'importing' a guitar

[AllYourBase]

I have been asked to buy a Guitar on behalf of a friend whilst in the USA, in order to take advantage of the low dollar value at the mo. When I bring it home, will I have to pay any sort of duty/import tax etc? Or is it as simple as buying it there and carrying it back? It will be costing the equivalent of about �2000.

[j2buttonsw]

I imported a �500 second hand guitar from the US last year and got the guy I was buying from to say that it was being imported for repair (which means you are exempt from import duty). I did not pay any import duty (which is equals the VAT on [the cost of the item + postage + 3%]). If you are carrying it back in, who is to say that it is yours and you flew out to the US with it to play a few gigs?

[BenDToy]

This may be worth considering. If you were genuinely taking it there and back, the safest way to avoid the problem would be to get some documents confirming that you did indeed take it out with you. Would it be possible to take an old guitar out, and get the paperwork which might be used to cover the new one for the return. This is only a guess and may bring more problems but may be worth a try - after all you can always not use the papers if they are too detailed!!! Good luck anyway.

[sft42]

A much bigger headache for you than any import worries (as the others state just bring it back with you and claim you took it on the outward journey - making sure you have the receipts, stickers etc well away from the case) is baggage handlers....I am aware of one friend in a another band who watched while his pride and joy �3500 Taylor was bounced off the runway tarmac from one handler to another....luckily it was protected by it's case and the incident was observed by a few witness so the repairs to case and guitar were paid for by the airline (eventually) but I would make sure that you can personally stow the guitar either A/ in an in-cabin overhead - it can be done I managed it with a full size acoustic in a gig bag or B/ in the flight crews storage space which is pressurised and heated and is where animals are kept in flight.

Good Luck and Enjoy.

[Meadowgrover]

You could always give customs & excise a call to find out what the percentage import duty rate is. It may still be worthwhile bringing it over if you only had to pay about 5%.If you took this legal route make sure you have a genuine bill of sale from the store (who might be prepared to give you a handwritten one for slightly less than the cost - as long as you don't put an unbelieveably low amount) Otherwise I'd suggest putting a few stickers on the carrying case & getting it a bit dusty/dirty to give credence to the story that you took it over there with you (removing the price tag could be a good idea too!).

[inferno]

I would suggest paying the taxes then remembering what they pay for when you next need NHS services, education, the police etc.

[j2buttonsw]

Well, inferno I guess that's why we pay VAT, income tax, road tax, council tax, alcohol tax, cigarette tax etc etc Someone has already payed the equivalent of VAT (sales tax) when bought new so why should we pay VAT on it again when importing it?

[cupra]

Unfortunately, tax avoidance is illegal no matter how laudable the argument against paying it.

[moogboy]

Here's an idea: When you fly over to the states, take an empty guitar case so you get the outward journey stickers/ documentation etc. Then buy the guitar, remove price tags and place it in the case for the return journey. To be honest I've bought loads of items abroad and no-one has ever questioned the origins of my baggage, so go for it!