Will I have to pay import duties, VAT, etc. on items I bring into theUK?
First of all, the following is non-official information based on heresay and unverified personal experience. For official information, try the US Dept. of Commerce (202-482-3748). Anything you bring into the UK, whether with you on the plane, or shipped separately is fair game for the customs officials to inspect, and possibly liable for import duty. Newly purchased goods (defined as items less than 6 months old) are the only things that you need to worry about: customs can charge you an import duty of 17.5% on these items. A sales slip or purchase invoice is considered the proof of the age of the item, so have these on hand if you think you might get asked about anything. There is probably little to worry about if you are bringing in household-type items (“per sonal effects”) and you can prove that you’re coming over to live and work in the UK for an extended period of time. However, if you are bringing in a bunch of new looking products in their original boxes (like a personal comput
