Brining cigarettes to UK penalty, please help

robatwork

On that list I would choose Crime.
Take a look at this too
http://www.rpc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_easyblog&showview=1&view=entry&id=412&Itemid=129

It's about tax issues but the advice is relevant

Pollycat

brat02 wrote: »

trying to find the right solicitor, any ideas under which category that would be?
http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/

Well, with this choice under 'Personal', once you discount the ones that don't apply, you're only left with 'Crime'.

PERSONAL

• Accident and Injury
• Consumer and civil rights
• Crime
• Employment
• Family and relationships
• Houses, property and neighbours
• Immigration and changing countries
• Money and debt
• Social welfare, health and benefits
• Wills and probate

Of all the people to get on the wrong side of, HM Revenue & Customs must be the worst ones you could ever choose to mess with.

DCFC79

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

Profit?...

Yes for profit but its a wild plan when theres the risk of them being confiscated and getting a penalty to pay.

powerful_Rogue

Morglin wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much - someone we know did this, not from Russia, got caught, at customs, the cigs got confiscated, they got a b*****ing from Customs, along with a warning as to future conduct, and that was the end of it.

Get a fixed fee interview, with a solicitor, though - best to get professional advice.
Lin

All depends whether it was EU or Non EU and the amount of cigarettes were talking about. As the OP's is a substantial amount, the circumstances will be different.

HMRC only get involved afterwards if they believe smuggling has taken place.

browneyedbazzi

DCFC79 wrote: »

Yes for profit but its a wild plan when theres the risk of them being confiscated and getting a penalty to pay.

Stupidity is a more likely answer. Most criminals are idiots who either don't know the rules or foolishly think they won't possibly get caught.

I hope he gets done.

rustyboy21

At a price for a carton of 200 at £7.00 and the high St price of £70.00+ I can see how they got a bit over enthusiastic on their purchases, if they were for personal consumption.


However, as most dodgy cigs come through E Europe these days, I can see why the HMRC are jumping on him. Even arriving back from the Canaries, your cases get re xrayed at the home airport, for Cigs. Just not worth it. He is lucky he has only lost £350, could have been a lot more.

Nick_C

Anyone who tries to illegally evade paying their taxes is stealing from the rest of us, and deserves to be penalised.

peachyprice

Morglin wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much - someone we know did this, not from Russia, got caught, at customs, the cigs got confiscated, they got a b*****ing from Customs, along with a warning as to future conduct, and that was the end of it.

Get a fixed fee interview, with a solicitor, though - best to get professional advice.
Lin

You seem to have missed the point that for OP it has gone beyond that point, they have now contacted him by letter so clearly, this is not the end of it.

Money-Saving-King

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

Stupidity is a more likely answer. Most criminals are idiots who either don't know the rules or foolishly think they won't possibly get caught.

I hope he gets done.

My gut feeling is the op has mates who got away with it. The op tried but got caught and now the post on here with the "it was honestly all for me" story etc.

sharnad

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

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.

Anything over 200 you would have to pay duty on