Paris trip for Hermes

[papertiger]

Please try to stay on topic. I realise because of the complexity of some of the posts members may veer off but in answer do not 'go there'.

For info and questions on US customs please post on the thread below: post https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/us-customs-discussion-airports-importing.905560/

Detaxing (to US from Europe) https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/best-way-to-detax-after-h-in-europe.178302/

or non-US destinations: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/does-h-store-paris-wants-to-ship.605014/page-3

For questions relating to prices https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/reference-hermes-current-prices.102567/page-357

For traveling with boxes https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...me-hermes-boxes-when-traveling.1044553/page-5



I will leave this reminder as a sticky because tthis is often a thread that new members (or new Hermès lovers) post on - hopefully temporarily.

 

[MiaRun]

Please help!

I was able to score an Alligator handbag in Paris and came back to U.S yesterday, happy as a clam.

However, I just got a phone call from US Customs, asking me to pay for the custom taxes. Apparently, they said French Customs notified them because it's exotic leather. And the tax rate could go as high as 100%[emoji31]

Does anyone have experience on similar situation? Shall I consult with a lawyer?

I don't know what to do now...100% is way too much...

TIA.

 

[EmileH]

Please help!

I was able to score an Alligator handbag in Paris and came back to U.S yesterday, happy as a clam.

However, I just got a phone call from US Customs, asking me to pay for the custom taxes. Apparently, they said French Customs notified them because it's exotic leather. And the tax rate could go as high as 100%[emoji31]

Does anyone have experience on similar situation? Shall I consult with a lawyer?

I don't know what to do now...100% is way too much...

TIA.

Didn't you declare it when you entered the US? If they just want you to pay I would pay and hope they don't take it further. If they are at all hinting at prosecuting you need to get a lawyer.

The fees could go to 100% because you didn't declare. And they could have confiscated the item if they found it in your luggage.

By the way, it's not just exotic leathers. French customs also sometimes reports jewelry or leather bags to US customs. It has happened to me but I had declared it so I was ok. They only charged me 3%.

 

[cremel]

Please help!

I was able to score an Alligator handbag in Paris and came back to U.S yesterday, happy as a clam.

However, I just got a phone call from US Customs, asking me to pay for the custom taxes. Apparently, they said French Customs notified them because it's exotic leather. And the tax rate could go as high as 100%[emoji31]

Does anyone have experience on similar situation? Shall I consult with a lawyer?

I don't know what to do now...100% is way too much...

TIA.

Did you declare? If not then I would suggest handle this with the custom folks calmly. If not declared they are pretty much in control.

In declared they usually charge you with reasonable rates up to 3% or so. In theory they charge more for exotics but in fact they give very nice rates at the custom if declared. Customs would always look into the exotics purchase more often than other type of leather.

 

[cremel]

Just to share a recent experience at the US custom. DH came back with a beautiful Kelly and declared. He was charged zero!! The other person who spent about $7000 on several LV bags didn't declare anything. He was caught and fined $4000. Not to derail from the subject of this thread but wanted to share with everyone here that the declaration is beneficial in general. After paying the custom tax we still save lots of $$$ for stuff purchased in France.

 

[EmileH]

Did you declare? If not then I would suggest handle this with the custom folks calmly. If not declared they are pretty much in control.

In declared they usually charge you with reasonable rates up to 3% or so. In theory they charge more for exotics but in fact they give very nice rates at the custom if declared. Customs would always look into the exotics purchase more often than other type of leather.

Thanks for sharing your experience cremel. Just to warn everyone, they are not just tracking exotics. This can happen for any expensive handbag or jewelry items. I hope the moderators will allow the slight diversion because it's so important. People on this thread have almost boasted in the past few months about getting away with not declaring. It's a very foolish thing to do.

