US Customs discussion - airports, importing

[Capitaliste]

That's a good point @mmvv22!

@Capitaliste just wondering what your experience with customs was like upon re-entry back to the U.S.? What did you pay for duty? Was a it flat fee or was it specific to the item, like 9% for your Kelly messenger. If so, you should adjust that from the savings of the bag in your cost analysis. Btw what is the duty for porcelain items anyways? I once ordered porcelain from Paris but I cannot remember what I was charged for duty. Did they tack on any additional tariffs? Thanks for sharing!

I have never paid anything. So, I wasn't sure why the "customs" things are a big deal for some TPFers... Or, I think I am purely lucky..

I do have a "global entry" access, but they always have asked me to go to a different line (meaning, the officers have always asked me questions, etc.). There, I answered honestly and moved on without having to pay for duty, etc. Hope this helps.

 

[step2005]

Flew in from Paris to JFK. Not on GE (but looking into it!). Immediately told customs I had purchases to declare, was taken to back room. Officer asked to see all my receipts (5), did some math on a post-it, and decided he would charge 3% of the largest 2 items, shown in euro. He said he could have charged me 9% of the total spent converted in USD, but he that 'he was doing me a favor' and 'giving me a break'. Not complaining, he was nice and easy, but the entire process is so arbitrary!

Update to add that they said cashier was 'on break' so I would receive bill in the mail. Still nothing. Fully prepared to pay the 143$ they said I owed but starting to think it was a just a show.

 

[Bdbunny]

I have never paid anything. So, I wasn't sure why the "customs" things are a big deal for some TPFers... Or, I think I am purely lucky..

I do have a "global entry" access, but they always have asked me to go to a different line (meaning, the officers have always asked me questions, etc.). There, I answered honestly and moved on without having to pay for duty, etc. Hope this helps.

Well the "customs thing" is a big deal because it is the law lol. I don't want to get fined or have my global entry access revoked, or worse, have my items confiscated.

And yes, sounds like if you have been declaring all your purchases from Paris and Asia every time you travel several times a year, but yet have never had to pay duty, you are indeed very "lucky"!

 

[authenticbbq]

I have never paid anything. So, I wasn't sure why the "customs" things are a big deal for some TPFers... Or, I think I am purely lucky..

I do have a "global entry" access, but they always have asked me to go to a different line (meaning, the officers have always asked me questions, etc.). There, I answered honestly and moved on without having to pay for duty, etc. Hope this helps.

As @Bdbunny greatly put, it is the law. Like a lot of legal things, it's self-report or get in trouble (e.g. taxes).

That being said, IME most of the time the global entry officers at immigration will wave me through even when I tell them I have items to declare (imo they always seem to be in a rush to wave people through and are annoyed when I tell them I have stuff to declare). For me, it's always finding and declaring to the CBP officers at baggage claim/exit where they take it more seriously (and generally, start flagging down other people they suspect are not going to declare). So just another data point on where in the immigration process you can declare if you're unsure.

Technically, you haven't committed the crime of not paying a duty until you exit so the exit is where they tend to hang out and pull people to pay duties from what I've seen.

ETA: If you watch To Catch a Smuggler (on Disney+), it follows CBP officers. Occasionally, they show some where they grill citizens about not declaring and threaten to confiscate their goods (most of the show is about catching drug smuggling though).

 

[asatoasz]

Has anyone ever been through this process as a US Citizen and have your passport withheld from you until you pay the cashier? The agent walked away multiple times and I was terrified I wouldn’t get it back

Yes, every time, every airport (SEA, JFK, BOS). The agent has held onto my passport and I received it at the payment counter.

 

[textilegirl]

As @Bdbunny greatly put, it is the law. Like a lot of legal things, it's self-report or get in trouble (e.g. taxes).

That being said, IME most of the time the global entry officers at immigration will wave me through even when I tell them I have items to declare (imo they always seem to be in a rush to wave people through and are annoyed when I tell them I have stuff to declare). For me, it's always finding and declaring to the CBP officers at baggage claim/exit where they take it more seriously (and generally, start flagging down other people they suspect are not going to declare). So just another data point on where in the immigration process you can declare if you're unsure.

Technically, you haven't committed the crime of not paying a duty until you exit so the exit is where they tend to hang out and pull people to pay duties from what I've seen.

ETA: If you watch To Catch a Smuggler (on Disney+), it follows CBP officers. Occasionally, they show some where they grill citizens about not declaring and threaten to confiscate their goods (most of the show is about catching drug smuggling though).

I agree, I’ve had both the wave through and the grilling although I’ve never had to open packages/bags. I’ve always had a list, and that has seemed to help when the officer just wants to cut to the chase and either waive me through or pick a number.

As @Bdbunny, @QuelleFromage and others have said, unless you’re up for drama and potentially serious consequences it’s better to declare, be waived through, and consider yourself lucky, or to pay what you are required by law to pay, than to risk what may happen if you don’t declare. JMO, but every time I’ve done the math the end result seems to pale in comparison with what’s at stake. I don’t think any of that analysis has changed even under the new tariff rules since you always have the option not to make the purchase in the first place. Again, JMO 💐