Travelling through customs with jewellery USA - UK

[BeckiOz]

So, I'm thinking about buying a tennis bracelet in NYC, but looking at benefits of buying in the UK vs USA including value.

To compare prices fairly, I've been looking at import taxes, and if I've understood it correctly, if we buy a piece in the USA, we need to declare it on the way back, and we'll pay 2.5% import duty and 17.5% tax

It got me thinking - If they can stop you and want proof about the new item, should we also be travelling with proof that the other jewellery it is stored with / I am wearing is not newly purchased? Or other valuables such as Apple watch / ipad etc.

I've just followed the herds of people through the green channel and never declared anything going through customs before (don't think we've bought anything that would count before), so not sure how it works in reality, and how full on it is!!

 

[lissyflo]

To compare prices fairly, I've been looking at import taxes, and if I've understood it correctly, if we buy a piece in the USA, we need to declare it on the way back, and we'll pay 2.5% import duty and 17.5% tax

VAT increased to 20% from 17.5% some years ago, so it would be the import duty plus 20% import tax.

No need to travel with proof of your existing possessions (as far as I’m aware): if a query were raised, I’m sure the tax authorities would give you time to provide relevant documentation. No one could realistically be expected to travel abroad on holiday for instance with proof of purchase of their twenty year old engagement ring.

 

[chere]

should we also be travelling with proof that the other jewellery it is stored with / I am wearing is not newly purchased? Or other valuables such as Apple watch / ipad etc.

In Canada there’s a border agency office where you can get a document for your existing items that allows you to “import/export” it without paying duties again. But you need to do it before you leave the country. I would get this for high value items if I couldn't pull up the receipt on my phone.

 

[oldminer]

If you insure your existing jewelry in the UK, take a copy of your list of insured items directly from a photocopy of your insurance policy when you travel. This likely would be sufficient evidence of ownership before you visited the US. Put a photo of each item with the insurance data so the items can easily be matched up by most any Customs agent. Make sure you have enough of the policy showing that it has a date and the insurance company name, etc to show the paperwork is official and not just a list from nowhere.

 

[Bron357]

I don’t condone this but obviously it’s very unlikely that if you are wearing a piece of jewellery that anyone would stop you and ask if it’s new or not.
Virtually everyone going through customs are wearing jewellery and/or a watch. How many of them would even think that they might need “proof” of ownership that predates the trip?
Most people don’t insure their jewellery and who keeps receipts for something bought years ago or what if it was gifted to them?
It’s a bit different of course if they open your bags and find 23 watches still in the packaging.

 

[Sprinkles&Stones]

Yeah my question would be "how did you know I didn't arrive in your country with this already in my possession?"

How do they know either way? Good question and I've wondered this before.

 

[Bron357]

Yeah my question would be "how did you know I didn't arrive in your country with this already in my possession?"

How do they know either way? Good question and I've wondered this before.

I think that’s why they don’t ask. And how can they ascertain the value right there and then if there’s no receipt or valuation?
I don’t think they have a gemologist on site with appropriate equipment to say “ 2.17 carat unheated ruby, Burmese origin = $52,000 vs 2.17 carat flame fusion lab ruby = $20.
They “look” the same, are they diamonds or are they just CZ or Moissanite or white zircon or white sapphire or white topaz? They all look the same to the untrained eye but big difference in value.

 

[Alybetter]

I’ve done the transatlantic thing more times than I can count and I’ve never declared a single thing. I go through the nothing to declare doorway and that’s that. Just saying.

 

[Dhana]

Unless u are travelling with gold biscuits or dripping in gold/ diamonds i don’t think it’s an issue..

 

[autumngems]

Wear it, no need to declare in my opinion unless your carrying mass amounts

 

[Ally T]

I bought a marquise solitaire 20 years ago in a Black Friday sale, whilst visiting family in the US. Completely maxed out my credit card on it

I put it on immediately & still had over a weeks holiday left, so it made it back to the UK on my right hand. It would never have occured to me to declare it?! Oops!

