[UK Border] Watch GMT MASTER II BLNR : Seizure Information Notice

[Andy355]

Is Heathrow duty free or a price reduction? I thought duty free so a uk resident would need to declare on return back to U.K.

Couple of daytonas there today including an interesting dial on a yellow gold model. Apparently had 116519 LN yesterday

Makes ams look good value

[bradyb]

Isn't socialism fun!?! Just sayin'....

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Andy355

Is Heathrow duty free or a price reduction? I thought duty free so a uk resident would need to declare on return back to U.K.

Couple of daytonas there today including an interesting dial on a yellow gold model. Apparently had 116519 LN yesterday

Makes ams look good value

its a price reduction... Rolex and Tudor do not apply though. You have to be leaving the EU for those brands at heathrow, if you are not its full retail.

Pricing for all brands minus rolex and tudor depends on where you are flying. Within the EU its VAT free "equivalent" price. If you are leaving the EU its VAT free. Effectively its the same price. Declaring it depends on where you were flying to. Don't leave the EU and you are fine.

Heathrow AD:

[Wahlberg]

Did they take everything, so boxes/papers/watch? Be sure you get the correct watch back and not some fake. You never know.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Kippers

1. You took advantage of buying a watch for less and why shouldn't you.

2. UK airport Rolex ads will not charge you the 20% VAT if leaving Europe.......

3.You just need to pay up now and put it down to bad luck etc.

1. Um, because its illegal if you don't pay taxes so if you want to do it legally you are not buying the watch for less. That's why.

2. But you still have to pay taxes when you import the watch so this advice isn't very useful for a Brit, unless you are suggesting tax evasion.

3. Bad luck? Since when was it bad luck to get caught for committing a crime.

That said, I in no way think OP was trying to break the law. He just didn't understand it.

[Kippers]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

1. Um, because its illegal if you don't pay taxes so if you want to do it legally you are not buying the watch for less. That's why.

2. But you still have to pay taxes when you import the watch so this advice isn't very useful for a Brit, unless you are suggesting tax evasion.

3. Bad luck? Since when was it bad luck to get caught for committing a crime.

That said, I in no way think OP was trying to break the law. He just didn't understand it.

Give us a break. The whole world i.e. busiensses and individuals, spend so much effort in decreasing their tax burden and you come along with this pap above?
There is nothing noble about paying list for anything.

As for tax evasion? I Don't think so.....i buy most my watches in London airports and the omission of the 20% VAT is not a removal of the VAT but a discount and that's all it is.
A non Rolex branded watch can be bought without the 20% tax regardless of where you are travelling to i.e. whether you leave the Eu or not, It's just a discount. All brands can be had like this JLC, Omega, Zenith etc.
For Rolexes and Tudors, VAT is not added if you can prove you are leaving the Eu and you are given a gift receipt so the price is not shown (in case you are stopped you can show and claim it was bought for you and with all taxes paid), It's how I bought my Rolexes.

Back to the OP, he was doing what we all would do but got caught due to the double standards of the country he bought from. As mentioned already, I would not buy a Swiss watch from Switzerland as they are expensive there.

One final note on Tax evasion, I travel for work, like alot of us and spend more time out of my home country than in it. Legally i should pay income tax in all the countries I work in but only pay it in the UK, I never hear this topic discussed although it is blatant tax evasion by the individual and the firm he / she works for. No difference in my eyes but then watches are different right?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by Kippers

One final note on Tax evasion, I travel for work, like alot of us and spend more time out of my home country than in it. Legally i should pay income tax in all the countries I work in but only pay it in the UK, I never hear this topic discussed although it is blatant tax evasion by the individual and the firm he / she works for. No difference in my eyes but then watches are different right?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

I understand your frustration in your (full) post above. However, the bit I've selected is not quite right. In general terms, you're only obliged to pay tax in the country where you live and work. That is, unless you live/work in one country but are a citizen of another and a right of citizenship means you pay the difference in tax between the two countries to your mother country.

I'm British but live and work in Singapore. I pay tax here and only here. One of our members on this forum is American but lives and works in the UK. As well as UK taxes, he also has to pay US tax as a right of citizenship (or something)

[Shaky]

Amazing that HMRC can chase down one person for not paying tax on a watch but they can’t be bothered to chase Netflix and EBay who only paid £1.9 mil tax in the UK last year !!

In the to hard to do box I suppose.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Kippers

One final note on Tax evasion, I travel for work, like alot of us and spend more time out of my home country than in it. Legally i should pay income tax in all the countries I work in but only pay it in the UK, I never hear this topic discussed although it is blatant tax evasion by the individual and the firm he / she works for. No difference in my eyes but then watches are different right?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

I'm assuming it depends on where your payroll is coming from. The US is basically the only country that taxes based on citizenship, not where you are being paid/working/living. As an expat in the UK i file US and UK income taxes were as AFAIK a Brit working and living in the US only files US taxes, not UK taxes in addition.

[hambone1983]

taxation is theft. I'm in favor of avoiding them wherever possible, and where it isn't possible then evasion, chiseling, nicking and weaseling are all okay by me.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by hambone1983

taxation is theft. I'm in favor of avoiding them wherever possible, and where it isn't possible then evasion, chiseling, nicking and weaseling are all okay by me.

infrastructure, schools, defense is theft? Im sure you would have a hard time getting to work without a road to drive on.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

infrastructure, schools, defense is theft? Im sure you would have a hard time getting to work without a road to drive on.

Private sector would do a much better job. Just like Mad Max Fury Road

[hambone1983]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

infrastructure, schools, defense is theft? Im sure you would have a hard time getting to work without a road to drive on.

yes, it's theft. It is not a voluntary action and it's backed up by the threat of force. It doesn't matter what the thief does with his loot, it's still theft.

