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Travelling to the UK and back- Duty/VAT on purchases made in the UK? (Not Alcohol or Tobacco)

  • 27-08-2024 06:58PM
    #1
    liamtech
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,857 ✭✭✭


    HI.

    I will be travelling to the UK and back between now and christmas. It May be a same day return flight, or i might stay over night. I wanted to ask if anyone knows the arrangements on my purchasing stuff in the UK, and then bringing it back to Ireland. This is Not Alcohol, or tobacco - But i have been looking at a lens for some time, and i am very tempted by the UK Price. My temptation would absolutely end if i was stung with a duty charge at dublin airport. Try as i may, i cannot seem to find an answer to this, anywhere. When googling, i am usually greeted with discussion on Duty and Vat when ordering online, which is obviously not the case at all

    • Fly to london, meet friends
    • I either go buy the lens, (its for a telescope btw, nothing prohibited, just an eyepiece) - or perhaps i have a friend pick it up for me in the days prior to arriving
    • Say good luck to my friends
    • Fly home

    I wont be buying booze or tobacco, as neither I nor my partner, drink or smoke. Is this likely to incur some sort of post brexit related duty/VAT charge?

    Thanks in advance

    Sic semper tyrannis - thus always to Tyrants

    Post edited by whiterebel on


Comments

  • #2
    cml387
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,294 ✭✭✭cml387


    Back in the old days when there was customs between Ireland and Britain we did this all the time. It's not a problem, you are highly unlikely to be checked. Just put it in your bag as normal.



  • #3
    whiterebel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,705 ✭✭✭✭whiterebel


    revenue rules are here

    https://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/individuals/info-travelling-duty-free/from-outside-eu/allowances.aspx

    Please note the charter for this forum with regard to evading taxes etc



  • #4
    Dublinandy3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 566 ✭✭✭Dublinandy3


    If it is for personal use and travelling by air or sea there is no charges officially below 430 euros.

    For a telescopic lens for a camera that would be between 0 and 5% for the value above 430. I'm not sure if you're referring to a gun scope, so not sure about those. It varies per item.

    If the value of the item is above 150 euros you would be expected to pay 23% vat in it, officially.

    This is 3% more than the UK but you could claim the 20% vat you paid in the UK back, but you'd have to do this directly to the HMRC, so would be a hassle.

    Having said all that you'll find a billion people who will tell you that you'll never be checked or if it's in a nag and not in original packaging, you could claim you took it to the UK and pay nothing.

    I won't comment on that but the official line is above.



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