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Customs Taxes In UK

Posted by (Indianapolis, IN, USA) on

I am traveling to the United Kingdom this summer and i have some questions about customs taxes. in looking that the Border Agency, they were saying that i would have to pay the tax value of the combined items over the allowance of 340 Pounds, the equivalent of $479. Other than cutting down on the stuff i am taking, what is the percentage rate of the tax that i would have to pay so i can figure that out into my budget. Here is the link to the web page in question.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_010220&propertyType=document

Any help on this would be appreciated.

Posted by
16251 posts

What are you bringing with you on that list that is over the limit?

The limit only refers to tobacco, alcohol, perfume and souvenirs.

You don't pay customs on your own personal property.

Posted by
4 posts

I was under the assumption that the stuff i was bringing into the country fell under the other category, I was planning on taking my digital camera and iPod touch and some noise-canceling headphones, if that helps any. so the customs tax are only if you intending to sell?

Posted by
12040 posts

Exactly. All these people who post questions about bringing their laptop computers, digital cameras and podcasts sure aren't going to pay taxes on personal posessions they already own.

Posted by
4 posts

ok i really was not sure about it. thanks for clearing that issue up.

Posted by
16251 posts

In fact, when you arrive in the UK....just follow the line for those with nothing to declare. Bringing your personal possesions purchased in the US for your own personal use, and you plan to take them home again is fine. No customes duties.

Now, if you buy more than $800 worth of goods while in the UK, or the limits on tobacco and alcohol as set up by U.S. Customs.....then you will have to pay customs duties on your return. But again, nothing on the stuff you brought with you from home.

Posted by
668 posts

Robert:

It is as people have said. Just follow the Green exit which will be marked "Nothing to Declare" and walk straight out. There will be customsofficers who spot check, but your chances of being stopped are extremely slim. Even if you are, and you are not leaving anything in the EU, then you will just be waved through.

Wetravel with a couple of digital camreas, a video camera, a laptop and all our clothes, etc. It is not a problem. You may have more of a problem returning to the USA if you have an expensive camera, watch, wtc. Make sure you can prove tehy were bought in the USA and you are not importing them from overseas.

Posted by
4 posts

Thanks Iain, I went ahead and filled out a forum that the Us Customs and Border Agency offers for things of that nature so that its said that i bought them in the U.S and not with in Britain. Thanks for the info everyone and your responses.

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