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ACCORDING TO HOMELAND SECURITY
Duty-Free Exemption Joint Declaration Children and infants are allowed the same exemption as adults, except for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
(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.
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.
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.
Travel Insurance
9/24/20083:59:20 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment
Do you need Travel Insurance? Check with your health care providor and see if you are covered for medical expenses incurred outside the continental United States. If they say yes, have them fax you a copy of that page of your policy so that you have it in writting.
If not, contact me so that I can send you the information that you need to have to make a good decision about what you need.
Do you have pre-existing conditions that need to be covered? Do you know that you can be covered for as little as $50 and msot people don't pay over $150 no matter what kind of insurance they get.
It is always better to be sure, so check with your providor before you travel anywhere. If you go to the Grand Canyon and climb rocks, or if you go skiing in Colorado Springs, you may not be covered because it is consdiered a sports injury and many insurance policies don't cover that.
Just be sure. Please.
