Customs Question

[eastaugh36]

We are heading to the US in a couple of weeks. I was wondering what the rules are in relation to bringing back certain things. Last time we went we didn't bother with it but being more experienced and confident now we are looking at bringing stuff back.
What are the rules in regards to alcohol? Also stuff like baked goods and packaged food like chocolate bars etc?

 

[The Passenger]

duty free allowance into australia

http://www.firstdutyfree.com.au/105-allowances-on-return-to-australia

if you get confused just ask the people at the counter in the duty free stores and they'll sort you out. ****ing cheap. if you like whiskey - a litre of jamieson's 15 years go's for about 40 bucks from memory.

if your flying through malaysia (doubt it - assuming it'll be direct to the US) that is the cheapest i have seen but of the five or so airports i've been in the prices aren't that big of a difference.

 

[eastaugh36]

Sorry, I didn't mean duty free. I meant when buying the stuff in the US (not at duty free) and then bringing it all back.

 

[prankmonkey]

declare everything is the safest option.
basically declare any food, and any other thing that used to be alive eg plant products, animal skins etc.

 

[The OBSTacle]

Sorry, I didn't mean duty free. I meant when buying the stuff in the US (not at duty free) and then bringing it all back.

Booze shouldn't be a problem.

As for foods, that can be complex depending on what it is. If the product is already available in Australia, then you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[Tormented Tiger]

Booze comes down to quantity, I'm fairly sure it's 2 1/2 litres per person. Anything over you pay tax on. As for food I wouldn't chance anything with seeds or nuts.

 

[eastaugh36]

Booze shouldn't be a problem.

As for foods, that can be complex depending on what it is. If the product is already available in Australia, then you shouldn't have any issues.

Donuts?

 

[Paul Kersey]

I've found it's generally cheaper to buy alcohol in supermarkets overseas than what it is duty free in Australia. I just came back from Japan where a bottle of CC is around $12 AUS, Macallan 12 year old $40, Laproaig $40 etc.

 

[The OBSTacle]

Donuts?

I don't know, but it begs the question, why donuts?

They must be some truly wonderful donuts.

 

[peejay]

Booze comes down to quantity, I'm fairly sure it's 2 1/2 litres per person. Anything over you pay tax on. As for food I wouldn't chance anything with seeds or nuts.

You can bring in as much booze as you like - the tax free threshold is only for unopened bottles. If you break the seal and take a sip (therefore unable to be resold) you can bring as much in as you like. This has always been the case - the only dif these days is that due to the rules about bringing liquid on board you have to pack it in checked luggage so be careful how you wrap it

 

[eastaugh36]

I don't know, but it begs the question, why donuts?

They must be some truly wonderful donuts.

They're American donuts though! Everything from America is better.

 

[Renegade]

I used to work with AQIS and i'd recommend looking over this page to give you a better idea about how it works and what they look out for.

http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/travel/entering-australia/cant-take

 

[Mickey]

You can bring in as much booze as you like - the tax free threshold is only for unopened bottles. If you break the seal and take a sip (therefore unable to be resold) you can bring as much in as you like. This has always been the case - the only dif these days is that due to the rules about bringing liquid on board you have to pack it in checked luggage so be careful how you wrap it

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4728.asp

"Alcohol
If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring 2.25 litres of alcohol duty-free into Australia with you. All alcohol in accompanied baggage is included in this category, regardless of where or how it was purchased."

This means all bottles (unopened/opened). If you bring over the 2.25 limit, you are charged duty on ALL of it!! If you don't pay, it is seized and destroyed.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

I've found it's generally cheaper to buy alcohol in supermarkets overseas than what it is duty free in Australia. I just came back from Japan where a bottle of CC is around $12 AUS, Macallan 12 year old $40, Laproaig $40 etc.

I've found the same. Even things like Vodka is much cheaper.

You are allowed to bring in 2 1/2 litres of alcohol.
As for most food products you will need to dispose of them before coming in. Chocolate and lollies are fine but most else is not.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

They're American donuts though! Everything from America is better.

