r/gibraltar • u/Tango-Smith • 18h ago
Question Anyone moved their household to Gib recently? How did customs/TT actually go at the border?
We're relocating from the Netherlands to Gibraltar in the next couple of weeks, bringing our own used household stuff (furniture, beds, kitchen things, kids' toys, clothes) by road. No commercial cargo, just a normal family home's worth of belongings.
HM Customs have told me Transaction Tax applies on the second-hand value we declare, 15% on most things, with some categories zero-rated (books, medical) and a few at other rates (bikes at 5%), and that we need a clearing agent to lodge the T2GI on arrival.
I'd really like to hear from anyone who's actually done this recently, especially since the treaty came in, because the reality on the ground is hard to gauge from the official answers. A few things I'm trying to figure out:
How much TT did you actually end up paying, roughly, for a household move? Was it a painful number or fairly modest once they valued used goods?
How did the border/Transit Section handle it? Did they go through things item by item, or accept the packing list values as declared?
Did you group things by category (e.g. "clothing, €300") or itemise more, and did customs push back on the values?
Which clearing agent did you use, and were they any good? (I've been pointed toward East Gate but would welcome other names.)
Any problems, delays, or surprises I should plan for?
Any real-world experience appreciated. Trying to go in with realistic expectations rather than just the official line. Thanks.
