Customised shopping

If you're thinking of benefiting from the weak dollar by going on a spending trip to the US don't go mad - or you could find yourself in trouble.

That's because there's a limit to the amount you can spend before Customs and Excise need to be told.

And the limit is only £145 per person.

If you spend more than this on goods to bring home, you'll need to declare it.

Duty

If for example, you buy a bargain coat for just under £145 (approx $267), make sure you keep a receipt because you could be challenged.

Tax expert John Whiting explains: "It's a bit like self-assessment - you must prove you're in the clear.

"Although Customs might choose to turn a blind eye to something costing just over the limit, you could be asked to pay duty.

"And on top of that they'll charge you VAT, which is calculated on the price of the goods plus duty."

Rules

John also warns that if you have recently bought an expensive item in the EU that you then take with you to the US, it might be worth taking the receipt to prove that you didn't buy it in the US.

The only time the rules are relaxed is if you get married in the US.

Then you are allowed to bring back wedding gifts up to a value of £800 per gift, but again you might be asked to prove that you have just got married.

And if you have been living in the US but are returning to the UK to set up home, you're obviously allowed to bring possessions in with you.

Customs and Excise give all the details of this on their website - click on htm.3.