You declare it when you return to the US.
I hate to say it but I was in the same boat. Picked up a few small things at CDG H and kept expecting a form or questions and then I was through to the exit. In all seriousness, it seems like a flaw in the system to simply announce purchases rather than to have a digital or written record of them. People forget all the time and while ignorance of the law isn’t a defense, this seems like an odd way to set up an international compliance system.
Yes, I feel the same way. Just flew back in the country into two different airports and the GE person so was so busy being a jerk and rushing you through, that you feel chaotic and don't know what's going on. You feel kind of stupid and intimidated and I kept wondering "when do I talk to the person to claim something?" This last time, the guy rolled his eyes & only asked "did you bring back any illegal alcohol or agriculture?" which I thought was odd--he didn't even ask if I had anything to declare.
I’m not sure if you were able to resolve this, but I’ve emailed my local French embassy and gone through the steps of getting a refund (it was a long process of waiting). It eventually worked out. You do have to write out a formal explanation + provide a photo of your vat forms and the receipt.
A security guard then comes and escorts us to baggage claim to collect our luggage (all my claimed purchases were in my hands as a carry-on). Everyone from the plane is watching us with our escort and it feels a little embarrassing. We get to the customs area and the escort agent gives our passports to a different customs agent. We wait. Then we’re called up and asked to fill out a form itemizing everything that was bought. There were only 8 lines for items but I had 14 items to declare. I wrote everything down plus the prices. The agent looks at the form then asks to see the receipt for every item. 
Luckily I had all of my VAT forms still neatly on me. He then cross checked every receipt to what I wrote and calculated on his phone what the receipt totals were. Luckily his number matched what I wrote, which was a relief. It just felt like a big test. He then told me that I had done the right thing by declaring my items, subtracted $1,600 from the total ($800 for each me and my partner), and charged me 3% customs tax. I was never asked to show any of my items though everyone around me had open suitcases and agents rifling through them. After I paid, he gave us back our passports.
He also said there was no “declaration kiosk” lolUnfortunately I can relate. Which airport did you land on in the US? I have heard that some are worse than others.I just came back to the US from Paris and was nervous about going through all the customs procedures simply because I had never done it before. I feel like the system is very confusing and I felt like I was treated as a “suspect” the whole time!
First, when in Paris, I scanned my VAT forms at the kiosk and they were flagged red so I had to go to the agent line. The agent went through my forms and asked to see both bags I purchased plus a Petit H charm so I had to unbox a bunch of stuff.
When I was on the plane home, I asked the flight attendant for a declaration form but he said it was all digital and there would be a kiosk. Alright then.
We land in the US and I start looking for kiosks. We are going through the passport line and the agent asks if I have anything to declare and how much. I told him approximately 9k in leather goods. He then confiscates my (and my fiancé’s) passport and tells us to wait. I’m like, uh oh, did I miss the kiosk or something?
Overall the process made me feel interrogated (although I guess that’s their job lol). I’m happy I was honest though and was grateful to be charged just 3%. I think they can lighten up the scare factor though for people who self-declare.
At least you were asked to declare. I swear I must look disastrous when I fly because the agents almost actively waive me through. I hate that there’s not just an electronic process at my airport.I just came back to the US from Paris and was nervous about going through all the customs procedures simply because I had never done it before. I feel like the system is very confusing and I felt like I was treated as a “suspect” the whole time!
First, when in Paris, I scanned my VAT forms at the kiosk and they were flagged red so I had to go to the agent line. The agent went through my forms and asked to see both bags I purchased plus a Petit H charm so I had to unbox a bunch of stuff.
When I was on the plane home, I asked the flight attendant for a declaration form but he said it was all digital and there would be a kiosk. Alright then.
We land in the US and I start looking for kiosks. We are going through the passport line and the agent asks if I have anything to declare and how much. I told him approximately 9k in leather goods. He then confiscates my (and my fiancé’s) passport and tells us to wait. I’m like, uh oh, did I miss the kiosk or something?
Overall the process made me feel interrogated (although I guess that’s their job lol). I’m happy I was honest though and was grateful to be charged just 3%. I think they can lighten up the scare factor though for people who self-declare.
