Export/Import – Info Required

Mustang.

My apologies. I thought you were actually advocating that it was a good way to import an aircraft. It would have worked pre 1994, and you could have probably got away with it up until fairly recently. howeverthe authorities are really clamping down on the import / export of scrap / waste these days and I’d recommend that everyone says well clear of going down that route!

Import/Export Help Info

VX927, I could not agree more with you. What I am talking about is something that actually happened where false export documents were filed in Australia with an address that was a private residence (supposed to be a business) and the “scrap aluminium sheets and strips” miraculuously regenerated into a Spitfire when it was imported into the UK. I have copies of all the documents and they make interesting reading. Aircraft is still flying in the UK

Then, of course, if importing to the UK you could always make out a false export declaration from the country of origin under a false address for, say “scrap aluminium sheets and strip”, then when it arrives in the UK declare the import to be a Spitfire………

PLEASE DONT TAKE ANY NOTICE OF MUSTANG51!!!!!!!! (on this subject!)

I’d avoid importing anything as scrap if you actually want to keep it when you get here. If you’re going to import it as scrap, then you need to have a Waste Transfer Note, and comply with the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regs. You might get away with it, but if the documents are checked then the authorities will want to know what licensed waste management site your beloved Spitfire is going to… Find an old oil tank on that spitfire, and now you’re potentially importing hazardous waste too. Like I said, I’d avoid importing it as scrap!

I might not know much, but when it comes to scrap / waste… Trust me!

Import/Export

Then, of course, if importing to the UK you could always make out a false export declaration from the country of origin under a false address for, say “scrap aluminium sheets and strip”, then when it arrives in the UK declare the import to be a Spitfire………

could you not register it as Scrap ??

I’d avoid trying to bring anything into the country as ‘scrap’… You’d have to comply legislation concerning the Transfrontier Shipment Of Waste, and that’s not a route you want to go down.

Whenever buccsociety I will be pleased to try and assist.

Many thanks for your info chaps, TO, I will be in contact very soon.

Got stung a few years ago when i brought a 1944 British BSA folding bike in America and airmailed it across, import tax was about 150 quid, which i couldnt get my head round as the bike was built in England anyway….

To balance the tax credit for the original export?:D

I’ve restored several military vehicles over the years and collected a few from Europe and just tell customs that they are from the UK and i’m just bringing them back home…. If it’s on a trailer i doubt that they would even know what to do with a cockpit section.

Got stung a few years ago when i brought a 1944 British BSA folding bike in America and airmailed it across, import tax was about 150 quid, which i couldnt get my head round as the bike was built in England anyway….

To further clarify

For exports, all aircraft will have to have a valid export license. In my professional capacity I have acted as an agent for individuals in the past.

I have had more difficulty with modern aircraft (a Harrier) than old aircraft, as modern aircraft tend to have systems installed that could be classed as classified. Get your paperwork in early!

There are various schemes for bringing classic aircraft into the country that help when it comes to paying the taxman. Aircraft that are built in this country and fall into the category of collectors items can be brought in with reduced VAT and no duty. Customs law is however a veritable minefield – make sure you use the right scheme!:Bruce

I agree Bruce, I am no expert ,But I imagine all the customs laws have become tighter since 9/11 on ANY Imports into the UK.
My friend was looking 10 years ago at the very least, and after seeing the Tallichet collection ,pretty much gave up, on account of cost etc,

This was one of my worries when I was going for the Polish Mig 21 cockpit ,
Just how to get it into the country ??.

it must be very hard for a private person as opposed to a museum, group ,or comapny ,to bring a aircraft in from overseas.

To further clarify:

For exports, all aircraft will have to have a valid export license. In my professional capacity I have acted as an agent for individuals in the past.

I have had more difficulty with modern aircraft (a Harrier) than old aircraft, as modern aircraft tend to have systems installed that could be classed as classified. Get your paperwork in early!

There are various schemes for bringing classic aircraft into the country that help when it comes to paying the taxman. Aircraft that are built in this country and fall into the category of collectors items can be brought in with reduced VAT and no duty. Customs law is however a veritable minefield – make sure you use the right scheme!

Bruce

What if you were a private individual ??,

say you were picking up a cockpit nose wreck from France/Belguim/Holland ??

could you not register it as Scrap ??, and bring it in that way ??as I imagine the tax could be horrendous, saying that, Would you need to pay tax for aircraft wrecks entering the UK from the EU ??

I had a friend who looked into this many years ago after visiting Raul Castro in Cuba, regarding the Cuban Furies , and he Very nearly got one, but the vote in Cuba was to keep the ones they had as they didnt have many,But he was offered old Migs if he wanted one, (he declined) .

To get past the massive Tax he would have to pay etc, he looked into shipping the Aircraft to Southern Ireland (Eire) and then driving it over the Border into Northern Ireland ,then thus Putting it on British soil, taking the ferry to the mainland and off to home, He seemed to work out a loophole in the law at the time, which would save him alot of money ,in Tax etc and charges,
I dont know if this still applies since 9/11. but thought it worth mentioning
as how can you bring a aircraft across if you are not VAT registered ??.

incidentally ! ,whilst In Cuba, he was given a tour of the military bases, and shown all the old aircraft wrecks, I have seen the photos, he was shown a complete P51 mustang, But it was so corroded he managed to poke his finger through the skin in the wing root ,he did climb into the cockpit, and I remember seeing a photo of his kids in a fuselage of a wreck of a Douglas Boston Havoc, which had become part of the fence ,on one of the bases he visited,

Why were the Cubans so helpful, Simply Put !!, He DIDNT mention Money , they hated the capitalist way of life, However he was wanting to bring back 2 ,restore one for them for static display to return to Cuba, and keep one in the UK in Cuban Bay of pigs colours, and restore it to fly at major airshows, which the Cubans thought was a very good bit of publicity on his part, for them, and he wasnt bothered what colour it was aslong as he had a fury ,as for the Cubans they had no equiptment, or spares, or believe it or not the right paints , so for them to get a pristine “Model” back to put on display was very interesting for them, However they just didnt have that many to spare, and in the vote , he lost by a small margin, but they did think alot of my friend because of his “Passion” for aircraft.

the Cubans seem very more of “If you can do something for us/ we will do something for you ” and Money, well that just wasnt mentioned.

You only need MLA approval for certain items – usually over 50 years old. They will tell you if you phone them.

For export licenses, you need to have an account on SPIRE; you will typically need a registered business with VAT number in order to get set up.

Bruce

Buccsociety – you have a PM!

Talking of ex-military aircraft, usually an export licen(s)e from the country where it is coming from. The UK have no requirement for an import licence for aircraft, but HMRC will levy duty on the import unless it is either a donation or purchased from an individual, and placed on public display. In this case you can get an authorisation to have the duty waived.

To export an ex-military aircraft or part from the UK, you will need an export licence, plus permission from the MLA. All of this is available at no charge, it just takes a couple of weeks for the application to be approved.

I’ve done a bit of this stuff since taking up my post at Duxford and can give you contact names and so on if you need it.