cigs on line

[paddy20]

bought 200 cigs from online site,but had letter off customs saying they had kept them etc and i could be charged. i was told previously 200 was ok for personal use anyone else had this problem

[kempie]

http://www.uktobacco.co.uk/duty.htm

[R1Geezer]

In the EU there is no limit on personal use but you have to go and get them! The old mail order ruse don't work and customs are pretty hot on it!

The 200 limit is for "duty free" Ie outside EU and eveb then you have to go get them.

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

It's not illegal to import cigarettes by post from outside of the EU, but the correct customs documentation must be attached. If it is, the postman will collect the excise duty, import duty and VAT. This, together with the �8 customs examination fee, typically brings the total cost of your cigarettes to roughly 20% more than if you'd simply bought them in your local supermarket.

However, the law states that you're responsible for ensuring that anyone sending you goods from outside of the EU attaches the correct customs documentation. If not, the goods can be seized and you can be prosecuted. It seems clear that the person sending you the cigarettes did not attach the correct documentation (which would have resulted in a hefty bill from the postman but not confiscation or possible prosecution).

[Buenchico]

As R1Geezer has indicated, you're entitled to personally import a maximum of 200 cigarettes, without payment of excise duty, import duty or VAT, from outside of the EU but this does not extend to postal imports. (Within the EU, with the exception of some new member states, you're allowed to personally import a theoretically unlimited quantity of cigarettes, as long as they're for your personal use. HMRC provide a guideline figure of 3200 cigarettes as the maximum quantity they'll permit you to import without challenging you over the 'personal use' rule. However, once again, you're not allowed to import cigarettes by post unless the package has a customs declaration and the relevant duty & taxes, together with the inspection fee, are paid).

There used to be a concession whereby bona fide gifts of small quantities of cigarettes could be sent to UK residents without incurring taxes and charges. However, the European Court of Justice has now ruled this concession to be unlawful, so you'll have to pay the postman if anyone sends you cigarettes as a gift:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?Relea seID=303104&NewsAreaID=2

See also here:
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebAp p/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_page Label=pageTravel_ShowContent&propertyType=docu ment&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

Chris