Our Blog

BANNISTER TRAVEL BLOG

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.

  • American Airlines to Charge for 1st checked bag.

    5/22/200811:35:16 AM Link 0 comments | Add comment

    It was reported yesterday that American Airlines is going to start charging for the 1st bag checked at the airport.  This is going to force everyone to take as much carry on luggage as possible to keep from checking any luggage.

    This doesn't make much sense as we are now going to carry on two bags instead of the one that we might have carried on in the past.  What are we going to do with this extra  luggage?  Where are we going to put it?  There certainly isn't any room for additional luggage in the overhead compartments, and the space under the seat in front of you isn't large enough to hold much.  It won't even hold my laptop case.

    When I travel on a teaching assignment, I have to carry paperwork, laptop, gadgets, camera, camcorder, etc., so my laptop case is too large to fit.  Therefore, it is considered my carry on bag.  Now, I will have to leave the purse at home, carry a small purse that will fit into one of my bags, and carry the laptop case, and a small piece of luggage with me.

    I will not fly American as I have to have something to put my clothes in.  I am leaving on NW airlines on the 23rd, and I have the 1 bag allowed, all of my teaching materials in a laptop bag, and a small bag that contains medicines, a change of clothes, medicines, jewelry, etc, as well as what is going to serve as a purse while I am away.  I am going on a teaching gig onboard a 7 day roundtrip cruise to Alaska.  What is the temp. you might ask.  Who knows?  I have short sleeves, long sleeves, a jacket, and 2 formal outfits as well as teaching clothes, gad about clothes, and shoes, makeup, curling iron, hair spray, and the list just goes on.  How did I get it all in one bag and a small carry on?  I have no idea, but I do know that it is done.

    American Airlines can keep their seats.  It is difficult enough to pack for a 7 day trip.  Bless your heart if you want to go on that wonderful 14 day Mediterranian Cruise that Royal Caribbean offers.

    By the way.  You might be interested to know that it is cheaper for your bag to be overweight than it is to pay for an extra bag on those airlines that allow you to check just one bag.

Add Comment
Name
Comment

Archives

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.
  
Online Agency Travel Websites