US Customs discussion - airports, importing

[MmeM124]

My sister was pulled one time in Newark on our way back from Portugal. She had some food items she purchased in the airport they confiscated (we thought if purchased in the airport we were OK). They also confiscated a bag of almonds she brought with her FROM THE US. The guy gave us a stern lecture about food items. Ignored everything else.

I'm surprised they took away almonds! Usually you can bring in nuts and dried fruit, just not fresh. Maybe it depends on your origin flight?

A fun fact which may no longer be true but I remember a short segment video about the number one confiscated item at customs in America is fresh mangoes. Which tbf if you've eaten one from India/Asia before I 100000% understand why you'd try to bring them home, lol. The video showed them all being dumped into a giant food processor/grinder thing and destroyed

 

[textilegirl]

….. Under $800/person you are not taxed by the CBP.

I would double check this because the de minimus exception seems to be a moving target in terms of application and enforcement. I’m not certain that the ‘personal exemption’ is the same as the ‘de minimus exemption’ despite the fact that the number, $800, is identical but it would seem prudent to investigate before making any assumptions, especially since so much of what happens at the airport is subject to various interpretations.

 

[asatoasz]

FYI….the $800 exemption is ending:

The de minimis exemption for all countries is ending on August 29, 2025. After this date, goods valued at $800 or less will be subject to applicable duties, regardless of their origin.

Not sure what this will look like in US airports when returning from International travel….

 

[dreamlet]

FYI….the $800 exemption is ending:

The de minimis exemption for all countries is ending on August 29, 2025. After this date, goods valued at $800 or less will be subject to applicable duties, regardless of their origin.

Not sure what this will look like in US airports when returning from International travel….

AFAIK the de minimus exemption for shipments is different than the personal duty free exemption for residents returning to the US. Have you seen information indicating otherwise?

 

[sbelle]

AFAIK the de minimus exemption for shipments is different than the personal duty free exemption for residents returning to the US. Have you seen information indicating otherwise?

Agreed. From what I have read the $800 personal duty-free exemption for residents returning to the US will remain in effect. Hope that is true!

 

[asatoasz]

AFAIK the de minimus exemption for shipments is different than the personal duty free exemption for residents returning to the US. Have you seen information indicating otherwise?

Agreed. From what I have read the $800 personal duty-free exemption for residents returning to the US will remain in effect. Hope that is true!

I hope you’re both correct!

 

[MmeM124]

I hope you’re both correct!

This was my interpretation as well, but these days you never know!

 

[CTLover]

I'm surprised they took away almonds! Usually you can bring in nuts and dried fruit, just not fresh. Maybe it depends on your origin flight?

A fun fact which may no longer be true but I remember a short segment video about the number one confiscated item at customs in America is fresh mangoes. Which tbf if you've eaten one from India/Asia before I 100000% understand why you'd try to bring them home, lol. The video showed them all being dumped into a giant food processor/grinder thing and destroyed

When I was 8 or 9 years old I literally smuggled in two hermit crabs from off the beach in the Bahamas. My parents didn't even know I had them.

 

[cavalpha]

AFAIK the de minimus exemption for shipments is different than the personal duty free exemption for residents returning to the US. Have you seen information indicating otherwise?

Agreed. From what I have read the $800 personal duty-free exemption for residents returning to the US will remain in effect. Hope that is true!

I hope you’re both correct!

All of the above.
The de minimis exemption for import shipments is separate and different from the customs duty on personal goods brought or carried in by returning travelers. They just happen to be the same threshold amount of $800.
The former is for commercial shipments or imports into the country and can apply to goods for personal use and consumption a la retail sales in which case the importer is each of us individual purchasers. As of August 29, the $800 exemption disappears which means that in theory, every import no matter the stated purchase value will be subject to scrutiny by customs at the US entry point for payment of duty. In other words, potentially a nightmare scenario.

The $800 exemption for customs duty on personal goods acquired from abroad and brought back by returning residents is under a different reg and has not been tampered with. So, we are still looking at being able to deduct $800 per traveler from the total of what we bought.

I believe the open Q is either case is how much will the new tariffs add to duties.

 

[textilegirl]

All of the above.
The de minimis exemption for import shipments is separate and different from the customs duty on personal goods brought or carried in by returning travelers. They just happen to be the same threshold amount of $800.
The former is for commercial shipments or imports into the country and can apply to goods for personal use and consumption a la retail sales in which case the importer is each of us individual purchasers. As of August 29, the $800 exemption disappears which means that in theory, every import no matter the stated purchase value will be subject to scrutiny by customs at the US entry point for payment of duty. In other words, potentially a nightmare scenario.

The $800 exemption for customs duty on personal goods acquired from abroad and brought back by returning residents is under a different reg and has not been tampered with. So, we are still looking at being able to deduct $800 per traveler from the total of what we bought.

I believe the open Q is either case is how much will the new tariffs add to duties.

Thank you for clarifying although I wouldn’t be shocked if that changes in fact or in interpretation at customs.

 

[asatoasz]

All of the above.
The de minimis exemption for import shipments is separate and different from the customs duty on personal goods brought or carried in by returning travelers. They just happen to be the same threshold amount of $800.
The former is for commercial shipments or imports into the country and can apply to goods for personal use and consumption a la retail sales in which case the importer is each of us individual purchasers. As of August 29, the $800 exemption disappears which means that in theory, every import no matter the stated purchase value will be subject to scrutiny by customs at the US entry point for payment of duty. In other words, potentially a nightmare scenario.

The $800 exemption for customs duty on personal goods acquired from abroad and brought back by returning residents is under a different reg and has not been tampered with. So, we are still looking at being able to deduct $800 per traveler from the total of what we bought.

I believe the open Q is either case is how much will the new tariffs add to duties.

Thank you for the clarification!

 

[NewBe]

I’m wondering if anyone has shipped leather bag from France to US lately. Is the US duty still 9%?
And how about duty for cashmere clothings (ie skirt and sweater)?
TIA

 

[cavalpha]

Thank you for clarifying although I wouldn’t be shocked if that changes in fact or in interpretation at customs.

Exactimo, we still have to walk through the cr*p shoot of whose whim and fancy we get on the day we roll up to the line lol. Latest example for me and it was to my advantage I guess, was our officer at the booth decided his limit for me and DH would be $2000 and not $1600, go figure. This was SFO at end of June.

Actually, I do have a serious question of my own - has anyone come up against the 30 days restriction on claiming the $800 exemption?? Supposedly, you can only claim the exemption once every 30 days.
Asking because within this coming December, I will have 2 returns from Europe. I know they can know every re-entry you have made but I have no idea whether they have any other data points to enforce this restriction. 🤷‍♀️