Duty Free EU

rilly99

Forgive me if asked before ,

but if travelling form Dublin to Spain can I buy cigs going out in Dublin duty free ( Spanish are cheap but slightly different flavour ) i think from reading that passengers travelling in Eu have to pay tax and duty now so therefore no saving/point ?

Same question in realtion to camera ( which i am in the market for )

and lastly how many smokes can i bring back - some say 800 some psoting say personal use so not defined

Thanks in advance

schemingbohemia

There's no Duty Free within the EU. Either buy in Ireland or (for much less) in Spain, you can bring back as many cigarettes as you like, the 800 is just a guideline you can bring back more but just make sure they're all the same brand so that it's obvious they are for your own use.

There's no duty on cameras and you do sometimes get better prices in the airport but you'd want to check beforehand.

syklops

schemingbohemia wrote: »

, you can bring back as many cigarettes as you like, the 800 is just a guideline you can bring back more but just make sure they're all the same brand so that it's obvious they are for your own use.

No its not just a guideline, its the limit. From citizens advice:

If you exceed these quantities(800), you may have to demonstrate at Customs that the goods are for your personal use.

You might get away with another couple of cartons and say you miscounted, but if you arrive in with a suitcase full, good luck 'demonstrating' they are all for you.

schemingbohemia

syklops wrote: »

No its not just a guideline, its the limit. From citizens advice:



You might get away with another couple of cartons and say you miscounted, but if you arrive in with a suitcase full, good luck 'demonstrating' they are all for you.

No, if you're actually able to read and understand the sentence you've quoted the word "may" is included. That is not prescriptive, if you have the same brand the customs officials will have to take your word that the cigarettes are for your own use.

The Revenue Commissioner herself stated at an Oireachtas committee that it was a guideline above which you may have to explain yourself but that's it.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/loophole-allows-travellers-to-bring-in-unlimited-drink-and-cigarettes-114253.html

syklops

schemingbohemia wrote: »

No, if you're actually able to read and understand the sentence you've quoted the word "may" is included. That is not prescriptive, if you have the same brand the customs officials will have to take your word that the cigarettes are for your own use.

The Revenue Commissioner herself stated at an Oireachtas committee that it was a guideline above which you may have to explain yourself but that's it.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/loophole-allows-travellers-to-bring-in-unlimited-drink-and-cigarettes-114253.html

AH theres my problem I can't read.

schemingbohemia

Why give incorrect advice? There's no actual need to post information if you're not sure of the answer. It's not my fault you can't understand what you yourself went to the trouble of finding to disprove someone else's correct advice.

syklops

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Why give incorrect advice? There's no actual need to post information if you're not sure of the answer. It's not my fault you can't understand what you yourself went to the trouble of finding to disprove someone else's correct advice.

I am sure of the answer and I provided a link to the citizens information website backing it up. You claim you can bring back as many as you want and provided a link to a three year old newspaper article.

Aside from buying all the same brand of cigarettes, how do you demonstrate that all the extra cigarettes are for your own use?

What happens if they don't like your answer?

Woman, 69, sentenced to four months over cigarette seizure

schemingbohemia

The story you linked to is about someone bringing in 580 packets which would be a years supply for a heavy smoker, that's not exactly personal use.

The story I linked to has the woman in charge of the Revenue Commissioners stating categorically

“And while we have an indicative guideline of 800 cigarettes it is only indicative. And what the law says is you can bring in tobacco for your personal use.

“And there is very significant case law in the European Courts and indeed domestically that suggests that the burden of us establishing that cigarettes are not for personal use is very high. So people can bring in many, many thousands legally legitimately into the country for their own use,” she said.

The date she stated this was the 11th March 2010, the Revenue guidelines were updated the day before her appearance on 10th March 2010 and are still on the Revenue website.

If you can find a case where a first time "smuggler" was done for having 2,000 cigarettes maybe then your point might have some validity.

0lddog

So, whats the position on this with regard to the Canary Islands ?

Gran Hermano

0lddog wrote: »

So, whats the position on this with regard to the Canary Islands ?

Canary and Channel Islands are not included, they have special tax status so non-EU duty free allowances apply.

I frequently exceed the 800 'limit' flying back in from other EU countries. My advice is to stick to one brand (most smokers are loyal to one brand) and make sure you have a receipt showing where you purchased them and proof that you paid the tax/excise in the other EU state. Perfectly legit as long as the appropriate tax is paid in one EU state - its a basic tenet of EU law to allow free movement of goods and people between member states.

0lddog

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Canary and Channel Islands are not included, they have special tax status so non-EU duty free allowances apply..

Is this 'useful' or otherwise ?

Olddog


( bit funny that a euro zone area does not have the std EU duty free allowances......WHAT does Angela have to say about that ? ....perhaps that they dont work down there )

Gran Hermano

You do not have a duty free allowance when moving between EU member states.
You may buy goods at the local rate and pay the local taxes and duties.
You may then personally transport them to another EU state.

The Canary Islands, Isle of Man and Channel Islands are classed separately. Whilst they might have ties to EU states they have different tax regimes and statuses to EU member states. You may buy goods there duty free but are required to stick to your duty free allowance.

Cigarettes are cheaper in the Canaries than say Spain as you are not paying any duty in The Canary Islands.
As you are not paying duty you can only bring back 200.


That simple or useful enough?

0lddog

So, when going ( for example ) IRL to Canaries does the standard non EU duty free allowance apply ?

coylemj

0lddog wrote: »

So, when going ( for example ) IRL to Canaries does the standard non EU duty free allowance apply ?

Yes. From the Revenue website....

*Although Gibraltar, the Canary Islands and the Channel Islands are part of the customs territory of the EU, they are outside the Community fiscal territory. The customs allowances for outside the EU, therefore apply

http://www.revenue.ie/en/customs/public-travel.html

0lddog

coylemj wrote: »

Yes. From the Revenue website....

Great!

So I can stock up pre flight with duty free dog food at DUB

Never knew this & just ignored duty free @ DUB

Y'all just made my day

Many thanks