Bringing goods into the UK
Posted: August 12th, 2022, 9:59 pm
In the jolly post Brexit world, don't forget that we are back to the world of personal allowances when bringing items back to the UK. IMO the UK Government website is very unclear, but we've finally worked it out before our return and I'll be paying nearly £200 UK VAT on a special gift that is already duty paid in an EU country.
Before making the purchase we sat in a cafe closely reading the Government website and came to the conclusion that we would pay a flat 2% customs duty fee but might not have to pay it if we had evidence that the item was made in the EU. OK so that sounded not too bad.
We will be returning shortly so I decided to be honest and pay up using the Government online calculator. Of course not only did it charge customs duty but also VAT! Nowhere on the general information page did it say, don't forget you'll need to pay VAT!! All it discussed was customs and excise duties.
Of course the double whammy is that if you go over your personal allowance you have to pay customs duty and VAT on all goods. Luckily we can use our personal allowances to separate which goods belong to whom so I'll only declare the expensive item and the remainder will be Mrs C and will be under her allowance.
Be warned.
Before making the purchase we sat in a cafe closely reading the Government website and came to the conclusion that we would pay a flat 2% customs duty fee but might not have to pay it if we had evidence that the item was made in the EU. OK so that sounded not too bad.
We will be returning shortly so I decided to be honest and pay up using the Government online calculator. Of course not only did it charge customs duty but also VAT! Nowhere on the general information page did it say, don't forget you'll need to pay VAT!! All it discussed was customs and excise duties.
Of course the double whammy is that if you go over your personal allowance you have to pay customs duty and VAT on all goods. Luckily we can use our personal allowances to separate which goods belong to whom so I'll only declare the expensive item and the remainder will be Mrs C and will be under her allowance.
Be warned.