US Customs discussion - airports, importing

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

Thank you for the details! I have never declared on the app before and it’s asking for my picture, which makes me assume they will be expecting me? If they choose to? But you are saying I should still approach them? Needless to say, I’m hoping to be waved through and do not necessarily want to be Offering anymore than I have to.
💯 with @nymeria :) it’s best to declare everything, and it’s nice when they wave you through or charge the minimum. :)

ETA: we don’t buy much, but we have it all listed with receipts ready. If you are prepared, they may not even ask to see the stuff
 
you are so lucky in the south ! I heard from my friend that CBSA in Canada is horrible, they charge almost full sales tax (13%) even you declare honestly, only deduct $1000 CAD from your declaration amount.
If you are only charged sales tax that’s a great deal. They are not charging you the additional duty (3-12%)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Joeli7
you are so lucky in the south ! I heard from my friend that CBSA in Canada is horrible, they charge almost full sales tax (13%) even you declare honestly, only deduct $1000 CAD from your declaration amount.
Not my personal experience (and DH's) at Toronto though. Been fortunate to be waved through after declaring each time. At Terminal 1, it even appears like they don't really care. At Terminal 3, the officer did some checks (It appeared that was the first time he had heard of the brand) but eventually just let it go.
 
heard no tariff between EU and Canada they signed CETA years ago, but that does not mean in Canada Hermès will lower the price.

To my understanding, CETA has no impact on duty paid by Canadian travellers returning from Europe. It just makes it easier for some Canadian businesses to export to Europe.

So, it would not impact the duties required of an individual returning to Canada nor the cost for Hermes to sell products in Canada.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 880
Not my personal experience (and DH's) at Toronto though. Been fortunate to be waved through after declaring each time. At Terminal 1, it even appears like they don't really care. At Terminal 3, the officer did some checks (It appeared that was the first time he had heard of the brand) but eventually just let it go.
may I asked how much roughly been declared ? My friend declared around $15,000 CAD I remember she told me.
 
Last edited:
To my understanding, CETA has no impact on duty paid by Canadian travellers returning from Europe. It just makes it easier for some Canadian businesses to export to Europe.

So, it would not impact the duties required of an individual returning to Canada nor the cost for Hermes to sell products in Canada.
My friend confirmed it has impact.
 
Last edited:
Not to derail this thread which is titled "US airports..." Under CEUTA (which you can look up on line by type of goods) many products from the EU (& this includes Hermes silk carres - can't remember leather but the category is there) are duty exempt. But if you are over your personal exemption limit ($800 CAD pp) then you have to pay tax - GST (5%) + PST (province dependent) on the overage. I live in AB, where PST is 0%, so I pay only 5% (if I'm not waved through). This is my experience entering Canada from the EU at YYC, YVR, YYZ & YUL.
 
Not to derail this thread which is titled "US airports..." Under CEUTA (which you can look up on line by type of goods) many products from the EU (& this includes Hermes silk carres - can't remember leather but the category is there) are duty exempt. But if you are over your personal exemption limit ($800 CAD pp) then you have to pay tax - GST (5%) + PST (province dependent) on the overage. I live in AB, where PST is 0%, so I pay only 5% (if I'm not waved through). This is my experience entering Canada from the EU at YYC, YVR, YYZ & YUL.

Well, we agree on the most important thing - people should always go to the website and check for themselves. There is a duty estimater online that shows what does and does not apply.

Now, back to the US. Really sorry for taking this off track!
 
Last edited:
Landed in the US on Tuesday with a new Birkin, ~960 USD in other H purchases, and ~480 USD in skincare from City Pharma in Paris. Indicated I had items to declare, and led with the expensive handbag (the customs agent asked DH if it was a Louis Vuitton or something). I then pulled out the receipts for my other items and started to list those out, but he told me he wasn’t concerned about those, only the bag. Gave him the receipt for that purchase and he told me that while the applicable rate was usually 9%, he’d only charge me 3% of the value above our $1600 exemption. He didn’t ask to see the bag, though I was carrying it inside its box in a large white bag so it was pretty obvious I had something large with me in there. He said that while he could technically look through all our bags, he wouldn’t, but asked me if he would find anything else I hadn’t mentioned in there if he were to do so. He seemed pretty pleased I had declared and lectured me a bit on the importance of always doing it. Overall he was pretty pointed about getting across that he was making things easier for us since I had been upfront with him.
 
Landed in the US on Tuesday with a new Birkin, ~960 USD in other H purchases, and ~480 USD in skincare from City Pharma in Paris. Indicated I had items to declare, and led with the expensive handbag (the customs agent asked DH if it was a Louis Vuitton or something). I then pulled out the receipts for my other items and started to list those out, but he told me he wasn’t concerned about those, only the bag. Gave him the receipt for that purchase and he told me that while the applicable rate was usually 9%, he’d only charge me 3% of the value above our $1600 exemption. He didn’t ask to see the bag, though I was carrying it inside its box in a large white bag so it was pretty obvious I had something large with me in there. He said that while he could technically look through all our bags, he wouldn’t, but asked me if he would find anything else I hadn’t mentioned in there if he were to do so. He seemed pretty pleased I had declared and lectured me a bit on the importance of always doing it. Overall he was pretty pointed about getting across that he was making things easier for us since I had been upfront with him.
Happy birthday and congrats on a gorgeous bag- Vert Mangrove is beautiful and I'm sure, very versatile.
Of interest, which airport did you fly into? ( Boston?)
 
  • Love
Reactions: withsriracha
Top