can tobacco be posted from turkey to the uk?

[ytsrik1978]

can tobacco be posted from turkey to the uk?
thanks

[Buenchico]

It can be posted but it will get hit for massive charges when it arrives here. (That's assuming that the correct CN22 declaration form is attached to the package, correctly stating the contents and value of the contents; if the form is missing, or the contents are falsely described, the package would be liable to confiscation).

For example, if 1000 cigarettes are sent, the first step is to calculate 16.5% of the price that the cigarettes would retail for in UK retail outlets. Assuming a retail price of £6 for 20, that's 16.5% of £300 = approx £49.50

Then £167.41 (for every thousand cigarettes) is added onto that. So the total charge, so far, is around £217.

Assuming a retail price in Turkey of £2.40 or 20 cigarettes (based upon a recent post on TripAdvisor), the cost of purchasing 1000 cigarettes would be £120. Let's assume a tenner for postage. HMRC calculate the VAT as 20% of (£120 + £10 + £217) = 20% of £347 = approx £65.

So the total charge, so far, is now £217 + £65 = £282.

But there's an £8 examination fee to be added to that, so HMRC won't release the cigarettes to the intended recipient until he's handed over £290.

So the total cost of the cigarettes would be
£120 (paid for the ciggies) plus
£10 (paid for the carriage) plus
£290 (paid to HMRC)
which comes to £420, which is 40% more than you could have bought them for in Tesco.

Chris

PS: After typing all of that out I see that your question refers to 'tobacco', rather than to 'cigarettes' but the basic principle is the same. You need to add £164.11 in Customs Duty to the cost of every kilogramme of tobacco, then calculate VAT at 20% on (purchase price + carriage + Duty), then add on an £8 examination fee. You'll still end up paying more for your tobacco than by going to your local supermarket!

[ytsrik1978]

thank you very much for your help my partner wont be doing that then
thanks kirsty