View Full Version : Customs allowance
Can anyone clear this one for me?
I know that the amount we are able to bring back in to the country in terms of gifts/shopping etc has always been £140 but I seem to remember reading some where that this was being increased to over £300. Does anyone know anything about this?
I really hope I didn't dream it!
steph_goodrum
28-05-2006, 21:04
Rowan
It's still the same at present but there was a proposal last year to increase it to £1000 but it has to be ratified by all members of the EU before it can be implemented if they agree so bound to take some time.
I think I may have found the answer to my question - :) seems to be indicating that the £1000 proposal has been turned down in favour of a new allowance of 500euros or £340 which certainly is an improvement on the archaic figure of £120 which is currently in place....Apparently we can expect the new figure to come onto force on Jan 1st 2007 - Good news for us holiday makers planning trips next year. :)
ShirleyD
28-05-2006, 23:44
That's great news, but maybe it is all part of a cunning plan, as the airlines have reduced their baggage allowance, I can't bring as much home :D
steph_goodrum
29-05-2006, 02:25
Shirley
You'll just have to buy smaller more expensive things, Tiffanys in the Mall at Millenia would be a good place to start.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Rowan
I think I may have found the answer to my question - :) seems to be indicating that the £1000 proposal has been turned down in favour of a new allowance of 500euros or £340 which certainly is an improvement on the archaic figure of £120 which is currently in place....Apparently we can expect the new figure to come onto force on Jan 1st 2007 - Good news for us holiday makers planning trips next year. :)[/quote]Rowan, the current allowance duty free allowance is £145.
pieman790
29-05-2006, 14:53
We fly schedule flights and they have not yet reduced the amount you can bring home, it mainly the charter flights that have done this. We usually fly BMI via Chicago and they offer us min 2 cases each weight no more than 32kgs.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyD
That's great news, but maybe it is all part of a cunning plan, as the airlines have reduced their baggage allowance, I can't bring as much home :D
[/quote]
ShirleyD
29-05-2006, 15:10
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by pieman790
We fly schedule flights and they have not yet reduced the amount you can bring home, it mainly the charter flights that have done this. We usually fly BMI via Chicago and they offer us min 2 cases each weight no more than 32kgs.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ShirleyD
That's great news, but maybe it is all part of a cunning plan, as the airlines have reduced their baggage allowance, I can't bring as much home :D
[/quote]
[/quote]
It's coming I'm afraid. The 25kg max is an inter airline agreement to reduce injury (or that's what they say) Following on from the building industry that now sells nothing packaged over the 25kg weight
Another update via The Timesonline Feb 28 2006...Not only is the duty free allowance to be increased..."From £120 to £340" but there is also the intention to remove the limits currently imposed on perfumes etc.Good news for the ladies!
steph_goodrum
29-05-2006, 17:37
"We fly schedule flights and they have not yet reduced the amount you can bring home, it mainly the charter flights that have done this. We usually fly BMI via Chicago and they offer us min 2 cases each weight no more than 32kgs."
I would double check before you fly that it hasn't changed. Virgin decreased their from 2x32 to 2 x23 kgs for economy passengers (premium is still the same) so regardless of what they say it can't be a health and safety issue that has caused it, it's all to do with fuel etc and associated costs, otherwise it would have to be the same for premium and upper class as well.
steph_goodrum
29-05-2006, 19:29
Don't forget Rowan, although it is technically a "duty free allowance" if you buy a single item costing over that amount say for example £400 when you declare it, they don't deduct the £145 and then charge duty on the rest they charge vat and duty on the whole amount.
Thanks for the reminder....still it's surprising how much craft stuff you can buy for £145 let alone £3oo in USA.Much much cheaper than Uk. But it's the same story for most things isn't it?
You can buy even more than usual at the moment because of the good exchange rate. :)
florida4sun
29-05-2006, 23:20
But you can claim back the tax from the counrty you bought it.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
Don't forget Rowan, although it is technically a "duty free allowance" if you buy a single item costing over that amount say for example £400 when you declare it, they don't deduct the £145 and then charge duty on the rest they charge vat and duty on the whole amount.