[JRT]

Originally Posted by hambone1983

yes, it's theft. It is not a voluntary action and it's backed up by the threat of force. It doesn't matter what the thief does with his loot, it's still theft.

Interesting point! You mean the taxation enforced by the government is just like our properties robbed by Robin Hood?

[Gaijin]

IBTL.

[-Ally-]

Originally Posted by MonBK

You tried to cheat, now pay up.

Indeed. The UK doesn’t need anyone else dodging their dues.

[Too Old]

I'm surprised an airline pilot didn't have any idea about customs regulations

[HK Islandboy]

Originally Posted by hambone1983

taxation is theft. I'm in favor of avoiding them wherever possible, and where it isn't possible then evasion, chiseling, nicking and weaseling are all okay by me.

THIS!!! These is a reasonable level of tax to pay - most OECD countries seem to massively exceed that level

[HK Islandboy]

Originally Posted by Kippers

One final note on Tax evasion, I travel for work, like alot of us and spend more time out of my home country than in it. Legally i should pay income tax in all the countries I work in but only pay it in the UK, I never hear this topic discussed although it is blatant tax evasion by the individual and the firm he / she works for. No difference in my eyes but then watches are different right?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

this varies widely by location. For example, Hong Kong and Singapore have presence requirements before you are taxable (60 days for each), technically in the US non-Americans are taxable from the moment you arrive on a business trip (thankfully not personal trips) unless you are traveling from a place with a double taxation Avoidance agreement.

Not being a tax advisor, I’m sure that I have made about a dozen errors in what I’ve writtwn above, but the point remains that you aren’t always avoiding local tax when traveling for businesss, but where this is a requirement, it is ignored by most people and companies - though larger companies are starting to get scrutinised on this front

[alphavictor]

Here is what I am thinking to put in the letter attached to the "restauration request".
Any feedbacks would be appreciated.

I, the undersigned, believe the item listed above on the attached sheet should be returned because I was not aware I should have declared my watch upon arrival at London Gatwick when entering the EU.

This is the first time I buy an item tax free in a non EU country, I never had any issue with law, custom history, seized items or criminal record.

I declared the item, bought for my personal use, to the Swiss custom when leaving the country by filling the official exporting document : "Export document in tourist traffic" and I exited the country on a flight as a passenger.
I was not aware of any further documents or declarations to be made upon entering Gatwick.

I am a non native english speaker which may have introduce a misunderstanding and working as a co-pilot since less than a year.
The first time I was asked if I had any expensive item was the following day (12/10/2017) with the custom and border force in Stansted Airport.
I was honest and open with the custom and border police agents and said straight away that I was wearing this watch.
I didn't try to lie or hide my item as I thought the "export document in tourist trafic" done in Geneva was the only step required when buying an item tax free for personal use.

I would like to resolve the situation as soon as possible. I am a professional person and I have full respect for customs and authorities of United Kingdom and would never try to mislead them.

Best regards,

[Shaky]

Originally Posted by hambone1983

yes, it's theft. It is not a voluntary action and it's backed up by the threat of force. It doesn't matter what the thief does with his loot, it's still theft.

The way you describe it, then rather than theft, the offence would be better described as either robbery or more suited blackmail....obtaining money by menace, which on this occasion would be prosecution and/or imprisonment.

However I see it as an unavoidable expense...seeing as it is government run.

[REFZ]

You're a pilot and you should have know better!!
This is the same in all other EU countries and it doesn't matter if you're from France originally.

You tried to avoid paying VAT and now you got caught, it's your own fault!!

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by bradyb

Isn't socialism fun!?! Just sayin'....

Let's keep politics out of a watch forum. Why don't you instead go tell your fellow Texans face-to-face that they shouldn't look for tax dollars to help them with hurricane recovery?

[CaveDweller]

AlphaVictor

Yes, the wording is fine and to your advantage - let us know how this matter progresses

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

I'm assuming it depends on where your payroll is coming from. The US is basically the only country that taxes based on citizenship, not where you are being paid/working/living. As an expat in the UK i file US and UK income taxes were as AFAIK a Brit working and living in the US only files US taxes, not UK taxes in addition.

AFAIK, Aussies living and working overseas have to pay tax at home too.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Let's keep politics out of a watch forum. Why don't you instead go tell your fellow Texans face-to-face that they shouldn't look for tax dollars to help them with hurricane recovery?

Pot meet kettle.

[alphavictor]

Originally Posted by REFZ

You're a pilot and you should have know better!!
This is the same in all other EU countries and it doesn't matter if you're from France originally.

You tried to avoid paying VAT and now you got caught, it's your own fault!!

Hello REFZ,
I am a first officer since couple of months indeed.
My job consist of flying the aircraft from A to B safely.
We are trained on dangerous goods but I have not received any special training regarding customs. The only think it could have had would be a picture on a power point document. I don't sell any duty free items to passengers (alcool/cigarettes), cabin crew does and may now. And no expensive items are sell on board so I am not sure they know about declaring items above 390£.
I asked couple of friends and they were not aware of the regulations about customs and same for captains. I am human being, I don't know everything and do mistake like everyone.

[DPE]

Do you still have a family home in France ? Not sure if this makes any sence or not. If you are based in the UK for a period of time during your work contract. However your natural home is France, where you was born. Then is there a case to say that you would declare and pay the tax in France, when you return. ?

[rudestew]

Tell them you got confused with the GMT function and you were gonna clear it up in - + an hour when you figured it out.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Too Old

I'm surprised an airline pilot didn't have any idea about customs regulations

Everybody in the aviation industry in the EU knows the EU regulations. Ask any random stewardess. In almost each inflight magazine something is mentioned about it.
Blaming it on his nationality is another nice one. In the same time accusing the British Custom officers. True testimony of the OP's character.