Piers Hemy wrote:
> I believe that you have been completely misled, Garth.
Perhaps not. Read on:
> You *can* temporarily import personal effects and professional equipment to
> the UK (and by extension to the rest of EU) as well as to several other
> countries without paying any duty or tax provided that you re-export the
> same goods. And the same should apply on the way back into Canada on the
> basis that the equipment is "returned goods" assuming you bought the
> equipment in Canada. Whoever has told you to pay tax and duty into UK and
> back into Canada does not have the *slightest* clue about import
> regulations, and were probably talking through a bodily orifice not
> conventionally used for speech.
Actually, this was one of the senior reps for FedEx Canada, who (as it
just happens to turn out) is something of an audiophile nut, and
typically travels with a mini recording studio worth about $6K U.S.
> You need an ATA Carnet. Carnets are usually issued by Chambers of
> Trade/Commerce, and your own gives the five offices to contact for carnet
> services: http://www.chamber.ca/article.asp?id=271 and gives general
> information here: http://www.chamber.ca/article.asp?id=259
He was aware of this, and used it a number of times himself.
Unfortunately, his personal experience was that customs officials on any
leg of the trip had it within their utter discretion to ignore such
documentation and simply declare "I don't believe you when you say
you're not planning on disposing of this equipment in-country. Pay the
following duty and VAT." No appeals. No explanations. No argument.
He gave me the impression that he's paid for his equipment more than
once, and that he was on the verge of simply giving up and not taking it
with him any more.
> You will have to deposit a bond (I guess that covers the amount of duty that
> would be payable) and you do have to pay a fee of CDN100+ (depends on value
> of goods) to get the carnet issued.
>
> The information they give assumes you will be accompanying the goods - not
> in your case. FedEx reportdely don't want to know about Carnet shipments,
> UPS the same. Try DHL.
DHL's also a "no," I'm afraid.
[snip]
> Above all, don't accept nonsense from people pretending to be informed (of
> course, that could apply to me too, as far as you - or I - know).
I think that, in the present state of flux, even the experts are now
"uninformed." Which leaves the non-experts like me completely buggered.
Garth
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