(Non-vessel) VAT Rules

[stranded]

Wonder if anyone can help with the VAT and duty implications of having a new UK bicycle delivered to France mid-cruise then ‘reimported’ into the UK two or three months later at cruise end.

The UK retailer has told me that they will send the bike to me in France UK VAT free and that French VAT and duty will be payable on delivery. From what I can see, on return to the UK I should then declare the bike and pay UK VAT plus 14.6% duty. As it is a nice bike this is going to be a hefty sum and it would be considerably cheaper for me to travel back to the UK, take UK VAT paid delivery of the bike and then cycle back to France. I presume (or hope) that I would then be able to take it into and bring it out of France as my personal transport as many thousands do each year, without having to pay import duty.

Anyone have any knowledge whether the scenarios I have outlined are correct and maybe even have a better solution (I can work out the “buy a cheap bike there and dump it at the end” option myself - but that’s not what I want to do).

 

[Stingo]

Surely it would be cheaper to buy the bicycle in France?

EDIT: Just read the last paragraph

 

[st599]

Wonder if anyone can help with the VAT and duty implications of having a new UK bicycle delivered to France mid-cruise then ‘reimported’ into the UK two or three months later at cruise end.

The UK retailer has told me that they will send the bike to me in France UK VAT free and that French VAT and duty will be payable on delivery. From what I can see, on return to the UK I should then declare the bike and pay UK VAT plus 14.6% duty. As it is a nice bike this is going to be a hefty sum and it would be considerably cheaper for me to travel back to the UK, take UK VAT paid delivery of the bike and then cycle back to France. I presume (or hope) that I would then be able to take it into and bring it out of France as my personal transport as many thousands do each year, without having to pay import duty.

Anyone have any knowledge whether the scenarios I have outlined are correct and maybe even have a better solution (I can work out the “buy a cheap bike there and dump it at the end” option myself - but that’s not what I want to do).

Unfortunately a bicycle counts as sporting equipment not transport under tax rules. So it's up to the Customs Officer on the day. Most seem to be letting through a bike with rider, but some have been caught out where say a cycling club has loaded some bikes in a van and the owners aren't there at the time of import. Cycling club arrives in Spain for charity ride... hit with £7,000 bike customs charge

 

[stranded]

Unfortunately a bicycle counts as sporting equipment not transport under tax rules. So it's up to the Customs Officer on the day. Most seem to be letting through a bike with rider, but some have been caught out where say a cycling club has loaded some bikes in a van and the owners aren't there at the time of import. Cycling club arrives in Spain for charity ride... hit with £7,000 bike customs charge

Ouch - that is a sad story. I wonder what the risk of doing this is compared to taking my old bike on board (I can’t because it was damaged irreparably yesterday, hence the rush) - sounds like that too could also be hit with duty and VAT depending on the mood of the customs officer on the day - though many do it and I have not heard of any problems. Maybe getting an old beater out there is the only realistic answer unless I’m prepared to pay upwards of a grand in duty one way or another, and maybe double that if I were to get charged into France and also back into the UK.

 

[MisterBaxter]

What's the situation if you buy a good secondhand bike in France?

 

[stranded]

What's the situation if you buy a good secondhand bike in France?

I guess that too “depends” - I presume all those Welsh bikes that got stung in Spain were “second hand”, or least not new. Thing is though that I want a very particular bike to continue the love affair I had with its now defunct predecessor (may it RIP). So the question I am asking myself is can I get it shipped out affordable, or do I order it for delivery on my return in October and just get by while away - I’ve got a Brompton, so still sorted for the practical stuff, but not so much if I fancy piling on some miles on a proper ride.

 

[DJE]

Unfortunately a bicycle counts as sporting equipment not transport under tax rules. So it's up to the Customs Officer on the day. Most seem to be letting through a bike with rider, but some have been caught out where say a cycling club has loaded some bikes in a van and the owners aren't there at the time of import. Cycling club arrives in Spain for charity ride... hit with £7,000 bike customs charge

About 250 of us crossed into France with our bikes last September with the Royal British Legion on their Pedal to Paris event. Nobody mentioned VAT and the RBL have been doing this for over 25 years. On the way back the bikes were in lorries and we followed on buses.

 

[st599]

About 250 of us crossed into France with our bikes last September with the Royal British Legion on their Pedal to Paris event. Nobody mentioned VAT and the RBL have been doing this for over 25 years. On the way back the bikes were in lorries and we followed on buses.

Probably did it properly then and Carnet'd the shipment. That's certainly what the bike tourist companies have started to do.

 

[geem]

Wonder if anyone can help with the VAT and duty implications of having a new UK bicycle delivered to France mid-cruise then ‘reimported’ into the UK two or three months later at cruise end.

The UK retailer has told me that they will send the bike to me in France UK VAT free and that French VAT and duty will be payable on delivery. From what I can see, on return to the UK I should then declare the bike and pay UK VAT plus 14.6% duty. As it is a nice bike this is going to be a hefty sum and it would be considerably cheaper for me to travel back to the UK, take UK VAT paid delivery of the bike and then cycle back to France. I presume (or hope) that I would then be able to take it into and bring it out of France as my personal transport as many thousands do each year, without having to pay import duty.

Anyone have any knowledge whether the scenarios I have outlined are correct and maybe even have a better solution (I can work out the “buy a cheap bike there and dump it at the end” option myself - but that’s not what I want to do).

Why would you declare the bike on return to the UK?

 

[stranded]

Why would you declare the bike on return to the UK?

Because the law requires it I suppose and I can’t come up with a ‘the law is an ass’ self justification for ignoring it.

 

[geem]

Because the law requires it I suppose and I can’t come up with a ‘the law is an ass’ self justification for ignoring it.

I like to think of laws as suggestions and not compulsory

 

[Bilgediver]

I like to think of laws as suggestions and not compulsory

Try and teach that to Border Control

 

[geem]

Try and teach that to Border Control

Have you been searched?

 

[dk]

Do you have the receipt for the old one? Nudge nudge…