Duty free limits if you are travelling abroad

Topic: Duty-free limits if you are travelling abroad.

Here is a reminder of your duty and tax-free allowances if travelling abroad this Christmas.

Travelling to an EU country

Where tobacco or alcohol is brought in from another EU country, no duties or tax will be payable as long as you can demonstrate that the goods are for your own use and that you paid the relevant taxes and duties on the purchase.

However, HMRC provides the following guidelines as to an acceptable maximum for personal use. If you exceed these limits, you are more likely to be subject to further questioning.

• 800 cigarettes
• 200 cigars
• 400 cigarillos
• 1kg of tobacco
• 110 litres of beer
• 90 litres of wine
• 10 litres of spirits
• 20 litres of fortified wine (for example port or sherry)

If you are travelling outside the EU you are allowed to bring the following back to the UK for your own use without any UK tax or duty liabilities.

• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
• 4 litres of still table wine
• 16 litres of beer
• 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22 per cent volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry), sparkling wine or other alcoholic beverages of less than 22 per cent volume.
• £390 limit for all other goods including perfume and souvenirs. If you are lucky enough to be arriving by private plane or boat for pleasure purposes, you can bring in goods up to the value of £270 tax-free.

It remains to be seen if any changes will be made to the EU limits after the Brexit transition period ends.

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