I am importing tobacco from China. I know that if Tobacco is imported into the UK then Customs Duty increases the cost to shop prices. Is it legal for me to get them imported into another EU country (with lower or no Customs Duty) then travel there to bring them back?
I would also like advice, if possible, as to the best EU country to get them sent ie. the one with the lowest Customs Duty on Tobacco.
Thanks
jamesprivett Thurs 01/05/08 00:13
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You can import (personally, not by post) a theoretically unlimited quantity of cigarettes from any EU country (except Estonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia ), without paying duty or VAT, as long as they're for your personal use and the relevant duty and purchase tax have been paid in the country you're importing them from (or in any other EU country, excluding those listed above). HMRC normally won't challenge the validity of the 'personal use' criterion as long as the quantity doesn't exceed 3200 cigarettes.
So, as long as you're not importing more than 3200 cigarettes (for your personal use) you could import them via an EU country with lower rates of duty and VAT. For guidance as to which countries have the lowest rates, see here:
http://www.the-tma.org.uk/page.aspx?page_id=35
However, if you're prepared to pay to travel to collect your cigarettes, it would seem likely that you're seeking to import more than 3200 cigarettes and/or import them for non-personal use. In which case, you'll still have to pay UK duty and tax:
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebAp p/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_page Label=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_0102 21&propertyType=document
To get some idea of the charges you might face, see my answer here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Shopping/Questi on250328.html
Chris
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PS: On re-reading your question, I note that you refer to 'tobacco', rather than to 'cigarettes'. However, the basic content of my post remains valid. Simply substitute '3kg of tobacco' where I've referred to 3200 cigarettes.
Chris
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As you intend selling the tobacco, this will be of interest to you:
Duty Paid
Since the 1 July 2000, the law requires that
UK DUTY PAID
is shown on all packets of cigarettes and pouches of hand-rolling tobacco manufactured,or imported, for sale in the UK.
It is a criminal offence to possess, display, sell or deal in products which do not carry a duty paid fiscal mark. It will also be a criminal offence for a manager to sell, or allow the sale on his premises of products which do not carry a duty paid fiscal mark. The maximum penalty for both offences is £5,000.
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