Purchases Limits in America

[sjthomas11]

If you are intending to go to America and buy lots of clothes, electrical items, perfume, toiletries etc. What are the limits that you have to adhere to?

[spudqueen]

I think that it's �140 pounds worth of goods that you can bring back without paying duty. When I've been I've cut the price labels out of clothes so that they aren't obviously brand new but I would be very wary of buying electrical items in the US to use over here as they have a different voltage and plug system.

[Tizzi247]

Whenever I went abroad anywhere and wanted to buy for example, jewellery, I would wear it home and discard the boxes or whatever etc. You must however, put the receipts in an envelope and mail them to yourself, because if you are unlucky enough to get stopped, Customs will know you have only just brought them.

[sjthomas11]

Thanks for your help!

[Buenchico]

The current limit to the value of goods brought into the UK, without paying tax, from outside of the EU is �145:
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channels PortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel _ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_010220&propertyType=do cument

This limit is set by the EU and not by the UK government. Gordon Brown has been trying to get this limit raised. So far he has managed to get an agreement that the limit will rise to �340 (although a date for the change has not yet been agreed). He is continuing to argue the case for a limit of �1000.

(Isn't it amazing what you can learn by listening to Radio 4 on Budget Day?) :-)

Chris

[Dee Sa]

When I go I always put one suitcase inside another as most airlines allow 2 bags up to 64kgs in weight, I only take 1 change of clothes and start buying out there asap, electrical items are all on different voltage so think carefully about that one, not much difference in perfume prices hardly worth the effort, shoes, trainers yes.

Dont buy perfume etc at Heathrow its dearer than these new perfume shops springing up in the UK.

Where if the US are you going?, first time I went to Vegas, we asked the cab driver where his wife shopped and he said Boulevard Mall and we found this much cheaper than the tourist malls, now wherever we go in US we always ask the cabbie the same question.

Happy shopping.