 

[oldminer]

It is all well and good until one of the Customs Agents asks you specifically after you have gone through the Green Channel if you have possibly anything you have not declared. Suddenly you now have a split second decision to make. Do I lie to the agent or do I now make a late declaration. These agents have quite a bit of training in your "tells", Yes, they miss many little bits, but how would such a situation have an ill effect on future travel through Customs, or possibly your job or reputation? The best thing is to pay the duty, support your own reputation and integrity, and relax and enjoy your journey. Going through a thorough body search is not worth the money or the anguish. Your regret for a dumb mistake will outlast the pain of paying for the import.

 

[RockOnReen]

Not worth the risk in my opinion -- I got stopped by customs in the Virgin Islands years ago and caught with a fairly innocent mistake on my declaration (yes, as an US citizen traveling between a US territory and the mainland). I guess I looked otherwise suspicious because I'd been around the non-US islands for a while, was traveling alone, had little luggage and was flustered because I was late for my flight. They took me to a holding area, searched everything I had, including my person, fined me a hefty sum for misrepresentation and made me pay duties on all my purchases, even the ones that were below the limit. Ouch. Years later it came up again when I applied for a Global Entry card - they still had a record of it. (I got the card so I guess I'm forgiven). Anyway, it was frightening enough that I actually do travel with receipts for any jewelry I'm wearing when I leave home. Do not mess with border authorities. As David says, your regret for a dumb mistake will outlast the pain of paying for the import.

 

[Austina]

I had my marquise ring made in the US and collected it when we visited our son.

On arrival back in the UK, we went through the "something to declare" lane. There wasn't anyone there, so we had to ring for a customs agent to come. They asked if the item was valued at over 1000 GBP, then asked for the receipt. They were very generous in the conversion rate they used to calculate the value in GBP from the US$ amount we paid. We paid the duty, they gave us a receipt and we went on our way.

I personally wouldn't risk bringing a high value item in to the country without declaring it. Will you wear it on future trips, what if you got stopped then and asked for proof of where you purchased it?

If you purchase online and it's shipped to you, you'll be contacted before the courier will deliver it, so you can pay the duty.

I had other jewellery on, and they didn't ask about that.

Edited to add it's probably not a good idea to talk about defrauding HM Customs on the internet

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

I don't have experience with UK-US customs, but I will say it is always safer to declare an item and pay duty on it, or carry adequate proof of purchase if duty is not applicable. I always have invoices for every piece of jewelry I wear or carry in a folder on my phone. I have only taken significant amounts of jewelry overseas once in my life, and at that time I had made the effort to have all my items inspected by customs with proof of purchase and obtain an export-certificate of sorts (my brain is blanking and I can't remember the exact term). Still, on my way back, I got into a long argument with customs - despite having ALL the necessary paperwork as well as the proof of purchase in hard copy - because I got a guy in a bad mood. It was all sorted out with minimal problems, of course, because I had all my Ts crossed and Is dotted; but I did have to spend an additional three hours in the airport. Though this was not in either UK or US, it has left me with the deepest sense of reluctance for any and all customs related issues and is the main reason I never travel with anything really expensive.

 

[WillyDiamond]

I think you are talking about a single piece of jewelry, a tennis bracelet. Get it in the US, wear it around, wear it thru security at the airport, mail the receipts home to yourself.

 

[headlight]

If you wear something purchased abroad back, just make sure they can’t find the paperwork if they decide to randomly check you. Yes, this is a bit of an integrity issue, however people do it all the time if it’s just a travel purchase. Just keep in mind if you don’t declare and get busted your future international travel will be in jeopardy… certainly a hassle every time you do thereafter as you will be targeted. Sometimes it’s just not worth trying to avoid paying the tax.

 

[lissyflo]

To raise another consideration that hasn’t been mentioned: have you considered insurance, OP?

If you buy without declaring and the item is lost/stolen/damaged, I think you’d have a hard time obtaining payment from an insurer on an item brought into the country illegally. Insurance companies are experts at wriggling out of things on the basis of small print and I’m sure you’ll find there’s an exclusion somewhere in the footnotes for such items.