Another O/T! Buying stuff abroad....

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I'm going to USA in October and I'm thinking about buying some new golf clubs (yes, I know, don't laugh or fall asleep!) when I'm out there.

Question is: if I buy them out there and bring them back do I have to pay tax when I land back in the UK?

Odd question I know but you lot seem to be interested in all sorts of stuff so thought I might as well ask!

[Size Nine Elm]

You have to pay duty and VAT. Unless, of course, you remove all labels and say you took them with you for personal use. Not that I'd condone that.

[plotloss]

If you plan on buying golf clubs my suggestion would be to take a set with you (even a £10 set from your local 'nicked stuff' shop) in your usual bag, buy the clubs and get a round in before you leave the US, place the clubs in the old bag before passing through customs and you should be OK.

For extra security post the reciept home ahead of yourself.

If you walk through with a shiny set of Big Berthas in a nice shiny Callaway bag they'll jump on you for sure.

Matt.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Good call there guys - that's what I'm going to do (and the posting-the-receipt-home-ahead-of-yourself-ruse is an excellent security measure too - thanks.)

Now, where did I leave my Dad's clubs......

[manek]

I did that when I bought a telescope in NY once -- the shop was happy to remove all labels and post the guanrantee/receipt off to my place ahead of me, and to give me a chit to say I'd brought it in for repair. Like so many things, it was the same in $ as it cost in £.

[plotloss]

Oh, and if you are planning on buying pricey clubs if you possibly can order them online from a different state, then you pay no US sales tax either.

You can claim it back when you leave but you can guarantee that its a proforma from them to the excise over here!

Matt.

[JohnL]

If you end up having to pay duty it will be about 10% import duty plus 17.5% VAT, which is charged on the import duty as well.

If you are flying onto a regional airport for your flight back into the UK, you will probably be able to check your luggage, including the new golf clubs, right through to your ultimate destination. When you then get there you will be disembarking from an internal flight so there will (probably!) be no customs people there, so no need to pay the duty.

This has happened to someone I know a couple of times. The first time (golf clubs!), there was a phone to call customs if you had anything to declare! Being an honest citizen he did just that. They said, what're they worth, X hundred dollars, hmm, don't think we'll bother ... so the second time he just ignored the phone. As you would.

[angusfaldo]

Don't forget you get a tax free gift allowance from non-EU countries of 145 quid or about 220 dollars. So if you bought your clubs and had them seperately itemised on the invoice you could claim your allowance against, say, 4 of the clubs (depending on value). Then you'd only have to pay tax on the balance. You have to be careful here though because normally you can't apportion your allowance on an item worth more than 145. So if a single item is worth 160, you don't get the first 145 free, you pay tax on the lot. As you'd be buying seperate clubs you'd be able to apportion. This would mean you'd only pay duty and VAT on the balance (say aggregate rate of 30% on the balance of the value, say 300 dollars or 200 quid. So the bill would be in the region of 60 quid.

Don't be too tempted with posting the invoice to yourself. I worked for a while at Mount Pleasant post depot as a customs officer. we always used to get people that way. Especially Rolex watch buyers. Best way is to fax or scan and email the invoice.

Easiest way is to use the new clubs when you are out there and bring them back with a bit of mud and grass on them. Whatever you do don't bring them back with the protective plastic still on the grips. This way it will be less of a suspicion that you are returning with new clubs.

But be warned. If you do get stopped and they can establish that you brought in goods over your allowance you're guilty of either a knowing or reckless offence. You can lose the clubs and be fined 3 times the unpaid tax or a minimum fine (the amounts have gone up since I was more involved) and a criminal record. Is it worth it to save something in the region of 60 quid? All said and done I'd say your chances of getting away with it are really very good!

[philshort]

I guess it depends on the airport etc, but most times I have returned from the states the customs desk has been completely unmanned. Not that that helps!

As others have suggested, use the clubs while over there and post the receipts back separately. Maybe take some old club covers so they don't look so shiney new! And make sure the ones you but can actually be bought in the UK!