Having just got back yesterday I can tell you I was DYING for some Aussie food. I don't know what they do to their bacon but it is uneatable!

 

[eastaugh36]

Having just got back yesterday I can tell you I was DYING for some Aussie food. I don't know what they do to their bacon but it is uneatable!

Agree with bacon but everything else is great!

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Agree with bacon but everything else is great!

I think they do shit food better. By that I mean, lollies and stuff like that. We have better quality meats and fruit and veggies.

 

[eastaugh36]

I think they do shit food better. By that I mean, lollies and stuff like that. We have better quality meats and fruit and veggies.

That's true. I reckon their diner meals/fast food etc is way better than ours and you're probably right about the quality type of foods.

 

[peejay]

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4728.asp

"Alcohol
If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring 2.25 litres of alcohol duty-free into Australia with you. All alcohol in accompanied baggage is included in this category, regardless of where or how it was purchased."

This means all bottles (unopened/opened). If you bring over the 2.25 limit, you are charged duty on ALL of it!! If you don't pay, it is seized and destroyed.

You would think so after reading that but in fact it isn't. I have had this discussion with customs staff a few times when returning and every time am told i have uncovered a loophole.

 

[erpel9999]

You would think so after reading that but in fact it isn't. I have had this discussion with customs staff a few times when returning and every time am told i have uncovered a loophole.

Not true. You have just been lucky.

If you bring in more than 2.25 lt you will probably pay tax on all of it.
Duty free or not.
Opened or not.

 

[hawkeyehogan]

We are heading to the US in a couple of weeks. I was wondering what the rules are in relation to bringing back certain things. Last time we went we didn't bother with it but being more experienced and confident now we are looking at bringing stuff back.
What are the rules in regards to alcohol? Also stuff like baked goods and packaged food like chocolate bars etc?

Holy Smoke food why do people have to bring food in to this Country it should not be allowed unless you own a imported company who has strict conditions.I wonder why the Country so obese people can't stop shoving food in them every minute.I say just bring in electrical goods,CD,DVD and goods that are not plant or food items.No wonder the country has outbreaks of bugs damaging industry.

I freak out when i see these custom TV show and some Asian who can't speak one word of English who lives in Australia bring back all these bags of food that are dripping.

 

[eastaugh36]

Holy Smoke food why do people have to bring food in to this Country it should not be allowed unless you own a imported company who has strict conditions.I wonder why the Country so obese people can't stop shoving food in them every minute.I say just bring in electrical goods,CD,DVD and goods that are not plant or food items.No wonder the country has outbreaks of bugs damaging industry.

I freak out when i see these custom TV show and some Asian who can't speak one word of English who lives in Australia bring back all these bags of food that are dripping.

Because certain things aren't available in Australia. I'm not talking about the gross food types that you see many Asians try to bring in. I'm talking about processed foods from a modern country such as America.

 

[hawkeyehogan]

Because certain things aren't available in Australia. I'm not talking about the gross food types that you see many Asians try to bring in. I'm talking about processed foods from a modern country such as America.

I understand i love the orange fruit juice from the USA.The best orange juice drink i have tasted nothing like the horrible sourpuss drinks we have here.They made with Florida oranges.I forgot the name of it. I also like that chocolate peanut bar called NutRageous how come it's not sold here.It a little like Snickers but i say better.It hasn't got the nougat for the center instead has Peanut Butter.The thing about snickers it taste good some time and sometimes kind of dull.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

I understand i love the orange fruit juice from the USA.The best orange juice drink i have tasted nothing like the horrible sourpuss drinks we have here.They made with Florida oranges.I forgot the name of it. I also like that chocolate peanut bar called NutRageous how come it's not sold here.It a little like Snickers but i say better.It hasn't got the nougat for the center instead has Peanut Butter.The thing about snickers it taste good some time and sometimes kind of dull.

I think I know the one you are talking about. It is not great because of the type of oranges the use. It is great because it is just orange juice and nothing else.

 

[Brad Goodman]

I freak out when i see these custom TV show and some Asian who can't speak one word of English who lives in Australia bring back all these bags of food that are dripping.

They probably still type better than you.