laptop advice

You'll need to pay UK Customs Duty & VAT if you buy it in the States; so this will add over 20% to your cost...

Full details are described here, depending on whether you are bringing the computer from a plane trip or shopping over the Internet:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/LeavingOrComingIntoTheUK/DG_10026463


http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&propertyType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

Some states like NH don't have sales tax people in MA who live near the NH border drive across all the time to shop for more expensive things like computers and TVs. MA has a tax-free day once per year. Those may be good places/times to buy in the US.

You'll need to pay UK Customs Duty & VAT if you buy it in the States; so this will add over 20% to your cost...

Full details are described here, depending on whether you are bringing the computer from a plane trip or shopping over the Internet:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/LeavingOrComingIntoTheUK/DG_10026463


http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&propertyType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

I may be confused on this, but I went to read the two links you provided as I will be in the UK in sept. for studying and am bringing my US bought laptop, and I didn't see anything about paying customs on a laptop purchased in the US and brought by plane. The second link just notes if you're buying from a US website and shipping into the UK, there are customs fees on it.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000282&propertyType=document#P110_11003
(Read 4.1 and 4.2)
This page states that for personal effects under 4000 euros, you do not pay anything (4.2) but it relates laptops specifically to studying (4.1).

Am I reading this wrong?

You'll be bringing personal property with you, so I don't think you would have to pay any tax. I think that's just for people in the UK who want to buy something from the US.

That's true - the only time you'd have to pay a customs charge is if you order something from the US and have it sent to the UK. If the item being shipped is worth over a certain amount (about $20, I think), it will be subject to a customs fee when it enters the UK.

When I ordered a DVD box set from Amazon.com, I got charged about $15 in customs on top of the $26 I originally paid for it! However, if you are being sent things from family or friends, it's a good idea if they write on the packaging that they are gifts - that way, you shouldn't get charged customs.

SomedayinUK,

Cough cough..  buy the laptop in the US, unpack it, cough cough, load up some known to you software/documents cough cough, walk through the airport with it cough cough, land in the UK, walk through customs nothing to declare, cough cough - job done. IF you get stopped and they do check your laptop, it'll be a used item as it has your documents on it and they'll wave you through.

As mentioned in other posts, this is 'grey importing' and whilst 'frowned' upon by the HMCE /VAT people - there's simply way too many travellers for them to stop and check everyone.

So long as you dont look like a walking personal items electronics store, you'll be fine.

*Disclaimer - I am simply providing the above info for information purposes only!!!!*

DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Has anyone had any experience in getting an international service warrant? I checked out notebooks at Best Buy here in the States, and they said that ot onl is their warrant U.S. only, but so is that of most manufacturers. I was pretty skeptical, until I tried doing some research onlien and ended up completely confused. I'm leaving for Devon in less than three weeks (yikes!), so I'm starting to panic...

You want to take something for that sore throat Dennis!   

You might also want to put a label on the underside with your own name or other information ("If found please call...." or whatever).   The perfect place for such a label just happens to be right on top of any manufacturer's tag which indicates the precise date of manufacture.   Isn't that a coincidence? 

Has anyone had any experience in getting an international service warrant? I checked out notebooks at Best Buy here in the States, and they said that ot onl is their warrant U.S. only, but so is that of most manufacturers. I was pretty skeptical, until I tried doing some research onlien and ended up completely confused. I'm leaving for Devon in less than three weeks (yikes!), so I'm starting to panic...

I bought my laptop from Dell in 2005 and got the 3 year warranty which included international coverage. I don't know how it works with laptops bought from retail stores but I would guess that you would have to contact the manufacturer and purchase an extended warranty that included international coverage.