Tax for importing 2nd hand parts

[searider12]

Hi all, I've bought a reconditioned engine block for my outboard; downside is that it's in Belgium. A mate of mine has got it in his cellar for now but I need to go and get it at some point. Do I need to pay import duty on it? Feels a bit strange given that it's 2nd hand and worth only a few hundred quid...but I can't work out from the gov website whether I need to or not.

Anyone got experience of this?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by searider12

Hi all, I've bought a reconditioned engine block for my outboard; downside is that it's in Belgium. A mate of mine has got it in his cellar for now but I need to go and get it at some point. Do I need to pay import duty on it? Feels a bit strange given that it's 2nd hand and worth only a few hundred quid...but I can't work out from the gov website whether I need to or not.



Anyone got experience of this?

If you’re fetching it yourself in the back of your car…….

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

If you’re fetching it yourself in the back of your car…….

Interesting. Anything to declare? Yeah - just a refurbished engine block in the boot!

More details here - you could tell them it's been 'gifted' to you next to the 20 cases of Belgian lager you've not declared!
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Interesting. Anything to declare? Yeah - just a refurbished engine block in the boot!



More details here - you could tell them it's been 'gifted' to you next to the 20 cases of Belgian lager you've not declared!

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

HMRC won’t be the slightest bit interested, trust me
Who’s to say it wasn’t the OP’s block that he took to his mate in Belgium for repairs. Failing that, it’s a scrapper that he’s bought to do up. It’s worth its weight in scrap ally

[beamishken]

Go in winter, the engine is there to add weight for traction in the snow. Been there since I left home! honest guv![emoji106]

[Pete7]

The boat is in Belgium and he is bringing the block home to have it re-bored and new pistons fitted.

Pete

[User name]

I get caught for tax every time when ordering new goods from the UK. I don't think I've been taxed once for secondhand/used items since the whole brexit silliness started though. I'm not sure if that's a rule, or they just aren't bothered checking single items from individuals rather than businesses.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Pete7

The boat is in Belgium and he is bringing the block home to have it re-bored and new pistons fitted.

Pete

Be a little careful with temporary export - I had to do a temporary export of some laptops and they were explicit on the date they had to "in theory" be re-exported by.

I'd probably say "warranty replacement", "warranty repair" or some such, that usually does the trick. Or just tag it as "used engine parts" and not worth much.