Customs/Importing from USA

Nazca · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:10

I'm going on holiday to the US in a few weeks. I am planning on bringing back a guitar while I'm there saving me around a £1000 if I bought it here. I was thinking of taking it with me on the plane and going about my business. Will I have to declare it at the airport, or can I say it was a gift from my relative who I'm staying with and get away with it?

tigerstyle · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:12

wing it.

Moothead2 · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:13

Say you brought it with you

.

Nazca · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:17

Moothead2 said:
Say you brought it with you .

Won't they be able to find out if I brought it with me or not, when I checked in my baggage to leave?

Paul11 · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:20

Nazca said:
Won't they be able to find out if I brought it with me or not, when I checked in my baggage to leave?

no they dont cross check what you take with you

just carry as hand luggage and say you brought it with you

RDM · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:20

You are legally obliged to declare it. Declaring it as a gift will probably not be of any use as it will be over the value allowed (£390).

Paul11 · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:25

you are legally obliged to drive at 30 mph, but i bet we all go over that speed from time to time

Moothead2 · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:26

Are you supposed to declare everything you bought in the US and brought back home with you? I've bought loads, Consoles, games, even a GPU and never declared anything

. I wondered why I never saw anyone go down the "Something to declare" route at the airport

.

Nazca · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:27

RDM said:
You are legally obliged to declare it. Declaring it as a gift will probably not be of any use as it will be over the value allowed (£390).

OK, fair enough.

But, say, for example, my relative DID give a guitar worth £2500 as a birthday present, I would still expect to declare and pay tax for it? If so, that's pretty screwed up.

Cosimo · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:28

Take it with you as hand luggage.

Brian8bit · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:29

Question: What is the money made from the taxation of imported goods used for?

ntg · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:30

Nazca said:
OK, fair enough.

But, say, for example, my relative DID give a guitar worth £2500 as a birthday present, I would still expect to declare and pay tax for it? If so, that's pretty screwed up.

technically yes, as long as the value of a gift is over the tax duty threshold you should be declaring it.

and you would deserve all you'd get then if you did that!

no one cares if you declare it or not and no one checks.

Nazca · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:31

simulatorman said:
Take it with you as hand luggage.

That's what I want to do, on the way back, that is. I just want to know if I'll be approached by a couple of burly men at the airport

and how to wriggle from their sweaty grasp without paying.

RDM · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:31

Nazca said:
OK, fair enough.

But, say, for example, my relative DID give a guitar worth £2500 as a birthday present, I would still expect to declare and pay tax for it? If so, that's pretty screwed up.

Legally, yes you are. As you would be bringing something in to the country worth over £390. I think the limit is £40 if it was posted to you.

Is it screwed up? Or is it actually quite a sensible restriction to stop people saying everything they bring in is a gift from great aunt Doris and therefore avoid paying duty. Much like you are suggesting in fact.

Westyfield2 · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:35

Take it as hand luggage. Act casual. Should be fine!