Duty-free allowance with the US

**Moscow Mule** · 6 May 2008, 08:50

Firstly, does it make any difference when I arrive in a country if I live there or not? For instance when I travel in the USA as a tourist, may I still buy tax-free items in the UK airport?

It doesn't make any difference where you live, you can always shop at the airport.

Secondly, as far as I can tell I can bring up to $800 worth of stuff INTO the US from the UK tax-exempt, but only £145 INTO the UK from the US. Is that correct (I'm not including booze or fags)?

Sounds about right - the limit on returning items into the UK is about £150.

Thirdly, if I buy something in a normal US store I will have paid tax on it. So when I bring items back to the UK, does it make any difference if I bought them in a normal store or at a duty-free shop in the airport on my way home? Things are so much cheaper in the US I don't really need to buy them duty-free.

No it doesn't.

From looking at the rules, it seems if I get an expensive iPod type device (say $400) in the US, it could be over my limit when I return. Is that really the case? There seem to be rules about gift-wrapping things and it's generally confusing me.

If you're going to stick to the letter of the law, then you can't do this. However, if you get rid of the packaging how is the customs guy (who probably won't stop you anyway) going to know where you bought it?

**d000hg** · 6 May 2008, 09:43

If I was just a few pounds over the limit and felt compelled to declare (or was checked) would I pay duty on everything, or only the amount over the limit?

How do they decide how much something is worth? If I have say an iPod touch in the packaging and lost the receipt, what happens?

Is the onus on me to prove I already owned an item, or them to prove I bought it during my stay? A packaged iPod, one could claim "I brought it with me"... they can't prove otherwise but do they work on proof or reasonable doubt?

**Advocate** · 6 May 2008, 09:49

I find it's best not to antagonise people who can introduce you to "mr jelly finger"...

**Moscow Mule** · 6 May 2008, 09:50

I've never been stopped so I don't know. But this might help answer some qs for you http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...yType=document

**BoredBloke** · 6 May 2008, 11:10

As was stated earlier, lose the packaging and they can never know. I know a guy who used to travel out with a cloth guitar bag, buy an expensive guitar in the states and then bring it back in his tatty bag. Customs never batted an eyelid.

An IPod would be easy to do as you could load a bit of music on it and wear it walking through customs.

**Bagpuss** · 6 May 2008, 11:19

Alternatively you could post the items back to yourself

**d000hg** · 6 May 2008, 13:45

Originally posted by Bagpuss View Post

Alternatively you could post the items back to yourself

Surely anything posted to the UK is subject to duty? I know things bought from Amazon.com are - although I've only ever been charged the once.

**d000hg** · 6 May 2008, 13:46

I can't remember, when you get to the customs check-point, you don't normally have your luggage at this point do you?

**Advocate** · 6 May 2008, 13:53

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

I can't remember, when you get to the customs check-point, you don't normally have your luggage at this point do you?

Not if you flew through terminal 5....

...but normally yes you do!

Duty-free allowance with the US