What must you list on a customs form?

[denmarks]

It is my understanding that you must list items purchased in a foreign country. Stores on a ship indicate that they are duty free. That means that the cruise line did not have to pay any import duty and you must list the items on the customs form as though you purchased them in a foreign country.

 

What gets confusing is that some items came directly from the US and are technically not duty free. You are just bringing the items back into the US and there should be no duty.

 

How can you tell the difference and what must be listed on the customs form?

[klfrodo]

Anything and everything you purchase from the moment you step on the ship until you return and hand over your customs declaration form.

Your friends who work for CBP will determine for you if you owe any additional duty or taxes.

[sparks1093]

It is my understanding that you must list items purchased in a foreign country. Stores on a ship indicate that they are duty free. That means that the cruise line did not have to pay any import duty and you must list the items on the customs form as though you purchased them in a foreign country.

 

What gets confusing is that some items came directly from the US and are technically not duty free. You are just bringing the items back into the US and there should be no duty.

 

How can you tell the difference and what must be listed on the customs form?

 

There are two types of duty- import and export. Duty free stores sell items free of export duty. You are supposed to declare everything you purchased in a foreign port and are bringing back with you (or mailed back). Anything purchased that exceeds the duty free allowance amount is subject to duty if the CBP officer assesses it (they do have some latitude and will generally not worry about small amounts of duty). If an item says "made in the USA" than it is possible that this would be considered, but personally I would list it to be on the save side (of course we've never come close to exceeded the duty free allowance).

[Nic6318]

Better safe than sorry.

Declare everything you purchased when out of the country, let them know if you are unsure of something and they will let you know what you are allowed.

 

have a great cruise

[sail7seas]

If you spend beneath the duty free exemption limit on total of ALL purchases made while outside U.S., all you need to enter is the total amount of ALL purchases.

 

If you spend over your duty free exemption or have used your exemption within the last 30 days, you must list each item and the price you paid for it.

 

Some things may not be assessed a duty amount but CBP will determine that.

The worst thing you can do is not make a full and complete honest declaration. That can get you in a world of trouble.

[AKman2495]

If you spend beneath the duty free exemption limit on total of ALL purchases made while outside U.S., all you need to enter is the total amount of ALL purchases.

 

If you spend over your duty free exemption or have used your exemption within the last 30 days, you must list each item and the price you paid for it.

 

Some things may not be assessed a duty amount but CBP will determine that.

The worst thing you can do is not make a full and complete honest declaration. That can get you in a world of trouble.

 

That's true. On all the trips we've taken, we've always declared below the exemption and didn't list anything. No problems at all with that.

[sail7seas]

It states right on the Customs Declaration Form to itemize only if you go over the duty free exempt amount.

 

[Kamloops50]

Anything the you buy or are given as a present out of country must be declared . Casino winning must be declared as well.

If your entering Canada casino winnings don't need to be declared.

Alcohol and Tobacco products must be declared .

[SadieN]

We do not declare things purchased in a US state on a cruise, such as Alaska or California. But would list anything purchased onboard, from Canada or Mexico.

Edited October 27, 2015 by SadieN

[wwcruisers]

It states right on the Customs Declaration Form to itemize only if you go over the duty free exempt amount.

 

 

Hi SevenSeas! Early in our cruising days, that is exactly what we were told (by the folks at the Purser's Desk). But, even coming in well under the limit, we were frequently grilled by the US Customs folks about what we bought: Any jewelry? How much alcohol? etc. So -- out of an abundance of caution -- we now list everything on the back of the form, regardless. We pay special attention to alcohol, or any "big ticket" items. It may just be luck (or coincidence), but we find that they question us much less, since we've taken that approach. :cool:

[Keith1010]

It states right on the Customs Declaration Form to itemize only if you go over the duty free exempt amount.

 

 

This is not correct.

 

Actually you are to list all items you purchased on the back of the form. You can summarize them such as Jewelry x dollars, clothes, Y dollars.

 

As the bottom of the front of the form reads; Read the instructions on the back of the form. Space is provide to list all the items you must declare.

 

Keith

Edited October 27, 2015 by Keith1010

[NMLady]

Anything the you buy or are given as a present out of country must be declared . Casino winning must be declared as well.

If your entering Canada casino winnings don't need to be declared.

Alcohol and Tobacco products must be declared .

 

Casino winnings are not declared on a Customs form -- unless you are bringing more than $10,000 in cash into USA.

 

Casino winnings are an IRS matter, not a customs matter.

[NMLady]

It states right on the Customs Declaration Form to itemize only if you go over the duty free exempt amount.

 

 

Hmmm. Haven't seen a customs form recently saying that. Our customs form last April had us list all purchases. Didn't say anything about only if over exempt amount.

 

I lumped purchases together when listing so simply had souvenirs amount and jewelry amount. Total wasn't even $250 but I listed because the form said to.

