customs charges?

[princeperch]

been after getting a nice watch for a while, and decided on a tag heuer formula 1. seen it on many american based websites for around 250-300, but then found it on one for £209 inc del to my friends uncle's house in the usa.
Question now is this. The watch is there, do I chance sending watch over (obviously not with any paperwork,box ect) and then if i pull it off get the box sent over after.

or do i wait 3 months for his uncle to bring it over when he comes to the uk and wear it through customs?

anyone know the chances of me getting clobbered on customs? i would deffo get taxed on it if caught, even if i said i left it over there sometime ago, as its worth over $36.

any help greatfully received

[Raify]

Once it's at 'a friends' house, can't you get them to send it marked as a gift? hence exempt???

[princeperch]

yeah if i got it sent over it would be at a declared nominal value, and marked as gift. problem is, if the gift is over $36 youll get charged vat and christ knows what else.

in addition, the watch retails in the uk for between 400-450 quid. if i get taxed, the customs apparently can "value" the watch and the tax is calculated from their figure

[jvaughan]

get the dude to wear it over. They cannot stop you for having a flash watch can they ?

[parrot of doom]

Get your friend to put a bit of muck on it (a spot of grease and dirt around the strap) to make it look like its been worn, and include a letter with the watch, blah blah weather great hows the wife etc etc. Don't include the watch packaging

Just make sure its packaged to hide the fact that its a watch so the postman doesn't nick it.

[mybrainhurts]

I notice you're going to be a lawyer, Mr princeperch.......

[princeperch]

Correct - specialising in motoring law if all things remain equal as it happens. Getting a vacation placement in this field is extremely hard however, as the last few weeks have unfortunately proved!

[mybrainhurts]

Good on yer...

Doesn't tax evasion get you barred before you start....?

[2 Smokin Barrels]

mybrainhurts said:

Good on yer... Doesn't tax evasion get you barred before you start....?

Only if caught

[princeperch]

Like so many things in life - only if you got caught.....
In any case im not aware you will be prosecuted as such, only a charge levied at the recipients address.

but then again isn’t a career as a motoring solicitor another form of tax evasion, if not for the benefit of others?

[2 Smokin Barrels]

ing solicitors

[mybrainhurts]

Who is....?

[2 Smokin Barrels]

mybrainhurts said:

Who is....?

other solicitors mostly

[S Works]

Doesn't matter if it's a gift or not, you're still liable.

Wait and have him wear it over. No one will notice if he's a yank coming here for a trip. Sending it

Patience is a virtue in this case.

[princeperch]

Thanks for the reply’s guys, on balance I think I will wait for him to bring it over. No point in taking an unnecessary risk I guess. just have to be patient!

[angusfaldo]

princeperch said:

Thanks for the reply’s guys, on balance I think I will wait for him to bring it over. No point in taking an unnecessary risk I guess. just have to be patient!

If you want to reduce risk even further then make sure you don't have the box/receipt mailed to yourself. I used to work in an international mailing office for Customs and we caught hundreds of people out this way. They would buy something and then carry it as a used item, then mail themselves the box and recipt for insurance purposes.

We'd open the empty watch boxes and rub our hands with glee...

Oh, and for interest, there's no import duty on watches (well 50p fixed cost I think). The import charges should be limited to VAT.

[princeperch]

thats a very interesting post angusfaldo cheers for that. that may put another spin on the situation entirely, for the sake of a 40 quid vat bill i might just go ahead and order it over.

since your in the know, if i just get the watch only sent over get it marked as gift, and $30 you reckon id get a tug?

or should i just declare it and pay up?

cheers

[angusfaldo]

princeperch said:

thats a very interesting post angusfaldo cheers for that. that may put another spin on the situation entirely, for the sake of a 40 quid vat bill i might just go ahead and order it over. since your in the know, if i just get the watch only sent over get it marked as gift, and $30 you reckon id get a tug? or should i just declare it and pay up? cheers

Chances are that if you ask the sender to label it as a gift and ensure that the package does not include an invoice or anything suggesting a financial transaction then you'll be ok. But if they open it and realise that the gift is over the de minimis limit then you'll get a charge (though I doubt any penalties or anything).

Oh and before people attending PF and TVRCC meets start throwing stuff at me and my car - I no longer work for Customs!

[princeperch]

thanks for your help mate