Aerostich and import duty efficiencies

  • Thread starter Thread starter david thorpe
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david thorpe

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Hi

I'm thinking of getting a one piece Roadcrafter suit but understand I'll have to pay import duty ~ anyone done this recently and know how much this will amount to (and what postage costs are) before I take the plunge.

If my brother who lives in the USofA were to buy one on my behalf and send it to me as a present, would that get around the duty issue?

Or to simplify matters (moneywise so avoiding transfering dosh) could I buy one for him, get it sent to him in Delaware, and then he post it to me as an unwanted gift?

Any other tax 'efficient' tips or comments welcome.

David
 
I think that if it's a present, there is no tax payable on it......and if you have the same surname (presumably) you shouldn't have any problems.....make sure your brother puts his name and address as 'return to if undelivered' and mark the parcel properly.

You could buy it on your card and have it delivered to him, then he repackages it and sends it on.

Works with software ;)


PS I stand to be corrected though....not sure if there are any upper limits on value etc.


PS if it works would you mind posting about it and how much you got it for etc.....I really fancy one of these myself as i need to wear work clothes under my bkike gear and that's a majot PITA

Cheers
 
Stung !!

I have tried to get several things from the States through our wonderful postal system,each time they were shown as gifts....each time I got caught for around £35.00 in VAT/CUSTOMS/ADMIN etc etc. Seems since Ebay has taken off the Post Office see this as a nice little earner.I even had to pay these charges on a second hand Aerostitch jacket.
Of course some things get through...........but its just a matter of working out that should you get the extra charge is it still good value. Could always have a nice break to the US and pick it up from your hotel though !!
Steve
 
you can get it sent as a gift but the value must not exceed £36 which is double the usual £18 for an item which isn't a gift.

sent to you with no tags attached as personal effects you shouldn't get charged anything at all BUT beware if they open it and it has receipts inside then you will get heavily stung and face court.



david thorpe said:
Hi

I'm thinking of getting a one piece Roadcrafter suit but understand I'll have to pay import duty ~ anyone done this recently and know how much this will amount to (and what postage costs are) before I take the plunge.

If my brother who lives in the USofA were to buy one on my behalf and send it to me as a present, would that get around the duty issue?

Or to simplify matters (moneywise so avoiding transfering dosh) could I buy one for him, get it sent to him in Delaware, and then he post it to me as an unwanted gift?

Any other tax 'efficient' tips or comments welcome.

David
Click to expand...
 
Fanum said:
You could buy it on your card and have it delivered to him, then he repackages it and sends it on.
Click to expand...

Worked for me with my Darien
Make sure the paperwork goes separately
 
I've sent both a Roadcrafter and a Darien suit, on seperate ocassions, to my friend in Wolverhampton and avoided VAT / Import tax both times.

I removed all tags, literature and anything else from the suits and repacked them in a different box. The tags, receipts were all sent in a seperate letter.

In the box, I enlcosed a letter asking my friend to hold onto this articl;e for me until i got there as I intended to use it on my "trip".

Have done the same with a Gramin GPS unit and several other itmes over the years and have had no problems at all so far.


Maybe we're just lucky
;)
 
The simplest way, given the way that Royal Mail and others are covering their backs is for your brother to send it to you marked as personal effects and a note thanking you for the loan of your suit.

That way he is simply returning your possesions to you.

Make sure it gets sent by carrier (UPS etc) not US Mail.
 
Aerostich duty dodge

Thanks to everyone for their helpful replies, the personal effects route looks the best wheeze and I'll let you know how I get on if I go ahead.
David
 
one more thing - don't get it sent to a work or business address - as I understand it, if your postcode scans up as being a residential address, customs will then only check one in five packages.

pr0ne
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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