Can you buy alcohol in EU airports tax-free on arrival?
Most times when I've flown within the EU I've passed through the common airside area where people waiting to depart are. This enables fast transits within schengen. I know you have to show the boarding pass in the taxfree when buying alcohol. Will I be denied if I try doing that on arrival? Are you only able to do it on departures?
I guess you'll still have to pay taxes, but are you able to purchase anything?
I'm not asking about the special taxfree stores for arrivals that are by the luggage carousels, but the normal taxfrees you shop in (usually) on departure!
Best Answer
There are at least some airports where you can do this.
In general tax free purchases are for people departing for international destinations, on the presumption that the goods will be exported. Checks are made to establish this.
There are airports which allow tax free purchases for those arriving from international destinations, on the presumption that the goods could have been purchased at the departure point, but were not. Goods bought in this way are counted against the import limits.
London Heathrow is one of the airports that provides this facility, but other UK airports also do. (Technically this only counts as an EU airport for the next month or so).
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Is duty-free available in Europe?
From January 2021, there will be changes to duty free shopping. British passengers travelling to EU countries will be able to take advantage of duty-free shopping from January 2021, bringing our approach to the EU in line with the rest of the world.What alcohol can I bring in from Europe?
Alcoholic drinks You can also bring: a total of 1 litre of spirits over 22 % vol. or 1 litre of undenatured alcohol (ethyl alcohol) of 80% vol. (or over) or 2 litres of fortified or sparkling wine.What is the allowance for alcohol from EU to UK?
Alcohol allowance You can bring in 16 litres of beer and 4 litres of wine (not sparkling). You can also bring in either: 1 litre of spirits and other liquors over 22% alcohol, or. 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine and alcoholic drinks up to 22% alcohol.Can you buy duty-free from UK to Italy?
UK residents are now eligible to shop tax free in Italy and can save money claiming back the VAT on their purchases.Duty Free Liquor at Dubai International Airport | Cheap Liquor | Watch before Buy | Save Tax
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Answer 2
When flying, or actually travelling in general, within the EU, there are no tax-free sales at all, neither to departing, nor arriving passengers. There are still many stores at airports, harbours or ferries labelling themselves 'tax-free', 'duty-free' or perhaps more common 'travel-value' shops, pretending to offer cheaper products, but all sales are still liable to local taxes and duties. Since taxes and especially excise duties, e.g. for tobacco and alcohol, vary significantly between EU countries, buying taxed products in another country may still be a good deal compared to home.
Real tax-free sales are in the EU only available to passengers departing to a non-EU country and not available to passengers arriving to the EU from a non-EU country.
There are however a few non-EU countries in Europe, where proper tax-free sales are offered to arriving passengers. I know from experience that passengers arriving in Oslo, Norway can buy tax-free products. Wikipedia states that tax-free on arrival is also offered in Iceland and Switzerland.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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