My wife and I are currently traveling in Ireland and will be looking to bring back whiskey for ourselves, friends, and family. I understand the personal exemptions are 1.14L/person. Let’s say as an individual I bring back 3 570ml bottles priced at $50, $80, and $100 CAD, for example. 2 of those bottles will be exempt under my personal allowance, but I will have to pay duties on 1 of them. How does CBSA determine which bottle I pay additional duties on?
Edit: Entering through Ontario
You are allowed the stated amount as personal exemption. Any amount over personal exemption is exercisable.
Having more than the personal limit does not preclude personal exemption.
Having an amount that is higher than personal use (subjective by the agent) puts you at importation, and removes personal exemption. For example 12 cases of wine is not going to fly as personal use if you were out of the country for a week, it would fly if you were on secondment to another country for three years and are moving back.
