Jewellery @ duty free prices

InsideInsurance

There is the obvious answer of simply not declaring things but I was wondering how duty free should work these days.....

So, flying to Dubai and considering buying a jewellery for the misses from Heathrow. So will be taking it into Dubai and then back out again to the UK. It will exceed the normal personal allowance.

From what I read, if I were flying to the EU then it would all be fine because duty free prices apply to jewellery with no limit but I am not sure given we are leaving the EU how it works?

headpin

InsideInsurance wrote: »

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From what I read, if I were flying to the EU then it would all be fine because duty free prices apply to jewellery with no limit but I am not sure given we are leaving the EU how it works?

You will be bringing back goods from outside the EU. They will have been bought after you have gone airside UK outbound and so will be classified as being bought outside the UK.

Not sure how Dubai works for tax free allowance, but you may have to pay something when entering, although you could just say it was for personal use and you'd be taking it back out again. Usually in those circumstances nothing to pay.

However, so far as returning to the UK is concerned it would be classified as an "import" from outside the UK and EU. Therefore normally "duty/tax" fre allowances apply. Jewellery falls in with the category of "Other goods including perfume and souvenirs" (alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, etc are dealt with separately). You can bring in a total of £390 worth of these items. Any single item above that limit is subject to tax/duty on its full value not just the value above the threshold (£390).

Also, it is not permisible to "pool" allowances, so if two of you travel the value of the goods is £390 each not £780 between you. So, if you bought say a ring for £550, and there were two of you travelling and that was the only item that you bought between you, then tax/duty would be payable on the full £550 even though between you this is less than the combine allowance of £780.

Of course you can probably do what I suspect most people would do and just carry it thorugh and plead ignornace if actually stopped!!!

Hope that make sense?

headpin

Duplicated computer problems

headpin

Ditto post above

InsideInsurance

headpin wrote: »

Of course you can probably do what I suspect most people would do and just carry it thorugh and plead ignornace if actually stopped!!!

Hope that make sense?

As I say, ignoring the obvious option

So, if I get this right, if traveling within the EU I can still buy unlimited jewellery (or at least as much as the bank manager will allow me) at duty free prices without having to pay any duty anywhere (at least thats what the Heathrow site seems to suggest)

If I am traveling outside the EU then its the old £390 limit. So may be worth taking a day trip somewhere as a safeguard

littlereddevil

Fabulous jewellery to be bought in Dubai, at great prices too

bcl999

Don't know about jewellery but you can get watches more or less tax-free at Heathrow Terminal 5 - even if you're only flying to Scotland!

headpin

bcl999 wrote: »

Don't know about jewellery but you can get watches more or less tax-free at Heathrow Terminal 5 - even if you're only flying to Scotland!

It's all in the margins, because as we all know the price of jewellery, watches and the like generally has a mark up of well in excess of 100%. And on top end items probably 5x!!!

If travelling within the UK or EU then the prices are not tax free, as duty, etc still has to be accounted for. The prices are shaved by the retailer to attract the punter who has to idle away their time in the departure lounge!! That's why you have to show your boarding card when paying, as some items/prices are not available to EU passengers, only those leaving the EU.

InsideInsurance

Ok, always wondered if they were actually duty free or just trimmed for EU journeys. For jewellery there certainly are big margins (though my knowledge was that watches were much smaller margins than other jewellery).

Given 75cl spirits and below alcohol tends to be for All and only the over 75cl tend to be for Outside EU I am surprised there are enough margins in the alcohol to trim the prices sufficiently without any tax deductions

littlereddevil wrote:

Fabulous jewellery to be bought in Dubai, at great prices too

Undoubtedly I will find this out too but its a gift that needs to be given on the 2nd day of being in dubai and doubt I will find an excuse to disappear for long enough to find something on day one that she'd believe

dickydonkin

littlereddevil wrote: »

Fabulous jewellery to be bought in Dubai, at great prices too

That's what I was thinking as well.

A bit like taking coal to Newcastle if you are buying jewelery in Heathrow on the way to Dubai!

I used to go quite a lot some years ago and me and Mrs DD always purchased some gold or jewelery when we were there - not 9 carat rubbish that you get here either.

Just wish that I'd stocked up more on the gold!!!

Hindsight!:)

InsideInsurance

It is a specific item from a certain french company. I have emailed one of their retailers in Dubai (one being in the hotel we are staying in so possible for me to do without suspicions) to see if they are cheaper than the duty free prices but just trying to understand all my options and their costs