US Customs discussion - airports, importing

[880]

the duty charges (% on the amount exceeding our allowance) seem quite random based on their mood.

I honestly think it depends on their math skills. (I’m not trying to throw shade; my own math is terrible)

@FrenchNewbie ,
I’ve always been told no problem shipping RTW, home, mainly anything (I assume not bags unless you are a client of long standing or vip). My FSH SA offered to ship most recently in Feb 2025. Normally, you pay listed duty (are not given a break as you might get by a customs agent at the airport). A higher duty is assessed with fabric blend RTW fyi.

But this was before the tariff stuff. I thought I read somewhere tha5 DHL was pausing shipments of a certain amount to private residences or there was a new de minimus of 2500 usd, but no doubt I’m completely confused.

ETA: @stupidolive , re your post below. I’ve been asked re RTW composition, but no one has ever physically asked to see a sweater or pants. Even getting VAT back at CdG, once they see the bag, they’re like, okay, you’re good to go. But of course, everyone’s experience varies.

 

[880]

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[stupidolive]

I honestly think it depends on their math skills. (I’m not trying to throw shade; my own math is terrible)

@FrenchNewbie ,
I’ve always been told no problem shipping RTW, home, mainly anything (I assume not bags unless you are a client of long standing or vip). My FSH SA offered to ship most recently in Feb 2025. Normally, you pay listed duty (are not given a break as you might get by a customs agent at the airport). A higher duty is assessed with fabric blend RTW fyi.

But this was before the tariff stuff. I thought I read somewhere tha5 DHL was pausing shipments of a certain amount to private residences or there was a new de minimus of 2500 usd, but no doubt I’m completely confused.

Well unless they really check material of each item to compute correctly the duty on each item, I am pretty sure they just take an average rate… and what’s that rate we don’t know

 

[NanaEvie]

Just flew in to EWR from Rome. Declared $8k in leather goods. Charged a flat 3% after $1,600 deduction for my husband and myself. When I was scanning my Global Blue items at the airport in Rome, the gentleman assisting just scanned my passport and up came my purchases. When I told the Customs Officer that I saw my purchases linked to my passport he said he wasn’t going to deny that it wasn’t true.

 

[stupidolive]

Just flew in to EWR from Rome. Declared $8k in leather goods. Charged a flat 3% after $1,600 deduction for my husband and myself. When I was scanning my Global Blue items at the airport in Rome, the gentleman assisting just scanned my passport and up came my purchases. When I told the Customs Officer that I saw my purchases linked to my passport he said he wasn’t going to deny that it wasn’t true.

you meant that you saw the purchases link in the screen at custom in the US? i could never see their monitor

 

[DME]

Just flew in to EWR from Rome. Declared $8k in leather goods. Charged a flat 3% after $1,600 deduction for my husband and myself. When I was scanning my Global Blue items at the airport in Rome, the gentleman assisting just scanned my passport and up came my purchases. When I told the Customs Officer that I saw my purchases linked to my passport he said he wasn’t going to deny that it wasn’t true.

Oh, that’s good to know! I had no idea that purchases would come up with a passport scan. Makes sense, since you need the passport to buy, but…

 

[NanaEvie]

you meant that you saw the purchases link in the screen at custom in the US? i could never see their monitor

It showed up on the screen at the Global Blue Kiosk where they just scanned my passport. They never scanned the forms. As soon as my passport was scanned, it brought up my purchases. Your passport is definitely linked to your purchases and the customs official basically confirmed it. I always declare even if it means I am spending a little more time at the airport upon arrival. I paid about $185.00 or so in duty and for me that’s nothing compared to risking my Global Entry and all the fines if I got caught trying to go through without declaring. I looked up one of my purchases today and I saved close to 1k on that one alone so it was totally worth it.

 

[stupidolive]

It showed up on the screen at the Global Blue Kiosk where they just scanned my passport. They never scanned the forms. As soon as my passport was scanned, it brought up my purchases. Your passport is definitely linked to your purchases and the customs official basically confirmed it. I always declare even if it means I am spending a little more time at the airport upon arrival. I paid about $185.00 or so in duty and for me that’s nothing compared to risking my Global Entry and all the fines if I got caught trying to go through without declaring. I looked up one of my purchases today and I saved close to 1k on that one alone so it was totally worth it.

i agree about declaring. I agree that the Global Blue scanning passports will show all the purchases. I just don't know how it shows in the US side. I only know that when I declared, they just asked me what I bought and the amount (and just got one of my receipts for the largest amount).

 

[Build-a-B-K-collection]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could help me with this question.

We may be moving from UK to Chicago for work.

Naturally, I will bring my personal possessions.

Will I need to declare my H bags even if I am not a USA resident.

My plan is to give it 2 years and decide afterwards whether I stay or come back to UK 🇬🇧

Thankyou for your insight !

 

[OnlyModa]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could help me with this question.

We may be moving from UK to Chicago for work.

Naturally, I will bring my personal possessions.

Will I need to declare my H bags even if I am not a USA resident.

My plan is to give it 2 years and decide afterwards whether I stay or come back to UK 🇬🇧

Thankyou for your insight !

I assume you own these bags already. You only need to declare purchases made on a trip

 

[A1aGypsy]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone could help me with this question.

We may be moving from UK to Chicago for work.

Naturally, I will bring my personal possessions.

Will I need to declare my H bags even if I am not a USA resident.

My plan is to give it 2 years and decide afterwards whether I stay or come back to UK 🇬🇧

Thankyou for your insight !

You will need to declare your items, I believe. They can make you pay duty but it is usually unlikely.

CBP Customer Service

 

[Build-a-B-K-collection]

I assume you own these bags already. You only need to declare purchases made on a trip

Yes I own these items now. I’ve been purchasing H and designer items for over 15 years so it’s a lot I have.

As I’m calculating our moving costs last night and I read this page for some reason so then it made me ask the question.

 

[mcmug17]

i agree about declaring. I agree that the Global Blue scanning passports will show all the purchases. I just don't know how it shows in the US side. I only know that when I declared, they just asked me what I bought and the amount (and just got one of my receipts for the largest amount).

@NanaEvie never said it showed up on the US screen. She just told the US officer what she saw in Rome, and the US officer didn’t confirm what he knew or didn’t knew…

That’s how I interpreted it.

 

[Bdbunny]

Just flew in to EWR from Rome. Declared $8k in leather goods. Charged a flat 3% after $1,600 deduction for my husband and myself. When I was scanning my Global Blue items at the airport in Rome, the gentleman assisting just scanned my passport and up came my purchases. When I told the Customs Officer that I saw my purchases linked to my passport he said he wasn’t going to deny that it wasn’t true.

I had the same experience coming back from Italy. The Global Blue kiosk was different than the ones in Paris CDG. Upon scanning my passport, my purchases showed up automatically without having to scan the VAT form.

 

[stupidolive]

I had the same experience coming back from Italy. The Global Blue kiosk was different than the ones in Paris CDG. Upon scanning my passport, my purchases showed up automatically without having to scan the VAT form.

in April when I flew out of CDG, Pablo kiosks scanned my passport and all purchases showed up....