Duty-free allowances by country

United States. Returning residents may bring USD 800 of goods duty-free after at least 48 hours abroad, with 1 litre of alcohol and 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars. The next USD 1,000 is taxed at a flat 3 percent. Non-residents get a lower exemption, and the 48-hour and 30-day rules apply to residents. Cash of USD 10,000 or more must be declared.

United Kingdom. The personal allowance is GBP 390 of other goods, 4 litres of still wine, 16 litres of beer, and either 1 litre of spirits over 22 percent or 2 litres of alcohol up to 22 percent, plus 200 cigarettes. You can combine the two alcohol bands, for example 1 litre of spirits plus 2 litres of fortified wine. Goods from the EU are treated the same as goods from anywhere else since the rules changed. Cash of GBP 10,000 or more must be declared.

European Union. Arriving by air or sea the allowance is EUR 430 of goods; by land it drops to EUR 300. Alcohol and tobacco follow the same pattern as the UK: 4 litres of wine, 16 litres of beer, 1 litre of spirits over 22 percent or 2 litres up to 22 percent, and 200 cigarettes. The allowance applies once per journey and only to goods for personal use. Cash of EUR 10,000 or more must be declared.

Canada. After 48 hours away, returning residents get CAD 800 of goods plus 1.14 litres of spirits, 1.5 litres of wine and 8.5 litres of beer, and 200 cigarettes. After 24 hours the exemption is CAD 200 and no alcohol or tobacco. Same-day trips get no exemption. Cash of CAD 10,000 or more must be declared.

Australia. The general allowance is AUD 900 of goods, 2.25 litres of alcohol and 25 grams of tobacco, and travellers aged 18 or over qualify for the alcohol and tobacco parts. Australia is strict on food, plant and animal products: declare everything, including snacks and wooden items. Cash of AUD 10,000 or more must be declared.

New Zealand. The allowance is NZD 700 of goods, 2.25 litres of alcohol and 25 grams of tobacco, with the same age rule. New Zealand also screens hard for biosecurity risk, so declare food, honey, seeds and dirty hiking gear. Cash of NZD 10,000 or more must be declared.

Duty-free is not automatically cheaper. Airport shops sell at a discount to local retail, but the saving is often small once you compare with a supermarket or liquor store at home, and the allowance only removes the tax up to the limit. A bottle priced at the airport can cost more than the same bottle bought on arrival and taxed.

If you go over the limit, expect to pay duty and tax on the excess, or in some countries on the whole category. The rate depends on the item and the country: alcohol and tobacco carry the highest rates, electronics and clothing lower ones. Budget roughly 10 to 30 percent of the value as a planning figure, and keep the receipt so the officer can calculate from the real price rather than an estimate.

Timing matters for two reasons. First, the allowance is per journey, so a multi-stop trip can use it more than once if you clear customs at each stop. Second, buying on the way out of your home country means carrying the goods through the whole trip; buying on arrival at the destination often gives the same price without the weight.

Cash is the other cost. Carrying more than the declaration threshold without reporting it can lead to seizure and a fine, even if the money is legitimate. If you need to carry a large sum, declare it and be ready to explain the source.

Crew and frequent travellers. Airline crew and people who cross a border often may face lower allowances or none at all. The US 30-day rule limits how often residents can use the USD 800 exemption.

Gifts and shipped goods. Goods you send home by post or courier are not covered by your personal allowance; they are treated as imports and may attract duty and tax on arrival, plus a handling fee.

Medicines and restricted goods. Prescription medicines, especially controlled drugs, need documentation and sometimes a permit. Food, plants, seeds, ivory, and some animal products are restricted or banned in Australia, New Zealand, the US and the EU. When in doubt, declare it.

Transit and connecting flights. If you clear customs at a connection, the allowance applies there. If your bags are checked through to the final destination, the allowance applies at the final arrival point. Duty-free alcohol bought at a transit airport may be taken off you at a security check if it is over the liquid limit and not in a sealed bag.

Brexit and EU travel. UK travellers arriving in the EU, and EU travellers arriving in the UK, now use the standard non-EU allowance, so the old unlimited personal import from the EU no longer applies.

Check the destination's customs website and write down the value, alcohol and tobacco limits and the cash threshold. Save a screenshot so you have it without data at the airport.

Work out what you actually plan to buy and compare the duty-free price with the price at home. If the saving is small, skip it and travel lighter.

Keep receipts for anything near the limit, and pack alcohol and tobacco so you can reach them if an officer asks. If you are carrying cash over the threshold, fill in the declaration form before you reach the desk.

On arrival, use the red channel or the declaration lane if you have anything to declare, and answer questions directly. Declaring a small overshoot is usually cheaper than being found with it.