Taking Cigarettes to UK

My hubby and I are taking our first trip to Europe this Thursday and want to bring our own cigs for personal use. We have 7 cartons packed,can anyone tell me if we are going to run into a problem with them? Do we have to declare them when we arrive at Heathrow?

I know it sounds silly but we just don't know what the proticall is,and yes we are prepared to pay a tax if imposed.

Hi there, check your entitlement on the UK Customs & Excise website.

http://www.hmce.gov.uk/

Cheers,
Mike

I think between you two cartons is the limit..
I've never known anyone own up and decare their excess so dont know what the duty would be.

I dont smoke but I bring cigarettes back for friends that do as smokes are so expensive here

Thanx guys for the info....I checked out that site but couldn't find info on bringing for own personal use,so guess we'll spread them around our cases...

[Decker]

quote:Originally posted by catlady
Thanx guys for the info....I checked out that site but couldn't find info on bringing for own personal use,so guess we'll spread them around our cases...

It's a really bad site - underlining meaning emphasis instead of links etc etc but your allowances are here - basically "200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco" and as the site says "If you have any more than these allowances you must declare the goods in the red channel or use the red point phone. If you do not, you are breaking the law and we may prosecute you.".

So bottom line is 2 cartons. 1 each.

[Decker]

BTW I have been known to declare stuff when over - frequently the response is to just carry on - thanks for the honesty

WoW!! Thanx Decker I had such a guilty mind last night.Don't wish to break any rules going over..

So I should say we have more then allowed to bring in,and hope they let us through..

Now to find my dramamine [V]

[Decker]

Well at worst you'll have to pay import duty on 5 cartons or 1000 cigarettes. Unfortunately I don't smoke so I've never had to try this BUT they SEEM to treat cigarettes differently than normal goods.

If they were normally you'd pay 17.5% of the retail value then another 7.5% or so. However I found a reference on the site which says "Cigarettes - An amount equal to 22 per cent of the retail price plus £99.80 per thousand cigarettes". This MAY not apply as this is personal consumption but if it did and assuming you paid $40 a carton they MIGHT be looking for a couple of hundred dollars.

Are you sure you can't buy them here? My US friends source American Spirit OK over here and g-d knows they're obscure .

Are you sure th

Hubby and I both smoke USA Gold 100's and buy them online amd only pay 19 a carton,thats why we are bringing our own instead of buying them over there.We have heard the horror stories of how much cig's cost in the UK. Between the cig's and his snoring on the plane have been my biggest headaches for this trip.[:(]

Now I am caught in a quandry on what to do..I guess I'll find out on way or the other in 48 hours...

Thanx guys

[Decker]

Yeah Mrs D pays nearly $8 a pack at current exchange rates so I can see this'd be a pain. But strictly speaking that's the whole point of Customs - if all things were as cheap in all countries why bother exporting/importing? Just trying to keep the site consistent - we always tell visitors TO the US not to mess around with US Customs/Immigration so seems perverse to recommend otherwise just because the direction of travel is reversed.

OK I called Excise for you and you're not going to like this....

I spoke to a chap called Anthony (quite amusing he obviously thought I was asking for myself so I got the "if your friend did this..." type of speech but he was very helpful - if you want to check it's +44 208 929 0152 - case ref aig19453).

Bottom line is you get your 200 cigs each then

Import duty 57.6% of US price paid
+ 22% excise of US price paid
+ £99.90 per thousand
+ 17.5% VAT on the whole

so assuming $19 * 5 = $95
add 57.6% = $54.72
add 22% = $20.90
= $170.62
convert to Sterling = £94.78
add £99.90 = 194.68
add 17.5% = £228.76 ($412)

So a total cost to you of $6 a pack or therabouts including what you paid in the US.

So still cheaper but very much an ouch [:(]

Bear in mind IANAL and these figures are indicative - I've erred on the side of caution.