate to £100 million.

Think of the number of schools you can build for £100 million.

But like i said before, i am wasting my time, your morals clearly on the other side on this.

Say that you are a liar.

When was the last time you bought something from amazon?

Get off that high horse of yours...

So what you are saying is that its the public's fault for not declaring stuff that has lead to the current economic climate?

Raymond Lin · 14 Feb 2013 at 02:00

This is the last item from Amazon.com

See the bit about Import fees deposit? Paid up front.

And I have NEVER ever brought any goods in total over £390 from abroad, not once.

It's not about a high horse, just calling it what it is.

easyrider · 14 Feb 2013 at 02:03

Raymond Lin said:
This is the last item from Amazon.com

See the bit about Import fees deposit? Paid up front.

And I have NEVER ever brought any goods in total over £390 from abroad, not once.

It's not about a high horse, just calling it what it is.

You have actively bought items from a company that circumnavigates paying UK tax. You buying from Amazon means that the government don't get their proper taxes meaning schools can't be built.

You are supporting companies that tax dodge

Congrats.

Raymond Lin · 14 Feb 2013 at 02:05

estebanrey said:
Would it make you happy if after buying the guitar he sells it to his uncle for $1, who in turn (after playing a couple of chords) gives it back to him as a present?

Yes and no.

It would be what is known as sale under market value in bankruptcy proceedings.

A sale under value occur when the Defendant sell assets to a 3rd party at a below market value in order to keep the creditor's hands off it.

If the sale is made within 2 years (i think) of the bankruptcy then that sale is void.

Apply the same principles here, he can bring it in the country in 2015?

Then again, I am not an expert in import duty. The above could simply be not applicable then I would have ZERO problem with it. However, as it stands, Easyrider's intention is to lie. Fine, do it, i don't care.

He apparently doesn't like it when I call him a liar.