Customs duty regulations are easing up! Right before year-end, the customs office declared new import duty regulations for flight passengers entering Germany from non-European countries.

Under the old import duty regulation, purchased items were not to exceed € 175 per adult to remain duty free, but now this has been raised to € 430 per person (for people under 15 years of age,  the former amount still applies).

Another change is the now unlimited import of coffee, tea and perfume – it is no longer rationed.

Tobacco and spirits import duty regulations remain unchanged. But additionally, minors as of 17 years of age, may bring in 4 liters of wine and 16 liters of beer.

If you send anything to Germany via postal service, the following changes apply: Anything sent to Germany up to €150 in value remains exempt from import duty, but is still liable to import sales tax (19% MwSt. or VAT) if the value exceeds € 22.

More information in German at Deutscher Zoll.

It is about time this amount was raised. It does take German institutions a bit longer to react, but we are an habitual folk.