Customs and ExciseBrE NAmE (also fml Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise)the British government department responsible for collecting customs duties, taxes charged on imports from outside the European Union, and excise duties, taxes charged on certain types of goods, such as wine and beer, petrol and tobacco products. The Department of Customs and Excise also collects VAT, a tax charged on the price of many goods and services in Britain, and works to prevent banned goods such as some drugs being imported into BritainA large quantity of drugs has been seized by Customs and Excise officials today.