New rule for foreigners bringing in their personal possessions

crofter


Joined: 16/12/2008
Posts: 1035

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 17:46

Our family have just found out this week that if a person has been resident for more than 12 months in the TRNC if they bring in their personal possessions after this amount of time duty has to be paid at the customs and excise on every single item that is brought in.



It has taken almost two years to sell the UK property and that is why the personal possessions have not been brought over before now. This is a new law but even though it applies to us all nobody tells you or makes us aware. Even the shipper did not tell us.



If we had known this we would not have shipped some of the personal items that have so far cost in excess of £1.200 to be shipped from the UK to the TRNC.



Has anyone else had experience of this?

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 17:51

If you have been resident before your stuff arrives there is not tax free allowance for sure, that is why you have to show the 'ins and outs' to show you come and go and don't live there.

Friends of our brought a car in after they had brought a container and were told they had used their allowance, must all come together so they took the car to the RoC side and shipped it back to UK.

As for tax on 'everything' sounds a little ott to be, I mean, what is the tax rate on a second hand pair of pants?

crofter


Joined: 16/12/2008
Posts: 1035

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:14

yrret.....our thoughts precisely. We shall know more once we have been to Famagusta and heard what tax they want to apply on personal clothing, personal effects etc.



It is more than likely that we shall decline to bring in certain items if we feel the tax is too high.



If this is the case then what happens to these items? Do the officers on the day acquire them?

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:29

msg 1;

Your property taking 2 years to sell in uk has nothing to do with TRNC rules.

Any person,foreign or TC that has spend less then 360 days here is a visitor.Thats what the law says.Thats the reason you/we are asked to provide ins-outs.If you've over the limit(360) days,then you must pay duties.Being a foreigner does not come into it as it is the same rule for us TCs as well.



Is it ok to pay duties on second hand car but not on second hand furnuture or even pants for that matter?



You should have enquired beforehand,this is not an eu country nor a recognised place after all.

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:32

Some of the crap people bring here beggars belief, as is evidenced by the auctions, not sure what they think they are doing.

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:36

Where are these auctions Pug? the missus could do with a new wardrobe

jaysee04


Joined: 06/11/2009
Posts: 17

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:36

Crofter.....I am sorry to say but this is not a new law.Five years ago we were faced with the same at Famagusta.Having been to Lefcosia customs the lady informed me that as I had already lived in TRNC for more than 12 months then tax would be due on everything brought in.So WHY dont the shipping companies ask the question, they must have some knowledge .Luckily at the time ( closing for Bayram holidays) they werent too interested in what had been shipped so we weren't charged.I hope this can help with any future shipments of old/used personal posessions.

Christine

Tatty


Joined: 24/09/2008
Posts: 186

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:56

This is not new five years ago it was six months they have extended it to a year.

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 18:58

yrret go to Amandas at Ozankoy or the Lambousa one.

Jo Valentine


Joined: 10/02/2008
Posts: 508

Message Posted:
10/11/2010 19:46

Hi

The Exemption from Duty is a concession for newly arriving immigrants to enable their existing used household contents and personal effects to be imported without paying Duty. As Tatty says, it is now valid for twelve months from issue. You'll notice that I said 'immigrants' - it is not intended for those with holidays homes.

Jo Valentine

http://www.jamesvalentineremovals.co.uk