Tax/Duty on Alcohol Brought in from Gibraltar

Oct 12, 2009 · lennys26 · 9 replies · 4205 views

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This is a financial question, although I am not sure if it falls in line with the other posts here...

I am a resident of Spain. There are several brands of alcohol that I can purchase in Gibraltar that I can not buy in Spain. If I bring more than than the allowed limit of alcohol back from Gibraltar (1 litre as I have read), what is the duty/tax that I would have to pay in Spain?

I suppose I would also be interest knowing the same for alcohol brought in from the UK.

I would be willing to pay the duty, if it was reasonable.

Thanks in advance.

Oct 12, 2009 · susanspain

Contact HM Customs & Excise at the border? Although it might be the Spanish side you need to ask the Q to?

Oct 12, 2009 · susanspain

Have just googled and think this is the place to start looking:
www.aeat.es It is part of the Agencia Tributania - basically the tax people..
There IS a document there (in Spanish) about alcohol taxes/imported good... but it was a whopping 7MB so I didn't download it!
Good luck - and let us know if you get a definitive answer!

Oct 13, 2009 · lennys26

Thanks for the replies. I have since emailed a government agency of Gibraltar who (surprisingly) told me that it is NOT possible to pay duty/tax on any 'excess' alcohol brought across the border from Gibraltar. The person wrote:

> I am sorry to inform you that any amount exceeding the allowed limit of 1 litre would be confiscated by the spanish authorities.

I am a bit surprised at this, and somewhat concerned that the Govt can simply take legal items items that I have purchased legally without offerring me the option of paying a fine (ie. tax) ... BUT that is a whole other conversation that I dont mean or want to start here.

I did also try to confirm this on the AEAT website, however I was unable to locate the information.

I still am not sure of alcohol brought from mainland UK, though. I expect that the rules are different as this is not a tax free state as is Gibraltar.

Oct 15, 2009 · susanspain

Let us know if you speak to the Auydana at the Spanish side and get a different response!
(wink...)

Oct 15, 2009 · jurdyr

got fast boat if you need it , lots jobs are done in the dark , can only take cash L?L

Oct 15, 2009 · lennys26

hehe. Yea, thanks. That may be my option!

Oct 18, 2009 · aquaman

I had too many cigarettes once and had to pay duty, ended up paying just about the same price I would have paid in Spain

Oct 20, 2009 · Tolly

we did that once, had 2 packs too many - but we persuaded them to let us leave the excess at customs and collect them the next day - which i thought was pretty decent of them - this was a few years ago though!