Brining cigarettes to UK penalty, please help

SpammyTheSpammer

...oat-based breakfast meals?

Probably best to start to get a taste for them

tomtontom

Poppycat wrote: »

He never asked a question meally what he thought.

I would have thought personnel use would be only for you, even if it extends to family members I doubt it means some friends too

It covers gifts also, but it seems inconceivable someone would give away 50 cartons without something in return Even with intra EU travel the upper guideline is 800 cigarettes, with the amount involved I expect they are treating the OP as a trader.

powerful_Rogue

Someone mentioned about giving items as gifts. I wrote up a reply but their original post vanished before I could quote it. Thought I would post it anyway.

Your allowed to bring items in as gifts - but they must not be in return for money, services or favors.

Cigarettes as a birthday present - OK
Cigarettes because someone looked after your pets - Not Ok.

brat02

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

- How many trips abroad have you had int he last 2 years? EU or Non EU
- How many times have you been stopped by Border Force entering the UK?
- How many times have you had items seized?
- How much did you have seized?

• probably 2-3 times to Russia
• 0
• only this time - 1
• not quite sure what you mean, 50 cartons have been taken from my luggage if that's what you mean, about £350 it was spent on it

powerful_Rogue

brat02 wrote: »

• probably 2-3 times to Russia
• 0
• only this time - 1
• not quite sure what you mean, 50 cartons have been taken from my luggage if that's what you mean, about £350 it was spent on it

Did you bring similar amounts back on the previous trips?

pogofish

What it means is that HMRC are very likely to make the assumption that you imported 50 cartons on each of those 2-3 trips to Russia and base any calculations for back duty/penalties on it.

So now, its up to you - or rather your competent legal represantitive to prove, negotiate or otherwise disabuse them of that idea and reach a settlement based on the amount they actually know about.

So the sooner you get professional help, the better.

brat02

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Did you bring similar amounts back on the previous trips?

no, never

pogofish wrote: »

What it means is that HMRC are very likely to make the assumption that you imported 50 cartons on each of those 2-3 trips to Russia and base any calculations for back duty/penalties on it.

So now, its up to you - or rather your competent legal represantitive to prove, negotiate or otherwise disabuse them of that idea and reach a settlement based on the amount they actually know about.

So the sooner you get professional help, the better.

I need to prove that I have not brought any cigarettes in the past? how?

wealdroam

brat02 wrote: »

I need to prove that I have not brought any cigarettes in the past? how?

That's a question you need to ask your lawyer.

powerful_Rogue

brat02 wrote: »

I need to prove that I have not brought any cigarettes in the past? how?

I wouldnt worry about that. If it was a purchase made in the EU it would likely be one of the grounds of seizure, however because its a non-eu purchase its black and white.

Law says you can only bring in 200 cigarettes. You brought in 10,000 cigarettes.

The only relevant advice is that you need to seek legal advice regarding this, otherwise your going to end up with a bill of at least £11,500.

pogofish

Prove or negotiate - That's something for your legal rep to guide you.