Buying an AV receiver in the US, "hypothetical" tax dodging question

[LeperousDust]

I'm getting hold of two Onkyo SR606's for my rents ASAP, and all the cheap offers (http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=onkyo+sr606&btnG=Search+Products&hl=en&show=dd&scoring=p) turn out to be in the US (http://www.looksmartpro.com/product_info.php/products_id/7340) obviously. Now i've got friends in NYC and Canada, what are the logistics of me buying it and having it delivered to my friends place in Canada? Like paying with a foreign card having it delivered in another country, and tax wise. I'm aware I'm dogging a fair amount, but what i mean is at her end if i have two amps crossing borders what taxes may i have to account for over there? It's all quite confusing. But since she'll be repackaging them as a gift and sending invoices separately i still stand to save about 25% i think... So yeah just need a bit of advice. Girl in NYC i can call on but I'd rather go through Canada (i know her much better :p ;D).

[Darrin]

Or you could go through me.

[Burble]

I've done a similar thing before. It'll depend on the company you're ordering through and your credit card company. Amazon (for example) had no problem with me ordering stuff on a UK credit card to be delivered to a friends place in Chattanooga, nor did ThinkGeek have a problem sending stuff to California.

The real thing you need to consider is getting the stuff into the UK. HRMC are pretty hot these days on import duty and the old trick of having something marked as a gift with a value of $10 is becoming less effective.

[Mondo]

Saying that, i have a HUGE package from Amazon.com delivered last week, The OC complete series worth $130, got through customs fine. The box was around 3 shoe box side by side, with a price label on the box.

On the other hand, i have got caught with something that's worth $50.

[LeperousDust]

Hey cheers Darrin :) Don't worry i thought of you and i know you're good (and would pay commission in flakes) i just don't like to bother you if i can annoy friends who owe me favours ;) :D Thank you very much though :)

The problem is about them tightening up, i thought gifts were actually legal though? So if they unbox it all remove packaging etc... and send the real packing in another box with the invoice, then send the "new" stuff in an old gift packaging box without any real documentation as a gift surely that'd be totally fine? I just managed to get a camera through recently for £150 brand new with invoice uncharged at C&R, but this is likely to cost over $800 (£400 ish). What are my chances? And anyone know any answers about tax, or i'll just pester Darrin ;D

[Darrin]

Gone to PM.

[Glaucus]

No point sending as gift it's pointless. The items are obviously worth much more than the gift allowance of £16 or is it £32. Best to get them to send it as a factory repair, as this incurs no tax.

saying that never been done for tax on any of my car parts, or anything eklese I buy from aboard which is a lot of electronics from HK.

[LeperousDust]

I didn't realise gift price was capped at £32, that sucks for real gifts tbh! Anyway although they "know" its obviously over £32 without invoice and any documentation how could they prove that? What happens if you put in a repair note or something mentioning its broken and has been sold second hand or something? Surely there's a million reasons they don't need to be told why it could be cheaper and thus if there's no indication of price they can't go charging me?

Also how could i (well not actually me :p) send it as factory repair?

[Garp]

Slight hijack, but similar idea(ish). Flight taxes from the UK are rather insane, and it's a fair few hundred squid cheaper to pay for flights to and from Hawaii on an american site. Anyone know how things would work legally if, say, an American friend paid for my flights? I would imagine they'd be able to 'gift' me the flights?

[Mark]

Not sure what the tax position on services is, especially in this case. The biggest problems you're likely to get are ensuring all the details are correct (particularly the dreaded DHS stuff) and shifty looks from security staff. I've had tickets bought and paid for in Germany before now for a business trip, and didn't have any issues there (that was the one and only time the company paid for a business class flight for me).