heresy123

Has anyone ever had problems coming through UK customs with things bought in the US?

For example if I have a new macbook that's unboxed and in a laptop bag would I get hassle for it? I know there are allowances for this and they would just charge VAT but has anyone ever had an issue like this?

I want to get a new laptop but I am only coming to be back in the UK a couple of months so don't want to pay VAT/fees that I don't need to...!

Cheers

Hotscot

Aren't you supposed to be honest and declare goods you bought abroad?

Or is it just your regular work computer rather than an item bought specifically for import into the UK?

In any case if it's simply your work machine the issue needn't come up especially if you're leaving again.

(I think)

Pulaski

What does this mean? Are you visiting the UK for a couple of months, or returning to live in the UK in a couple of months?

If you are only visiting, and will be taking the computer back (out of the UK) with you, then you won't have to pay VAT. If you are returning to the UK to live then IIRC anything bought withing 12 months of you arriving is chargeable for VAT. If you bring it in unboxed it is quite possible (I would say highly likely) that nobody will notice, but you run the risk that they do notice.

hungryhorace

You're 'supposed' to keep to speed limits, also. Not everybody does though.

BerkshireBugsy

Years ago I worked for an American company but was based in the UK. For some reason we were issued with US laptops which were noticeable because the currency symbols were in a different location on the keyboard BUT import duty had been paid. So if I took it out of the UK I had to carry a letter which recorded its serial number so that I didn't have to pay import duty when I returned.

Hotscot

False equivalency.

We tend to advise following the legally proscribed path on these forums regarding matters related to traveling between countries.

hungryhorace

I completely agree on that, and I did think twice before writing what I did fwiw

Hotscot

That's very decent of you. Thanks

Jerseygirl

Looks like the OP is a US student...studying in the UK. In which case she is bringing the computer into the country and will be taking it with her when she returns to the U.S...so she shouldn't have to pay duty.

My daughter studied in Canada...we took all sorts of things across the border. We always declared them but stressed they were for student use and they would be returned to the U.S. when her studies had finished.

rpjs

Point of pedantry but "proscribed" == "forbidden". ITYM "prescribed".

Hotscot

Thanks...these old eyes...typo