French Customs Taxes the Full €600 Value of Gifts Brought Back From Morocco
A gift received in Morocco can incur customs charges on arrival in France. For an item worth 600 euros, taxes are calculated on its full value, not just the 170 euros above the duty-free allowance.
Travelers returning from Morocco with purchases or gifts for loved ones must take into account the allowances set by French Customs. For arrivals by air or sea, the allowance is 430 euros per person aged 15 and over. It falls to 300 euros for travel by car or train, and to 150 euros for children under 15. These amounts also apply to items given by family members.
The French Directorate General of Customs gives a particularly clear example: a traveler returning with a handbag bought for 600 euros. Arriving by air, the traveler exceeds the allowance by 170 euros. However, customs duties and VAT are calculated on the bag’s full value of 600 euros. The same rule applies to a gift of this value, even if its owner received it for free.
Traveling as a couple does not allow you to split the value of a gift
Another example given by Customs: a couple returns with a camera worth 500 euros. Each traveler has an individual allowance, but they cannot artificially split the camera’s price into two shares of 250 euros. The item must be declared at its full value.
The rules are different when travelers are carrying several separate items. Four items worth a total of 400 euros can be brought in duty-free when arriving by air. If a fifth item worth 50 euros is added to the luggage, that item will be subject to duties and taxes, according to the official example.
Travelers carrying their own valuable jewelry, cameras or computers can also request a free circulation card before departure. Issued by the customs authorities upon presentation of the items and supporting documents, it helps establish their origin when returning to France. Customs also offers the DéclareDouane online service to find out which formalities apply and calculate any potential charges.
