Bringing excess alcohol back from europe - do you just pay the taxes?

[Tijuana]

I will be going to Europe soon and I want to bring back some alcohol. Now I've never really understood how those cards work for declaring on your way back.

1. Ill most likely have a 750 dollar limit, so if I am under, do I declare anything?

2. So if I am over, say the alcohol part, say I bring 3 bottles, do I just declare them and then I pay extra tax, or would they take it away? Also how much is the tax, is it like the normal 13 or more like 35?

[GangStarr]

It probably won't be worth importing the extra booze if you end up declaring it and paying the taxes. Will cost more then the LCBO.

Might make sense to bring it back if its something particularly high end that is over priced here. That or unavailable.

I remember asking how much it would be to declare a bottle of absinthe and it was astronomical. I forgot the exact amount but really wasn't worth it.

Someone should chime in with the exact amount.

Bringing back a case of beer and declaring it is pretty reasonable, and I know a lot of people bring back extra wine because of insane markups on it here in Ontario (that would only be for high end wine).

[gman]

I will be going to Europe soon and I want to bring back some alcohol. Now I've never really understood how those cards work for declaring on your way back.

1. Ill most likely have a 750 dollar limit, so if I am under, do I declare anything?

2. So if I am over, say the alcohol part, say I bring 3 bottles, do I just declare them and then I pay extra tax, or would they take it away? Also how much is the tax, is it like the normal 13 or more like 35?

As far as I know, you always need to declare alcohol.

[boyoflondon]

For correct information, contact BIS (Border Information Services) at 1-800-461-9999 ........

My dad once got 'dinged' for bringing over one bottle as he wasnt out of the country for complete 48hrs. He declared that he was bringing it and had to pay duties. It ended up costing him more then if he was to buy it at LCBO.

[seadog83]

I was thinking that exact same thing 5 years ago, so simply asked when we crossed the border, purely out of curiosity's sake so I'd know for next time. Anyway I forget the exact amount, but it was definitely over a dollar and less than two PER OZ of hard liquor or equivalent (1 beer). Somewhere in the 1.40 range is in my head for some reason. So that means if you bring back a second 40 OZer, the duty is the ball park of $50-$60, which blew me away considering you can buy them at the liquor store for $35.

I figured that couldn't be right, but held my tongue as is so often a good idea at border crossings, and asked twice more on future crossings, receiving the same answer.

[BAM]

You are allowed 1 Litre per person anything else isn't worth it

[krazynuck]

Unless you are bringing back expensive Champaign or somthing you cannot get in Canada....it may not be worth it

You write down all liquor bought and they only tax you on the extra amount

As a side note I have paid the extra before as it was still cheaper to do so then buy from the BCLC (Grey Goose from washington state was $27.99 for a bottle compared to the $55+ here)

[Jucius Maximus]

You are allowed 1 Litre per person

Sorry, your info is factually incorrect.

[tomw]

You are allowed 1 Litre per person anything else isn't worth it

You are allowed to import only one of the following amounts of alcohol free of duty and taxes:

1.5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine;
1.14 litres (40 ounces) of alcohol;
a total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of wine and liquor; or
24 x 355 millilitre (12 ounce) cans or bottles (maximum of 8.5 litres) of beer or ale.