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You're allowed to bring back many items duty and VAT free on return from outside the EC but there used to be a limit of about £150 on gifts in addition to the usual alcohol and tobacco allowances. In practice, Customs & Excise aren't too worried about someone buying a couple of watches or similar personal jewellery, it's when someone comes back with a suitcase full that they get a bit stroppy. Worst case is that they can insist on seeing a receipt and levying duty and tax on that value but if you can't produce the receipt they'll estimate the value and it may be a bit higher than the true figure. The Customs & Excise website used to show all the official allowances but I haven't checked them for ages and I think they all joined forces with Inland Revenue and National Insurance websites so you'll find them via Google somewhere!

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll let you know how I get on for future reference.

A few more details (for anyone else that needs to know)...
Legally you are supposed to pay Import Duty on anything coming from outside the EU that is over a threshold value. This value is fairly low (£50?). The supplier is supposed to include the value on the label. Customs & Excise also have the right to randomly open parcels to check the contents are as described.
In reality (as others have mentioned) it is a bit of a lottery. So never assume you won't have to pay. Also, as mentioned, the Post Office are obliged to collect the duty on behalf of Customs (ie you gotta pay before they hand over your parcel).
Not sure if the threshold is different when travelling back in person from aboad. But IN PRACTICE the situation is very different - just don't bring back your new toys still in the cellophane with the $ price tag attached! EG Lots of people buy their ski gear when on hols in USA, use it, then fly home with it - no questions asked.
For full details go to Customs web site

Just to let you know that the transaction worked out fine and the item was delivered by UPS this morning. There was no customs charge to boot - lucky or what?

The item that I bought had a UK price of £205 but in the states it was a cent short of $150, that's about £87.00. Postage worked out at about £12 so the total cost was £99.00 as opposed to the UK cost which excluded postage.

Ordered at 18:00 GMT on Monday 21st November and it's come half way around the world for Saturday morning.

Very pleased - thanks again for the advice and I'll definately be shopping in the States again.

A lot of my magic purchases come from the States and it really is a lottery if you get charged or not.

A lot of my magic purchases come from the States and it really is a lottery if you get charged or not.

Much of it is how it is packagaed as well. I always seem to get charged if I buy from Hocus-Pocus. Which is a shame.

dat8962 wrote:Does anyone have any expereince of buying mail order from the states@

I've not done this before and don't know how import duty, VAT etc. works when you purchase online.

I want to buy a Christmas present that's £150ish in the UK but $120 from the states - obviously a fair bit cheaper. What I'm wondering is how HM Customs handle such imports and charge their duty? Do things generally still work out cheaper once they've added their poind of flesh, or with the $15 dollar postage will the prices eventually even out?

Any advice will be appreciated.

£150 is roughly about 300 dollars

and they definately won't tax you $180 usd (about £90) for an object that costs $120 (about £60), so i think it's worth it either ways

Wow thanks to everyone for me aswell, i see lots of you have brought from ellusionist so this post has helped me too, seems like im guna get XB and a few decks from Ellusionist

-K

I just had another look on the web. There is not much specific info on the Customs web site. You have to request a copy of a 'tarrif' if you want to know the details.
From other sites I have gathered the following details (hopefully accurate - can't believe everything you read online).
If you bring stuff into the UK from outside EU, you may be liable for Import Duty AND VAT. It seems the Import Duty only kicks in over £145 (that figure may be out of date by now).
The % duty to pay depends on the type of goods - there are lots of category codes.
Some articles I read suggest you should expect to pay at least 20% in Duty and VAT.
But it still sounds like there are bargains to be had when buying from USA.

I bought some stuff from the US, got absolutely stung with the VAT when entering the country, worse than that DHL had paid it for me and then charged me extra for the privilege, here is a snippet from their website:

"If someone sends you a gift from abroad that is over £36 in value, you will also be obliged to pay the Duty and VAT unless the person who sent it has agreed to pay it themselves. Likewise, if you are the person sending you need to remember that if you don't take the time to include the proper invoices then your shipment could be held in customs or the person you are sending to may be charged too much Duty and VAT."

My advice is get something small to start with and then work your way up, or split your orders up in to lots of little ones.

A few years ago I ordered some stuff from the US, delivered by DHL who charged me 10 quid 'handling charge' plus the customs. They sent me a bill but never bothered to follow it up - I still owe them and suspect I will for eternity....

Reading this, I decided I will be getting XB from Ellusionist, I'll probably order it tommorow, with the cheapest P&P.. (what?). So, I think the wait is 3-4 weeks. Anyway, I'll keep you updated.

Okay, I kinda forgot to order it, and I just done it about 10 minutes ago.

It came to £27.. I did pick the cheapest airmail packaging so it's gonna take a long time to get here.

How long do you think on Airmail international, 3-4 weeks?

Airmail from the US of A is usually about 5 working days to the UK, Surface mail can be 2 or 3 weeks. Times vary depending on the distance and the countries of origin/destination so this is only an indication based on our usual US/UK and UK/US postal traffic here at work.

Just to let you know, i brought back my 8 DVDs and 17 packs of cards along with other things with no problems! So if you cant afford high airmail costs but are going on holiday to the states, i do advise that you make an order while your out there and bring it back!!