Import duty when bringing watches back to Uk

[taaffy]

I'm looking to get hold of a Tudor Pelagos and/or a Tudor Heritage Black Bay or Heritage chrono at some point on my travels to Europe as there are no UK dealers for Tudor.


1) In what country am I likely to get the best purchase price (travelling to France, Switzerland, Italy)

2) What % of purchase price am I likely to pay to hmrc when coming back into the UK

3) Do I chance just walking through with them in my hand luggage and paying nothing

Edited by taaffy on Thursday 24th May 19:19

[clockworks]

If you buy it in the EU, you won't pay any duty - assuming you buy it "duty paid" from a shop.

[craigb84]

Even out of the EU there are certain ways round it when buying abroad.

[wiffmaster]

Buy abroad, post packaging and receipt home via tracked delivery, wear watch through customs.

[craigb84]

wiffmaster said:

Buy abroad, post packaging and receipt home via tracked delivery, wear watch through customs.

Yeah this is what i was going to suggest.

[Big_Dog]

Might be wise to give HMRC a call. I did about 10 years ago and the duty was a flat rate 50p.

[VERN UK]

Big_Dog said:

Might be wise to give HMRC a call. I did about 10 years ago and the duty was a flat rate 50p.

fek that

[taaffy]

now just need to find a dealer .....

[Podie]

taaffy said:

now just need to find a dealer .....

List on the Tudor website.

[anonymous-user]

craigb84 said:

Yeah this is what i was going to suggest.

I know someone who did this with a very expensive mountain bike in Canada!

[jshell]

There is an online duty calculator somewhere that shows you just how much it cost to declare items when coming in. Just google it. When I used it for a bike frame from the US it was accurate to within 10p on a £500 frame.

I would ship packaging and wear watch in, quite frankly.

[taaffy]

jshell said:

There is an online duty calculator somewhere that shows you just how much it cost to declare items when coming in. Just google it. When I used it for a bike frame from the US it was accurate to within 10p on a £500 frame.

I would ship packaging and wear watch in, quite frankly.

More than likely I'll be doing that...

[benny.c]

clockworks said:

If you buy it in the EU, you won't pay any duty - assuming you buy it "duty paid" from a shop.

^^^^ This.

Just purchased a watch from Italy and there is nothing to pay. I've also purchased loads of car parts from Europe and never been charged. Bringing stuff in and posting the boxes etc only makes sense if you are shopping outside the EU or haven't paid tax at the point of sale.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/arrivingeu...

[taaffy]

benny.c said:

clockworks said:

If you buy it in the EU, you won't pay any duty - assuming you buy it "duty paid" from a shop.

^^^^ This.

Just purchased a watch from Italy and there is nothing to pay. I've also purchased loads of car parts from Europe and never been charged. Bringing stuff in and posting the boxes etc only makes sense if you are shopping outside the EU or haven't paid tax at the point of sale.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/arrivingeu...

didn't realise that ....no worries then I'll just have a look next time in France or Italy ....

[bry1975]

As the guys say wear the watch on your wrist and have the boxes sent separately.

I know one guy who was TO HONEST sent his Panerai abroad for repair insured at FULL value and the HMRC have given him a 6month window if the watch is in the UK longer than 6 months he will have to pay the HMRC £800 in penalties!

[sneijder]

Does he have an original receipt ?