so this is probably going to get me flamed but here goes..

[nervousal]

Is it legal to buy cigarettes on-line? HAve found a site which is selling cigs really cheap from abroad. I remember that this was being discussed in media a while ago re whether or not it was legal. Anybody know??

it wouldn't be legal as you aren't paying tax on them

they prob wont be real cigarettes!

i doubt itis illegal, but they willl presumably be posting them to you? if sok, they will have to fill out a customs and excise form. which means that you will have to pay the tax on it.
dsis once sent me some clothes fromj pakistan as present. i ended up having to pay 27 pounds to the tax man, even though they were a birthday present, andincluded stuff for dd. it was either pay up, or be taken to court. dh told me to stop standing up for theprinciple of it, and ruining our credit rating.

i dont know but i doubt it,and they'd probably be rank anyway(fake dodgey crap)

Iv looked too for dp. Backy is really cheap too. Sometimes theyre made from different stuff, and a lot of the websites require a kind of balance transfer, where you have to put the money in your bank and send it to them.

goodness knows what extra carcinogenic crap there'd be in those- yuck

well - you would be paying tax on them - in the country where they are from. Surely don't have to pay additional tax if for own use? And its a reputable site - so they are real, only contain the stuff that will kill me relatively slowly asopposed to the stuff that will kill me a wee bit quicker

I did this once.

Did it 3 times, first two times the cigarettes arrived no bother. 3rd time, no cigarettes arrived, but instead a letter from HM customs saying they had been seized. I could pay the tax, or not bother. I didn't bother, it was around £40. So, I lost my £17 or whatever it was. I basically ignored the letter, and never heard anything more.

Its up to you whether you want to take the rick and see if they make it to you or not.

Oh, and they weren't fake, or if they were they were perfect fakes.

I did this once.

Did it 3 times, first two times the cigarettes arrived no bother. 3rd time, no cigarettes arrived, but instead a letter from HM customs saying they had been seized. I could pay the tax, or not bother. I didn't bother, it was around £40. So, I lost my £17 or whatever it was. I basically ignored the letter, and never heard anything more.

Its up to you whether you want to take the rick and see if they make it to you or not.

Oh, and they weren't fake, or if they were they were perfect fakes.

Ooh - sorry!

you have to pay tax as you are importing them. even if for personal use. which is why when youbring ciggies over, you are only allowed to bring a certain number over.
the government will have their share. i wouldnt try it if i were you. even if theyturn out to be the best tobacco ever. youwill end up paying for them.
(my clothes cost a lot less than 27 pounds. but that was the tax value customs and excise decided on)

thanks - probably worth the risk if onlt buying 6 packs for 14 euros? I would only be buying for own use - why is it importing if order them over net, but not if buying personally?

they customs and excise people make up their own rules. i have been stung, so never again. if you want to risk it, fine. go ahead

erm, i'm not sure they do actually lol (ex c&e employee)

probably better to find someone from E. Europe or who goes to Europe and buys them and then sells them.

As a Customs' Officer this is definitely illegal!

I'd read this if I were you

You aren't a colleague are you?!

thank you - makes it pretty clear. Going over to Spain in few weeks, so will just stock up there.

Can you get me 600?!

There's no tax on nicotine replacement therapy

lol hf - whats it worth???

who - no there's not - but then there's no smoke in it either....

thats because NRT is crap.

Oh, a couple of grand.

hf no lol, used to work in the VAT office handli9ng VAT and customs queries- like most places it has closed down now