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Duty-free

Travel advice

While travelling, many people like to take advantage of duty free airport shops for their abundance of untaxed items such as perfumes and other beauty products, audio material, photo and video equipment, tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, etc), alcohol (wine and spirits), and clothing. However there are certain limits imposed on the amount of duty free goods you can return home with, so take a look at these guidelines before you shop. Liquor, tobacco and perfume are classed as duty free, and all other items are classed as tax free.

For flights originating outside the European Union you are allowed:

-tobacco products - 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of loose tobacco. You may also make up the duty free allowance from a mixture of tobacco products. For example, 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars is within the proper limits.

-4 litres of still wine

-1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22 per cent alcohol by volume, or 2 litres of fortified wine(such as port or sherry), sparkling wine or other liqueurs that are less than 22 per cent volume. As with the tobacco allowances, you can now make up your alcohol allowance from a mixture of products.

-16 litres (or 28 imperial pints) of beer

-other duty free goods such as electrical products and souvenirs up to the value of £390 (£270 if arriving by private plane or private boat)

For flights within the European Union, you do not have to pay any tax or duty on goods you have bought in another EU country as long as tax was included in the price when you purchased the items, the items are for your own use, and you have personally transported them. This includes gifts, but does not include any item that is intended to be used as payment or to be resold. There is no limit on the quantity of these items you bring back, however, you may be questioned at customs as to your purposes if you arrive with more than:

-800 cigarettes

-400 cigarillos

-200 cigars

-1kg smoking tobacco

-10 litres of spirits

-20 litres of fortified wine

-90 litres of wine

-110 litres of beer

All travel advice

In brief