current events | March 01, 2026

What do I have to declare at UK customs?

What do I have to declare at UK customs?

your declaration reference number. the exact price of your goods in the currency you used to pay for them. the number of items or volume of your goods. the country where your goods were produced if you are travelling from the EU.

What is the threshold for UK customs?

Customs Duty

Type and value of goodsCustoms Duty
Non-excise goods worth £135 or lessNo charge
Gifts above £135 and up to £6302.5%, but rates are lower for some goods – call the helpline
Gifts above £630 and other goods above £135The rate depends on the type of goods and where they came from – call the helpline

What is the limit of customs duty?

The limits for Customs Duty and Import VAT are detailed below along with any changes that apply now that the UK has left the EU….2.3 Limits for Customs Duty and Import VAT.

Goods valueCustoms charges applicable
£135.01 and greaterCustoms Duty due, Import VAT due

How do I know if I have to pay customs?

If your goods have an intrinsic value (the value of the goods alone excluding transport, insurance and handling charges) of more than €150 you will have to pay Customs Duty.

What must be declared at customs?

You must declare all items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States, including gifts for other people as well as items you bought for yourself. This includes duty-free items purchased in foreign countries, as well as any merchandise you intend to sell or use in your business.

What items are exempt from import duty?

Duty is a tariff payable on an item imported to Canada….Items that do not qualify for the CAN$20 exemption include the following:

  • tobacco;
  • books;
  • periodicals;
  • magazines;
  • alcoholic beverages; and.
  • goods ordered through a Canadian post office box or a Canadian intermediary.

Do customs open packages UK?

Do customs open every package to verify information? No, customs officers will not open up your package or packages without good reason. Every package is put through a scanner machine, or an x-ray machine, to verify that the items you are shipping match your customs forms.

What are prohibited goods?

Counterfeit goods being exposed for sale or being sold, hired out, bartered or exchanged; Counterfeit goods being exhibited in public for purposes of trade; Counterfeit goods being distributed for trade or other purposes; Counterfeit goods being imported into or through or exported from South Africa; or.

What happens if you don’t declare at customs UK?

If you get caught smuggling goods or selling goods you did not declare, you could face prosecution and imprisonment. If we are satisfied that the goods are for a commercial purpose and you have not declared them, we may seize them and any vehicle used to transport them, and may not return them to you.