[/quote]
steph_goodrum
29-05-2006, 23:58
We looked into that when we bought something, Martin, and it wasn't worth the hassle we thought, plus we would have had to send off our receipt which was also our warranty.
"Thanks for the reminder....still it's surprising how much craft stuff you can buy for £145 let alone £3oo in USA.Much much cheaper than Uk. But it's the same story for most things isn't it?"
I know what you mean, I bought a Sizzix machine over there for less than a third of what I'd have to pay here. Mind you got a good cutter from Staples for my birthday, comes with wheels for deckle edge, wavy, perforating, straight and creasing, great for card making and s-c-r-apbooking.
I know - We try to visit Orlando every couple of years and much as I love the Disney/Universal/Eating out/clothes shopping/sunshine and absolutely everything! its my craft shopping I really look forward to - I always do a deal with hubby to just drop me off and come back and collect SEVERAL hours later!
Maggie b
31-05-2006, 19:44
Am i right in thinking that when flying with virgin you are allowed 2 suitcases per person as long as they dont weigh more than 23kgs each or is it 2 suitcases weighing no more than 23kgs between them.[drinkpepsi]
ujpest doza
31-05-2006, 20:15
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Maggie b
Am i right in thinking that when flying with virgin you are allowed 2 suitcases per person as long as they dont weigh more than 23kgs each or is it 2 suitcases weighing no more than 23kgs between them.[drinkpepsi]
[/quote]
We've booked with Virgin for our New Year Trip and the notes say we can have 2 suitcases each weighing no more than 32kgs each therefore 64kgs per person.
Maggie b
31-05-2006, 22:57
WOOHOO That means i can bring back lots of craft stuff[sporty]
steph_goodrum
01-06-2006, 01:02
"We've booked with Virgin for our New Year Trip and the notes say we can have 2 suitcases each weighing no more than 32kgs each therefore 64kgs per person."
It depends when you booked your tickets, from 1st April the allowance for economy was decreased to 2 x 23 kgs from 2 x 32kgs. If you booked before then they told me you will get the full allowance.
ujpest doza
01-06-2006, 02:58
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by steph_goodrum
"We've booked with Virgin for our New Year Trip and the notes say we can have 2 suitcases each weighing no more than 32kgs each therefore 64kgs per person."
It depends when you booked your tickets, from 1st April the allowance for economy was decreased to 2 x 23 kgs from 2 x 32kgs. If you booked before then they told me you will get the full allowance.
[/quote]
We booked in january and i notice their website now says 23kg.
Doesn't bother me too much as i've usually only had 20KG per person in the past on charters.
[8]Does any 1 know when Duty free/Customs allowance increase coming into effect?[8] I was under the illusion that it was to increase to £1000 2 yrs ago.(I gess The EU have more pressing things to do;) Any how I think I read some where that Gordon Brown got us a deal upto £340 for outside the E.U[msncool] Any 1 have more info?;)[grouphug]
UK Customs website has duty free at £145.
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_010220&propertyType=document
Albert the Frog
25-07-2007, 18:54
As Blott says the UK Customs website says £145 but this article is from Nov 06--A puzzle methinks??
Duty-free allowance to double
This is Money
28 November 2006, 4:58pm
Reader comments (2)
Duty-free allowances are to be doubled for people returning from outside the EU, it was announced tonight.
The move, agreed by European finance ministers in Brussels, means that shopping trips to cities such as New York could become even cheaper.
Chancellor Gordon Brown welcomed the rise, which comes after 12 years of the allowance being frozen at £145. The new rate will be £290 - approximately $560.
Brown said: 'I'm pleased for all British holiday-makers that we have been able to double the tax-free allowance for people returning from outside the EU.
'We have campaigned long and hard for the updating of this allowance, which has not been reviewed since 1994, and we will continue to campaign for a further increase at the next review in four years' time.'
The meeting in Brussels today was attended by Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo, and [u]the change should be in place by next summer. </u>
Last week, European judges ruled that online and mail-order shoppers should not be allowed to buy cut-price cigarettes and alcohol from anywhere in the EU.
It had been feared that the Treasury could have lost billions in revenue if the decision had gone the other way.