Bringing back electronics from the USA

[theguvernor15]

Morning Guys,

After a bit of advise...

I'm off the US in a few months & after looking at an item i was going to purchase online, however it is significantly cheaper in the US, than it is in the UK.

My thoughts would be to buy it in the US & bring it back to the UK, however what's the score with bringing things back, Duty/Tax etc.?
You hear all the time of people buying items in the US (Ipads/Macbooks/Iphones) as they're so much cheaper, are they declaring things or just winging it?

Further info - the item is a piece of electronics (DJ mixer) - it'd be £300 cheaper to buy it & bring it back from the US than it would be in the UK (which is a significant saving on the £1700 UK price.

[mgv8]

If its is second had and you can bring it back in your luggage then no tax.

So depends a lot on what it is. My GF did bring back a carb for me and only paid local tax.

[SteveR1979]

I may have done this a few times.

I may have thrown away the packaging, and I may have mailed the receipt to my office.

I may have kept my mouth shut as I went through customs.

I may also have been advised on this approach by a "border force" officer who we are good friends with.

[PAULJ5555]

Same goes for clothes, remove the tags, bin the receipt/bag, throw them in with all the other unfolded clothes.

[sospan]

Mate went to the US for a golf trip. He was going to buy new clubs and knew exactly what he wanted. Big saving if bought in US. He flew out with his golf bag full of crap clubs. Threw them away and bought his new ones. Played golf, flew home with his new clubs in the bag.
Even the golf shop he used agreed this was a good method.

[theguvernor15]

So essentially what you're saying is, just don't bring the receipt back?

[rxe]

If you get stopped (highly unlikely), the only real issue is whether it is reasonable to have said item with you on holiday/business trip.

If I wanted to buy a new iPad Pro, I'd take my battered old case out (empty), buy one using cash, put it the old knackered case, and walk back home with almost certainly no issues at all.

However, if I wanted to buy a new TIG welder (Miller Dynasty 200), I'd have a hell of a job explaining why it was in my suitcase - so worth declaring. I'd guess that DJ decks come into this category. Even after paying VAT etc, the welder is still a bargain, so I'm getting one on my next trip out to the US.

[PAULJ5555]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1473420/Roo...

From what I can remember she was in the papers doing a spending spree in NY and customs read it and waited for her to fly back.


Funny the bit where it mentions Wayne had been up to no good with other women , very relevant, he hasn't changed

[rxe]

theguvernor15 said:

So essentially what you're saying is, just don't bring the receipt back?

Use cash.

If they suspect your shiny thing was bought abroad, a 2000$ payment to "DJ decks R' us" is pretty compelling evidence. They can get this data fairly easily.

[xxxyyyzzz]

Why not just go straight to the correct source:


Link: https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/arrivals-from-o...
Allowance for other goods

You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 (or up to £270 if you arrive by private plane or boat).

If a single item’s worth more than your allowance you pay any duty or tax on its full value, not just the value above the allowance.
If you go over your allowance

You pay Customs Duty on anything you bring in above your allowance. The rate:

is 2.5% for goods worth up to £630
depends on the type of goods if they’re worth more than £630 - check by calling the VAT, Customs and Excise Helpline

[GCH]

Have you factored in the sales tax over here, which is always added to the price shown?
Depending on which state you buy it in, that could add anything from 0% up to just shy of 10%, and you can't get a refund if taking it out of the US.

[DaveH23]

xxxyyyzzz said:

Why not just go straight to the correct source:

Why do you think he has posted here.

When in the history of ever has anyone on PH ever gave out false advice?

[megaphone]

Check the mixer will run on 230v, most will do both but I've had some 110v only stuff from the US.

As said, bin all the packaging and you may get away with it. Problem is a DJ mixer is a bit different to a laptop or iPad, who travels with a DJ mixer? What will you tell them if they ask why you took it with you to the US?

[hairyben]

BTW have you checked it'll work on a UK 230v 50Hz supply? Most of America is 110v 60Hz.

[megaphone]

BTW what mixer is it?

[fizz47]

Has anyone ever been stopped and ask to pay vat on purchases?

I would consider myself a reasonably frequent traveller both within the EU and outside..

I have never once been stopped by customs.

Numerous occasions I've brought back electronics from abroad with my biggest haul being 3 iPad Pros and 2 iPad minis in one go. -All came in hand luggage , fully boxed and sealed.

I wasn't selling them on, but they were all for immediate family members- the price in Thailand was ridiculously cheap compared to the UK.

[CAPP0]

UK Customs Man fishing for targets said:

BTW what mixer is it?

[megaphone]

CAPP0 said:

UK Customs Man fishing for targets said:

BTW what mixer is it?

Busted!!

[theguvernor15]

megaphone said:

Busted!!

I didn't realise they had sales tax over there added to the prices already shown, in that case it won't make it all that much cheaper so i may not bother.

I was either going to buy the Pioneer DJM-S9, or the new Rane 72.
I know a load of DJ's over there so i could say i'd been DJ'ing over there with them

[pheasant]

Mgv8 says no tax on 2nd hand goods ? Is this true for say an antique from the US ??