Unravel_Morrison
Well-known member
Cheers Lefty
I assume the carnets are purely for financial reasons (taxes/duties).
An obvious solution would be to significantly raise the £600 threshold for touring bands. Who set £600 for bands? It feels like a figure that is set for individual tourists but has been applied to effectively a business (band).
It appears from the article £1000 cost of paperwork needs to be completed on equipment that might be even worth less than the cost of the paperwork which is crazy. In theory it could be cheaper to buy new and sell or rent equipment in the country of performance. Or do musicians feel their equipment is irreplaceable i.e. I can only perform with my own personal equipment?
On £600 of equipment there is only about £120 worth of tax? (20%).
In the past people people used to bring a van of booze that costs the UK Government more than £120 or a party of 4 could bring 800 cigs between them without paying any UK tax (over £240 lost in tax)?
Its good that this is highlighted. It is something that needs tweaking or if not there is a potential business opportunity for equipment loaners.
I guess big bands just pay the £1000 every year and add to their high touring costs.
Just a thought, but if there was festival in a freeport area would there not be a problem with carnets?
This is like discussing gun ownership with an American.