[Kamloops50]

Casino winnings are not declared on a Customs form -- unless you are bringing more than $10,000 in cash into USA.

 

Casino winnings are an IRS matter, not a customs matter.

 

The custom form requires declaration of any amount of $10,000 or more be declared .

People entering Canada have to declare anything $5,000 or more.

[LHT28]

sample of form

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/sample-declaration-form

 

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/e311-eng.html

click on the link for the PDF file

 

<<<All travellers must be identified on a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Declaration Card. You may list up to four people living at the same address on one card. Each traveller is responsible for his or her own declaration. Each traveller is responsible for reporting currency and/or monetary instruments totaling CAN$10,000 or more that are in his or her actual possession or baggage. >>>

[slidergirl]

I have always "group" declared everything I am bringing home. By "group", I mean I'll put "clothing", "jewelry" "trinkets", "leather goods", etc., and put the amount of each. I add everything up from all my receipts and put down that exact amount. I do that more for chuckles than anything else. I have had a few CBP agents get a laugh when they see I've declared some odd amount like $723.84 ;-)

[xxoocruiser]

It should be noted the all cruise lines must report all passenger on board purchases of jewelry in excess of $800 electronically to US Customs even before the ship even docks to disembark passengers in a USA port.

 

The ship cannot begin to disembark passengers until US customs has come on board and interviews those passengers that they choose to interview even prior to them disembarking the ship.

Bottom line it's not worth iit to omitt such a large on board purchase as you may be selected to meet with customs even even prior disembarking from the ship.

Edited October 27, 2015 by xxoocruiser

[Keith1010]

It should be noted the all cruise lines must report all passenger on board purchases of jewelry in excess of $800 electronically to US Customs even before the ship even docks to disembark passengers in a USA port.

 

The ship cannot begin to disembark passengers until US customs has come on board and interviews those passengers that they choose to interview even prior to them disembarking the ship.

Bottom line it's not worth iit to omitt such a large on board purchase as you may be selected to meet with customs even even prior disembarking from the ship.

 

This applies to only those ships who end their voyages at a USA port.

 

Yes, always wise to be thorough and honestly claim all purchases that apply to this form.

 

Keith

Edited October 27, 2015 by Keith1010

[TC1957]

Actually, you don't HAVE to list anything. Of course, your visit with the authorities when you get off the ship might not be as pleasant as it would be otherwise.

 

On our last cruise we purchase a bunch of junk (don't ask why...can't answer that question) and did not list everything. When we got to that point I handed him everything just as my better half dropped her purse. Since she never zips it stuff went everywhere. While she was cramming things back in I handed the agent her stuff and he asked "What do you do for a living?" I said "I am an accountant and since she is engrossed in housekeeping I will tell you she works at the National Office of the Boy Scouts." He smirked, handed me everything back and said "Welcome home" and looked at the next person in line. :p

 

In a way I was almost offended.

[marco]

I guess if you're making some major purchase, you need to list it, but for several years now, we've just put down "$150-miscellaneous" and they sent us on our way. I guess if you are making a BIG purchase, and maybe owe duty, you;d have to list it, but when buying a few T-shirts, a rum cake, a straw hat and a set of coasters, they really don't care!

Edited October 27, 2015 by marco

[Keith1010]

You really should be a bit more specific; clothing, jewelry, etc.

 

Most times they will send you on your way but one time they won't and just best to take two more minutes and be a bit more descriptive.

 

Keith

[BeagleOne]

It states right on the Customs Declaration Form to itemize only if you go over the duty free exempt amount.

 

 

No, it doesn't. The front of the form has a box where you are to declare the total value of items purchased. The back of the form says, "Declare all articles that you have acquired abroad and are bringing into the United States" with space to list them.

[hancock]

My DH purchased a lovely piece of jewelry for me to celebrate our 40th anniversary/ We declared it on our customs form. When we went through customs, the agent went to check 'the list'. He was surprised to see that it hadn't been reported to customs by the jewelry store. Be aware that most of the jewerly purchase are reported to US Customs. Declare what you have purchased. The minor tax you might have to pay is a lot better than what it will cost if you try to slip something through customs and get caught.

[Underwatr]

It states right on the Customs Declaration Form to itemize only if you go over the duty free exempt amount.

 

Form 6059B says "U. S. Residents: Declare all articles that you have acquired abroad and are bringing in to the United States."

 

It used to say to only list items if above the exemption but that changed.

 

[ger_77]

We've never had to itemize any purchases - whether individually or as a group (jewelry, clothing, electronics, etc.). We simply have to indicate the amount, and check off whether or not any of the travelers in our party have exceeded their duty free limit. We only exceeded it one time and all we did was proceed to the cashier's desk with our receipts and pay a few dollars in duty. We always envied the higher limits our neighbours to the south had for duty-free items, but when it came to paying extra, it really didn't amount to much.

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

Gerry