Expenses - laptop purchase leave abroad

[Merklynn]

response

There's nothing complex about it. He owns a UK limited company. The computer is being purchased for that company. The US-sourced income is revenue to the UK company. A US-sourced expense is an expense of the UK company.

He is not purchasing the computer for a US business, nor is he purchasing it so he can work over there. A UK company is purchasing it to facilitate its export of services to the US.

Maybe an accountant will set me straight but I'm unaware of any rule that says you have to bring foreign purchases back, or pay any duties on them, to be able to expense them.

Exactly, I am purchasing it for the UK companies operation, it is being used for the company so is an expense for it, guess I'm just trying to wangle even more money off by buying it there though where its cheaper.

[Lance]

Exactly, I am purchasing it for the UK companies operation, it is being used for the company so is an expense for it, guess I'm just trying to wangle even more money off by buying it there though where its cheaper.

Which is a sound business reason to do it.

You wouldn't be the first to bring in a laptop to the UK without paying extra duty either. As long as it's not in it's box, and you have it as hand luggage there'll be no issue.

[BR14]

The only reason I don't really want to bring it home (aside from the fact I don't need it here) really is it negates all savings if I have to pay duty and VAT on it anyway, might as well just buy it here

As soon as you unpack it, it's used. leave it in US for the duration of the gig, and bring it back as hand luggage when you finish. no problems.

[PerfectStorm]

Expenses - laptop purchase leave abroad

Don’t forget to 0% it for VAT

Also you don’t have any import charges on a laptop, rightly or wrongly

[Lance]

Also you don’t have any import charges on a laptop, rightly or wrongly

try bringing back a suitcase full of new, boxed ones and going through the 'Something to declare' channel at customs. I think you'll find you need to pay duty (and VAT).

[PerfectStorm]

try bringing back a suitcase full of new, boxed ones and going through the 'Something to declare' channel at customs. I think you'll find you need to pay duty (and VAT).

Indeed, but one should come through without much hassle if it’s not in a box

[Lance]

Indeed, but one should come through without much hassle if it’s not in a box

agreed. It is called smuggling, but I've worked in places where it was company policy that every staff member who went to the USA had to bring back one more laptop than they took with them.

[BR14]

agreed. It is called smuggling, but I've worked in places where it was company policy that every staff member who went to the USA had to bring back one more laptop than they took with them.

Sorry, - i thought this was a contractor

[Lance]

Sorry, - i thought this was a contractor

that was me, a loooong time ago... in a company far, far away

[BR14]

that was me, a loooong time ago... in a company far, far away

That was NOT the contractor i was looking for, then?