 

[SandySummer]

I agree wholeheartedly with PP. The Customs agent are always appreciative and willing to help when you declare. I have never been charged anything absurd, this is only twice. The other times I declared an was just waived off because there was no one at the cashier's desk. The other thing I was informed by the Customs agent is that once you are sort of flagged as someone who did not declare, be prepared to have your bags searched every time you enter the county "until you're an oldddddd lady"

 

[cremel]

I agree wholeheartedly with PP. The Customs agent are always appreciative and willing to help when you declare. I have never been charged anything absurd, this is only twice. The other times I declared an was just waived off because there was no one at the cashier's desk. The other thing I was informed by the Customs agent is that once you are sort of flagged as someone who did not declare, be prepared to have your bags searched every time you enter the county "until you're an oldddddd lady"

Oh yes that part. I forgot to mention. The custom officer was chatting with my DH while looking at the receipts. He said anyone who tried to hide their purchase would be flagged in their system therefore in the future the person would very likely get checked each time entering US border.

 

[scndlslv]

Thanks for sharing your experience cremel. Just to warn everyone, they are not just tracking exotics. This can happen for any expensive handbag or jewelry items. I hope the moderators will allow the slight diversion because it's so important. People on this thread have almost boasted in the past few months about getting away with not declaring. It's a very foolish thing to do.

Hey PP, to be clear, when using the new kiosks, is "declaring" basically acknowledging that you're over the exemption amount (which I do every time)? Then providing more information about purchases if asked by the customs agent?

 

[EmileH]

Hey PP, to be clear, when using the new kiosks, is "declaring" basically acknowledging that you're over the exemption amount (which I do every time)? Then providing more information about purchases if asked by the customs agent?

It is saying yes at the kiosk and then listing everything on the blue form that you sign. I group things because you only have a few lines. But I write everything out on a sheet of hotel stationary and I put it together with all of the receipts in an envelope to carry with me. The last time I went through the customs agent thanked me for being organized and gave me a very favorable rate.

 

[scndlslv]

It is saying yes at the kiosk and then listing everything on the blue form that you sign. I group things because you only have a few lines. But I write everything out on a sheet of hotel stationary and I put it together with all of the receipts in an envelope to carry with me. The last time I went through the customs agent thanked me for being organized and gave me a very favorable rate.

I see. I was not given a blue form on any of my three trips to Paris in the last 12 months. I just got the printout at the kiosk and on one occasion the agent asked me what I got then waved me through. The other times they just collected the printout and waved me through. I wonder why the process is different.

 

[EmileH]

I see. I was not given a blue form on any of my three trips to Paris in the last 12 months. I just got the printout at the kiosk and on one occasion the agent asked me what I got then waved me through. The other times they just collected the printout and waved me through. I wonder why the process is different.

They usually hand you the form when you board the plane if you are a US citizen. Or the flight attendants walk around wth them.

 

[scndlslv]

They usually hand you the form when you board the plane if you are a US citizen. Or the flight attendants walk around wth them.

I know but it hasn't happened on any of these Paris flights they expressly told us to use the kiosks instead. When I came back from Dubai curaçao and Mexico we got forms.

 

[HavLab]

I dont think they passed out forms on my last flight either. They did show an Arrivals film with how to use the kiosks. I have Global Entry and I check the "over exemption" box. Last time they asked me what the value was of what I bought , I told them and also advised them that everything I bought was in the bag with me (t I wrote everything down in a more organized manner thanks to Pocketbook Pup's advice and included both the cost with VAT and without - I am not sure about that - does anyone know?). The agent did not ask to see anything and said welcome home and waived me through with no fees. The time before that (different airport) was pretty much the same.

 

[EmileH]

I dont think they passed out forms on my last flight either. They did show an Arrivals film with how to use the kiosks. I have Global Entry and I check the "over exemption" box. Last time they asked me what the value was of what I bought , I told them and also advised them that everything I bought was in the bag with me (t I wrote everything down in a more organized manner thanks to Pocketbook Pup's advice and included both the cost with VAT and without - I am not sure about that - does anyone know?). The agent did not ask to see anything and said welcome home and waived me through with no fees. The time before that (different airport) was pretty much the same.

Interesting. As long as you told the truth you are fine. The agents have told me that I can calculate it without the VAT but be sure to convert to dollars.

 

[NanamiRyu]

When I asked a FA for the custom form on the return fight from Barcelona last November I was told they are no longer needed. She added they don't have any on board.

When I was coming back from Paris last month, the purser was walking down the aisles with the forms. However, when I asked to get one, she replied "they don't want US citizens to use these forms."