Customs duty tax rules relaxed for Christmas shopping
14 November 2008
Those planning on doing some last minute internet shopping for Christmas will get some relief from customs duty this year.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) says shoppers will not have to pay the tax on certain items.
Customs duty tax is worked out by looking at where you are importing goods from and what the item is.
Items worth less than £105 which are purchased from outside the EU will not have the duty put on them as of December 1st.
You could save up to £160 on your Car Insurance
The BBC reports that this will benefit thousands of customers - including those who buy electrical items from the US, which often have a high duty rate.
Customers will still have to pay VAT on purchases that cost more than £18.
The HMRC website is now offering a podcast for those who want to get a bit more information on how the changes could affect them.
Doug Tweddle, HMRC's Director of Customs and International, said: "If you're buying goods from countries outside the EU, it's in your interests to know what the rules are."
