Online Cigarettes, Legal?

DipDab93

Hi All,

I was wondering about the purchase of cigarettes online and whether or not it is legal.
I'm not into illegal activity but, I read somewhere online that it is legal if they are for personal use and i am wondering whether there is any truth in that statement?
There are people buying on the underground, but I hear they are more damaging than a regulated cig.
I previously believed it was illegal however I saw an online Irish store that sells cigarettes and it makes me wonder if it is in fact legal?

Thanks for the help

L1011

You cannot import them from abroad for personal use unless they are actually with you as you cross the border.

Irish based stores would be legal but the price savings are going to be minuscule versus buying retail - for a very heavy smoker or a family of smokers it might just about make sense.

DipDab93

How much would the tax be on a carton?

beertons

Duty free is 35 a carton. The profit on a carton is around 10%. Everything else is tax.

endacl

DipDab93 wrote: »

How much would the tax be on a carton?

About 19 smokes of each pack of 20.

rubadub

I know people who ordered them years ago and they were seized but they could have paid the duty. I am not sure if it is illegal but I would have thought it would be treated like perfume or other excisable items. A guy I know got wine via groupon a few months ago and again got it after paying excise.

In the case of the cigs the fees were so high they opted to have them destroyed.

Many years ago there was a place in Spain who you subscribed to and they would send out a 20 pack every day or 2. Customs may have been aware of it but it might have been under a limit where they would bother collecting. They officially do not collect less than ?6 in VAT on regular items, I think there is no such exemption on excisable products but it still might not be worth their while.

The excise on a 20 pack is probably worthwhile collecting these days though.

If the Irish shop is significantly cheaper then alarm bells would be ringing, either they are counterfeit or being sent in from abroad. My understanding is shops make very little off them and so there would not be much of a possible reduction.

L1011

DipDab93 wrote: »

How much would the tax be on a carton?

Sufficient to make it dearer than buying here. You'll also need an excise licence to do it

DipDab93

I don't get it though because with duty free you buy 200 and you allowed bring them through for personal use is that not the same thing

rubadub

DipDab93 wrote: »

I don't get it though because with duty free you buy 200 and you allowed bring them through for personal use is that not the same thing

no, you have to accompany them, its in the revenue information, and it is not just ireland who have this rule.

DipDab93

hmm, Id say thats something to do with it being for personal use or health reasons?

Doesn't make sense though when you consider what we see on shows like Primetime regularly

L1011

DipDab93 wrote: »

I don't get it though because with duty free you buy 200 and you allowed bring them through for personal use is that not the same thing

All personal use allowances require you to accompany the product.

DipDab93

makes sense I suppose