Bringing things back from the EU

[Richard_C]

No chance of travel at the moment, but in the past I have picked up the odd tool or bit of kit when I've been driving through France or similar. Got a few necessary bits for my 2CV once when they were hard to find in the UK. Those of a certain age will remember customs limits, X litres of wine etc., N cigars and suchlike and duty on almost anything else. I remember buying an ice axe in Andorra and managing to convince a customs man who did an 'open boot please' check that it was for personal use and had been used - evidenced by the dents on the shaft - so he reluctantly didn't charge duty on it.

Anyway, those days are back:

www.gov.uk/guidance/bringing-goods-into ... nuary-2021

You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 (or up to £270 if you arrive by private plane or boat). If a single item’s worth more than your allowance you pay duty or tax on its full value, not just the value above the allowance.

If you go over your allowance then you will pay customs duty on the total value of your goods. The rate:

is 2.5% for goods worth up to £630
depends on the type of goods if they’re worth more than £630
From 1 January 2021, you will be able to check your allowances, make a declaration and pay any tax using an online service for passengers.

You will also have to pay VAT at the standard UK rates.

It's a per person limit, you can't join them up so if you buy a fancy tool for £500 you can't say "ah but my wife owns half of it....." and split it over 2 allowances.

I guess anything you buy online/mail order from specialist retailers will attract the whole vat fee+handling charge palaver now as well. No idea what will happen in Northern Ireland with its open border.

Gosh I'm looking forward to all of this, the forms look delightful.

[mickthemaverick]

My first reaction to that, assuming we will be able to cross the channel at some point, is to advise you to keep your receipts for anything you buy new to take away with you so you can prove to customs on your return that you didn't buy it abroad!!

[Richard_C]

Fair point. There's a market opportunity here for an in-car filing cabinet to hold all the papers we will need for a trip. Receipts for all your stuff, medical insurance, international driving permit (x2 if its France and Spain), green card, registration documents ....

Plus a mini-incinerator because you can't take animal or similar products with you so any ham or cheese sandwiches will have to be eaten before crossing or emptied and the fillings discarded.

"Why is there a 3 hour queue to disembark?" "Parce que nous sommes searching toutes les sandwiches"

[Michel]

What a f@cking load of unnecessary and unwanted hassle, for what? Sweet FA it seems!

[white exec]

It's called having sovereignty. Enjoy.

[Michel]

It's called having sovreignty. Enjoy.

I’m sure that will replace all the things we and future generations have lost. Really.

[Paul-R]

It'll be the man in the street who pays for all this nonsense, either directly or indirectly. It will only be big businesses and money movers who make anything out of Brexit. I know that there will only be extra costs for me. I cannot think of a single thing that will be cheaper in a couple of days time.

[mickthemaverick]

It'll be the man in the street who pays for all this nonsense, either directly or indirectly. It will only be big businesses and money movers who make anything out of Brexit. I know that there will only be extra costs for me. I cannot think of a single thing that will be cheaper in a couple of days time.

Yesterday's bread?

[Michel]

Well, you can probably kiss goodbye to ordering stuff online from the EU, e.g. on eBay. At least one Dutch online retailer has already announced they cannot be bothered with the required bureacracy, and will no longer ship to the UK.

This from the Danish Postal Authority;

"If you sell goods to private recipients in the UK, you can apply for a VAT account and a EU seller UK VAT number from the British tax authority. The number must always be stated on the invoice and in the electronic customs data as VAT on goods under a value of 135 £ must be paid by the sender. In this way, you can pay the VAT directly with the British tax authority and save the customs fee. If you use this service, remember to add British VAT to the goods in your web shop."

And even if you can find someone to order from, don't forget you will have to pay the VAT, which will be collected by the PO or courier firm, who will charge you a hefty fee (IIRC, the last time I had to pay it, it was a fixed £12.50, making many online purchases uneconomic). Gee thanks, Brexitards.

[Michel]

Well, I got my shoes from here due to them being the best I’ve found for my damaged ankle and other foot nasties.

Thanks again...

Come on, where are the benefits? Tell me..

[Gibbo2286]

Well, I got my shoes from here due to them being the best I’ve found for my damaged ankle and other foot nasties.



Thanks again...

Come on, where are the benefits? Tell me..

Patience child!"

[mickthemaverick]

I do not particularly want to get involved in any debate about this again. The fact is it is done, as Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany and we went into 6 years of suffering, in order to get the benefits of freedom, was done. There is absolutely no point in moaning and griping, just look forward and realise that nothing will happen until we have sorted Covid but after that demand will generate the need for farmers to start using their fields again to grow our food instead of being paid to keep them fallow, entrepreneurs will spot gaps in the market left by EU retailers and create new manufacturing in Britain and reinstate jobs lost over the last 40 years etc. The main thing is it will take time, I won't live to see it and my children may not either but my grandchildren will be able to hold their heads high and be proud to see Made in Britain on their goods again!!

[Paul-R]

Well, you can probably kiss goodbye to ordering stuff online from the EU, e.g. on eBay.

One bright spot in my recent problems with the urea tank on our 308 is that I was able to source a new replacement tank from Germany at considerably less cost than buying one in Britain. That's an avenue which has now been taken away from me and no doubt the lack of competition in the UK will push prices up further, The delivery from Germany to my house was about three days - faster than many UK based businesses can manage!

Gee thanks, Brexitards.

No further comment needed.

[mickthemaverick]

I think you've completely missed my point Michel, My point was: we live in a democracy and the whole point of that is that you take a vote and then whatever the result you respect and support it whether you agree with it or not. My point about WW2 was simply to illustrate that what is done is done regardless of the consequences. So now its up to us to make the best of it and either make it work or maybe convince the majority to rejoin. Either way moaning is never positive, which is what we all need to be to make the most of a bad job. As I said I don't want to get into anymore debates about it so this will be my last comment on the topic.

[Steve Walsh]

Now you have left the EU, Can you send us all the Continental Quilts back, Along with your Euromillions winnings. !!