taking electricals as checked luggage?

We're getting a kitchenaid mixer as a belated wedding present from my sister, when we go to America at Thanksgiving. We're planning on taking it back with us as checked luggage (in its box, within a box, labeled as a wedding present). We're also planning on buying a heavy-duty high-wattage adapter/converter to use it with (I've been told from people on this board and others they think that'll work...)

I've done the wedding present thing before - without any problems - but am nervous about TSA and customs and electricals. Has anyone done this? Any thoughts?

Ive brought electonic items back. I think as long as its not wrapped and they can inspect it everything will be ok. If you want to be certain though just call your airline.

Thanks - I'm planning on it, but sometimes they can be very vague 

When you say unwrapped, do you mean gift wrap? I'd assumed the original packaging would be okay?

Yeah should be fine - we have brought plenty.  My parents just brought over a stick blender and last time we were there we brought a whole printer in our suitcase! In the original packaging and all.

Cool. Good news

What do they do in the US and the UK? Do they open it up? Plug it in?

No I doubt they would do that. Too time consuming. They'll run the bag through the xray machines and if it looks strange to them they'll inspect it. I cant see them plugging it in though.

Yeah they didn't open any of our stuff or touch it at all.  When we arrived in the UK we just went through the 'nothing to declare' exit and it was fine.

thanks - i'm feeling a bit more comfortable about bringing it over now

When we arrived in the UK we just went through the 'nothing to declare' exit and it was fine.

Not that that is technically correct thing to do.  Specifically speaking, unless a one time move of household, anything purchashed that is less then six months old is subject to Import Tax and should be declared...

Not that that is technically correct thing to do.  Specifically speaking, unless a one time move of household, anything purchashed that is less then six months old is subject to Import Tax and should be declared...

I never said it was less than six months old though.

But for informational purposes:
To get your personal/household effects into the EU, duty free you must satisfy the following:
You must have owned and used the goods for more than 6 months and have lived in the country of origin for more than 12 months.

Not that that is technically correct thing to do.  Specifically speaking, unless a one time move of household, anything purchashed that is less then six months old is subject to Import Tax and should be declared...

but what if it's a gift? this is a wedding gift that we've not been able to get over before. would we have to pay tax on that? how much are we talking about?

Gifts are unfortunately dutiable as well as things you've purchased yourself. 

I never said it was less than six months old though.

My point was that not always just going through the "nothing to declare" is appropriate...  It depends on the situation.

My point was that not always just going through the "nothing to declare" is appropriate...  It depends on the situation.

True - I was not saying that my experience should be the regular thing to do.

Argh! This is stressful. So even if you've been given something, it's had taxes paid on it in the US, you're liable for paying import taxes when you arrive in the UK? Is that VAT essentially? I've never done this - with all our wedding presents we brought over. (Why did I have to ask this?)

By the way, how do you prove it's 6 months or older and/or used?