Ship a used ThinkPad from US to UK - customs charges?

[Edward Mendelson]

I have a used ThinkPad (in the US) that I want to send to a relative in the UK. Is it possible to do this without paying huge customs fees? What should I write on the customs forms to make this worthwhile? I'll be grateful to anyone with experience doing this kind of thing.

[RealBlackStuff]

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty
tldr: https://wise.com/gb/import-duty/

When I still lived in USA I shipped many items across the pond.
Ship it to a personal address, not a company.
Describe the item as short as possible, e.g.: Used laptop.
Give an acceptable low value, e.g.: $100 (~£82), $150 (~£123), $200 (~ £164)
Declare it as a birthday/anniversary gift.
Insure it, use signature-upon-receipt.
Pack it extremely well, postmen are champion footballers!
Keep all your extremities crossed.

Check USPS rates and then this: https://www.easyship.com/shipping-rate- ... tedkingdom

[Edward Mendelson]

RBS, that's extremely helpful, and exactly what I needed to know. Thank you!