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ACCORDING TO HOMELAND SECURITY

Duty-Free Exemption

(08/21/2009)The duty-free exemption, also called the personal exemption, is the total value of merchandise you may bring back to the United States without having to pay duty. You may bring back more than your exemption, but you will have to pay duty on it. In most cases, the personal exemption is $800, but there are some exceptions to this rule, which are explained below.

 

Joint Declaration
Family members who live in the same home and return together to the United States may combine their personal exemptions. This is called a joint declaration. For example, if Mr. and Mrs. Smith travel overseas and Mrs. Smith brings home a $1,000 piece of glassware, and Mr. Smith buys $600 worth of clothing, they can combine their individual $800 exemptions on a joint declaration and not have to pay duty.

 

Children and infants are allowed the same exemption as adults, except for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.

 

Don't forget that the best way to travel is to contact your professional travel consultant before you make your plans so that you can be aware of all of the changes that are coming your way.   Our agents are constantly in training to keep up with the industry trends, so call us today.

Patricia Bannister, owner of Bannister Travel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exemptions
Depending on the countries you have visited, your personal exemption will be $200, $800, or $1,600. There are limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products you may include in your duty-free personal exemption. The differences are explained in the following section.

 

The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1,600) apply if:

 

 

  • The items are for your personal or household use or intended to be given as gifts.
  • They are in your possession, that is, they accompany you when you return to the United States. Items to be sent later may not be included in your $800 duty-free exemption. (Exceptions apply for goods sent from Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
  • They are declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting it. If in doubt, declare it.
  • You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours. For example, if you leave the United States at 1:30 p.m. on June 1, you would complete the 48-hour period at 1:30 p.m. on June 3. This time limit does not apply if you are returning from Mexico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • You have not used all of your exemption allowance, or used any part of it, in the past 30 days. For example, if you go to England and bring back $150 worth of items, you must wait another 30 days before you are allowed another $800 exemption.
  • The items are not prohibited or restricted as discussed in the section on Prohibited and Restricted Items. Note the embargo prohibitions on products of Cuba.

  • Is Travel Slowing Down?

    12/30/20085:19:20 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    Is The Economy Slowing Down Travel?

    The biggest question in the travel industry right now is whether travel is slowing down or if our clients are still traveling.

    I can tell you that Bannister Travel's clients are still traveling.  Just because money is tight doesn't mean we have to stop traveling.  If you are used to flying somewhere on vacation, try going on a cruise out of a port that you can drive from.  Not purchasing airfare can save you a lot of money and with the money you save, you can upgrade to a balcony from an interior stateroom and have money left over.

    In our area, we have Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, LA, and Gaveston, TX which are all within driving distance from the Mid-South area.

    Our clients are taking 4, 5 and 7 day cruises out of these ports.  We have 2 large group that is going out of New Orleans in January and another that is going out in February.  Going in a group will help keep your costs down as well. 

    If you don't like cruising, you can drive to Nashville, St. Louis, Atlanta, Birmingham, Panama City, Branson, Gatlinburg, and any number of other places where you can have a great vacation and save that airfare money for something else.

    Is the economy down?  You bet it is.  Does that have to change your vacation plans?  Maybe a little, but at Bannister Travel, we are finding ways for our clients to have a great vacation with family and/or friends while staying within a budget that the clients set.

    Call one of our agents today and let them help you plan a vacation.  You can find them listed under "About Us" on our website.

    Patricia Bannister, owner of Bannister Travel, 662-288-9052

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According to Homeland Security: Duty-Free Exemption The duty-free exemption, also called the personal exemption, is the total value of merchandise you may bring back to the United States without having to pay duty. You may bring back more than your exemption, but you will have to pay duty on it. In most cases, the personal exemption is $800, but there are some exceptions to this rule, which are explained below. Exemptions Depending on the countries you have visited, your personal exemption will be $200, $800, or $1,600. There are limits on the amount of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products you may include in your duty-free personal exemption. The differences are explained in the following section. The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1,600) apply if: The items are for your personal or household use or intended to be given as gifts. They are in your possession, that is, they accompany you when you return to the United States. Items to be sent later may not be included in your $800 duty-free exemption. (Exceptions apply for goods sent from Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.) They are declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting it. If in doubt, declare it. You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours. For example, if you leave the United States at 1:30 p.m. on June 1, you would complete the 48-hour period at 1:30 p.m. on June 3. This time limit does not apply if you are returning from Mexico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands. You have not used all of your exemption allowance, or used any part of it, in the past 30 days. For example, if you go to England and bring back $150 worth of items, you must wait another 30 days before you are allowed another $800 exemption. The items are not prohibited or restricted as discussed in the section on Prohibited and Restricted Items. Note the embargo prohibitions on products of Cuba. For more information, please see the Types of Exemptions page. ( Types of Exemptions ) Joint Declaration Family members who live in the same home and return together to the United States may combine their personal exemptions. This is called a joint declaration. For example, if Mr. and Mrs. Smith travel overseas and Mrs. Smith brings home a $1,000 piece of glassware, and Mr. Smith buys $600 worth of clothing, they can combine their individual $800 exemptions on a joint declaration and not have to pay duty. Children and infants are allowed the same exemption as adults, except for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
  
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