Duty Free Allowance
It's been 3 years since I last went to France and the first time since the B word came into effect; namely the reintroduction of Duty Free allowances.
I used to bring as much wine as I wanted for personal consumption, but the new rules now limit it to just 18 litres of wine.
I've crossed the channel dozens of times in the past, but never been pulled over at customs when re-entering the UK.
I'm curious to find out if anyone has any experience of Customs at UK borders on the western routes and whether they are actively checking vehicles for any breach of these rules.
Also, If I went to the Customs to declare route at 7am, would a barely eyed customs official really work out the tax payable on a few extra bottles of wine?
John
Comments
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I’ve just been looking at gov website re allowances and it’s not just a few extra bottles, it’s the whole amount.
https://www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain
“If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category.
ExampleIf you bring in:
200 cigarettes and 50 cigars, you must pay tax and duty on both the cigarettes and the cigars because you have gone over your allowance in the tobacco category
19 litres of wine, you must pay tax and duty on all of it because you have gone over your 18 litre allowance for wine”0 -
John, If you have a partner with you 18 litres of wine becomes 36litres, that’s 48 bottles, with spirits, sparkling and fortified wines extra.
A few people are searched every day- that may be random or maybe based on intelligence. So how innocent do you look?0 -
I used to bring back around 90 litres in bottles and boxes.
I checked the Government website and as stated above, you pay tax on the whole amount, not the extra you are bringing in.
It calculated the tax at around £350!
I travel alone so I guess I'll have to stick to the 18 litre limit.
John
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I think it’s 18 litres of still wine plus 9 litres of ‘other alcohol drink less than 22%’ My interpretation of that is 27 litres of wine or 54 litres for both of us assuming no spirits or booze over 22%. You can also bring 42l of beer.
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See what you mean. I’m quoting from the latest Brittany Ferries information on customs allowances and no mention of not including beer or still wine in any of the categories. I remember in the 1990s we used to go on the occasional booze cruise to Cherbourg and were able to convert the spirits & fortified wine element into still table wine. I agree Gov advice is different - maybe I should test it out and challenge the ambiguity of the official advice given?
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I'm sure your liver will be grateful.
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