Import tax

archangel

archangel

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A while back I had asked for information regarding wholesale selling for Mrs Archangel.

They managed to get some local companies to supply stuff for her class (food mainly) to sell. Now they are looking into importing food. They are off to France and Spain on a school trip (Mrs not going :grumpy: ) and they intend to buy produce (no Alcohol nor Ciggies) to bring back and sell at the school fayre.

Any ideas if it will be subject to import tax etc....She tried taking to Customs but all they talked about codes for import and I have googled until I am blue in the face.....

All help appreciated as always (y)
 
b*****ks ignore me - i didnt see that they were importing from the EU
 
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We do quite a bit of trade with the EU (and the rest of the world) where I work. Not food, but as far as I know there is no customs duty when importing anything from other EU member states and import VAT is only payable on EU imports if VAT wasn't paid on the purchase in the source country and it is a VATable item. The rules are quite different when importing from outside the EU. And here's a link to HMRC which seems to agree : http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/tax-and-duty.htm

I seem to recall that viv1969 knows quite a lot about import / export, if she's still about.
 
There are a lot of restrictions on what food can or can't be imported into this country.
 
onomatopoeia said:
We do quite a bit of trade with the EU (and the rest of the world) where I work. Not food, but as far as I know there is no customs duty when importing anything from other EU member states
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thats true if its for your personal use - i'm not sure if its still true for resale

onomatopoeia said:
I seem to recall that viv1969 knows quite a lot about import / export, if she's still about.
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good call @viv1969 Ruth - we need you :)
 
From that Food Standards Agency link, this seems to be the definitive pdf:

http://multimedia.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/tradeinfo06.pdf

Basically, any foods can be bought in from another EU country and probably even if they've been brought in from a non-EU country because no-ones going to check anyway. There might be some exceptions if the food is "injurious to health" or unfit for human consumption but otherwise it's one big happy market so fill your boots.

Sign of the times though....when I was a kid and we went on a school trip to France we all bought flick knives from the market (teacher's confiscated them and gave them back to us when we got back to Blighty) :) Didn't think of fruit and veg!
 
If they're planning on bringing products back with them from a school trip, they will face little if any difficulties bringing most things with them. That said, they really shouldn't be trying to get seeds or any plant complete with roots back with them.

If, however, they're not a business, and UK customs think they're going to sell the food on, they will get VERY interested very quickly.

If they're just going for a look-see, and later want to import slightly larger quantities? Then so long as the goods are of EU origin (as opposed to being in transit through the EU from a non EU country) there'll be no import duty or VAT due. But again UKBA will show more than a passing interest if they suspect the goods will be sold on by a non commercial body.

I don't know how the group will travel, but do be warned that Dover Customs are a law unto themselves when it comes to seizing things for no apparent reason, and HQ in Salford rarely overturn thier seizure decisions.

Sorry if that's a bit rambling.
Please feel free to pm me and if I can help I surely will.
 
viv1969 said:
If they're planning on bringing products back with them from a school trip, they will face little if any difficulties bringing most things with them. That said, they really shouldn't be trying to get seeds or any plant complete with roots back with them.

If, however, they're not a business, and UK customs think they're going to sell the food on, they will get VERY interested very quickly.

If they're just going for a look-see, and later want to import slightly larger quantities? Then so long as the goods are of EU origin (as opposed to being in transit through the EU from a non EU country) there'll be no import duty or VAT due. But again UKBA will show more than a passing interest if they suspect the goods will be sold on by a non commercial body.

I don't know how the group will travel, but do be warned that Dover Customs are a law unto themselves when it comes to seizing things for no apparent reason, and HQ in Salford rarely overturn thier seizure decisions.

Sorry if that's a bit rambling.
Please feel free to pm me and if I can help I surely will.
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Thanks...all taken on board and passed unto Mrs archangel......:)
 
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chadders said:
.......as individuals they can bring as much as they like back for "personal consumption".
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Doesn't quite work that way in practice though. Especially with food.
 
viv1969 said:
Doesn't quite work that way in practice though. Especially with food.
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Indeed - isn't there guidance on how much is reasonable for personal consumption ?
 
big soft moose said:
Indeed - isn't there guidance on how much is reasonable for personal consumption ?
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There is specific guidance for for tobacco and alcohol, as the document I quoted above clearly states. Also fuel. As far as I'm aware there there is no specific guidance for food. However, be prepared to justify the amount you are bringing back if you are stopped at Customs.
 
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as when in court ,its not the person telling the truth that wins its the best story teller ,so on that basis the goods are for personal consumption in the school canteen /enviroment ."and in all honesty mate we have no intention of re-selling anything at all" see if they can prove otherwise .
 
big soft moose said:
Indeed - isn't there guidance on how much is reasonable for personal consumption ?
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Nope. Come back as an individual with ten wheels of brie and they're gonna ask questions lol (if they know that is)
 
viv1969 said:
Nope. Come back as an individual with ten wheels of brie and they're gonna ask questions lol (if they know that is)
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I can't say I'm surprised , if someone told me they were intending to consume ten wheels of brie I'd look at them a bit strangely too
 
big soft moose said:
I can't say I'm surprised , if someone told me they were intending to consume ten wheels of brie I'd look at them a bit strangely too
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And if they actually do...probably best give them a wide berth too!
 
If they eat that much they'll need a very wide berth !
 
I've got a mate who is a massive fat alcoholic he takes his car to Belgium every few months and proper fills his boot.
He has been stopped and queried a few times.
 
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