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Although many of us know we can make a saving if we buy cigarettes or alcohol duty-free, do you know your allowances and how much you can bring back to the UK?
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Find flightsIf you're travelling to Great Britain (England, Wales or Scotland) from outside the UK, you can bring in a certain amount (for your own use or as a gift) without paying tax or duty. Here are your personal allowances:
Duty-free allowances when entering Great Britain | |||
200cigarettes | 50cigars | 100cigarillos | 250gtobacco |
42 litresbeer | 18 litreswine | 4 litresspirits | 9 litresfortified wine |
While there is no duty or tax to pay on items when returning to Northern Ireland from a country in the EU, anything you do buy must be for personal use or a gift. Customs officers may query any goods you have brought back that exceed the standard amount shown.
Duty-free allowances when entering Northern Ireland from an EU country | |||
800cigarettes | 200cigars | 400cigarillos | 1kgtobacco |
110 litresbeer | 90 litreswine | 10 litresspirits | 20 litresfortified wine |
If you are travelling back into Northern Ireland from a country outside of the EU then duty-free allowances are in place. This means you are restricted on the amount of goods you can bring back home with you. If you go over this allowance you might have to pay tax or duty on your goods - Excise Duty, Customs Duty and Import VAT.
The type of tax or duty you will pay depends on what you want to bring home. Duty-free allowances for travel outside of the EU are shown.
Duty-free allowances when entering Northern Ireland from a non-EU country | |||
200cigarettes | 50cigars | 100cigarillos | 250gtobacco |
16 litresbeer | 4 litreswine | 1 litrespirits | 2 litresfortified wine |
If you are entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain (England, Wales or Scotland), you do not need to declare your goods if you are a UK resident and you bought the goods in England, Wales, Scotland or the Isle of Man.
If you are entering Great Britain (England, Wales or Scotland) from Northern Ireland you do not have to declare any goods.
You can bring back items (to Great Britain and Northern Ireland) bought on holiday worth up to £390 duty free. If you bring home a single item worth more than your allowance, you will have to pay tax/duty on the full amount, not just that above the allowance.
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