Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
6 January 2010
10:0336493Changes to personal import allowances
The value of goods that travellers can personally bring into the UK from a non-EU country, or receive through the post without needing to pay customs duty, has increased.
Travellers arriving in the UK by commercial sea or air transport from a non-EU country can now bring in up to £390 worth of goods for personal use (excluding tobacco and alcohol, which have separate allowances, and fuel) without paying customs duty or VAT. Those arriving by other means, including by private plane or boat for pleasure purposes, can bring in goods up to the value of £270.
Individuals who buy goods over the internet or by mail order from outside the EU will now only be charged customs duty if the value of the package is above £135, and the actual amount of duty due is over £9.
Although the duty limits have changed, import VAT is still due on packages valued at over £18. However, if a package is received as a 'gift', VAT will only now be charged if its value exceeds £40.
With regard to excise duty on tobacco products, the remaining quantitative restrictions on personal imports of cigarettes from Bulgaria, Romania. Lithuania and Estonia (and smoking tobacco from Estonia) have now been lifted. This means that since 1 January 2010 private individuals travelling from these Member States can now bring back unlimited amounts of these goods for own use, thereby enjoying the same benefits as those travelling back from other Member States.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
6 January 2010
10:0536494This might be useful for those of us buying stuff over the internet from abroad or indeed of interest to long distance travellers. It seems slightly confusing but Im trying to get my head round it.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 January 2010
11:4936499basically it means that the area will be flooded with cheap cigarettes from the 4 countries mentioned.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
6 January 2010
13:3936515On the other hand this is quite good news for some of us. I've ordered the occasional DVD set and other items from the US and on a couple of occasions have been stung for import duty. The odd thing is that duty on such items seems to be quite haphazard - most of the time no duty is applied, but once in a blue moon one is asked to pay seven or eight quid extra for the same value item. Maybe the selection is random, say 10%?
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,698
6 January 2010
19:4736582Loved this bit
"With regard to excise duty on tobacco products, the remaining quantitative restrictions on personal imports of cigarettes from Bulgaria, Romania. Lithuania and Estonia (and smoking tobacco from Estonia) have now been lifted. This means that since 1 January 2010 private individuals travelling from these Member States can now bring back unlimited amounts of these goods for own use, thereby enjoying the same benefits as those travelling back from other Member States."
as it is arrant nonsense, customs operate an advisory guideline of 3kg of tobacco for personal use and request duty to be paid on any amount in excess of that or confiscating it if you refuse to pay the duty.
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While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
6 January 2010
19:5536586i thought that had changed.
i remember seeing all that some time ago about the advisory guidelines.
surely there must be a cut and dried limit so that everyone knows what the score is prior to going through customs.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
6 January 2010
22:1536619howard,hmrc have double standerds,according to custom notises you can bring back as much as you like,and when you do they nick it all off you.