Do You Have to Pay Tariffs on Souvenirs?
Tariffs have been in the news lately, and the cost of products has been a hot topic. And while we know that goods coming in from countries worldwide may be tariffed before they can be put on the shelves and sold in stores and online, what about personal items you buy while visiting one of these tariffed countries? Will the cuckoo clock you pick up in Germany also be subject to them upon arrival in the U.S.? And what about duty-free shopping? We’ve got the answers to all of your travel tariff questions.
-
Duty-Free Allowances for U.S. Travelers
-
Items That May Be Tariffed or Restricted
-
Declaring Your Souvenirs
-
Tips To Avoid Surprise Tariffs
-
Tariffs and Souvenirs At a Glance
- General Allowance
Travelers can bring back up to $800 worth of goods duty-free. - Alcohol and Tobacco Limits
- 1 liter of alcohol (must be 21 or older).
- 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars.
- Declare Your Souvenirs and Be Honest
- Educate Yourself on Tariffs and Duties
Before you panic about buying a sweatshirt or that gorgeous bracelet, I’m here to tell you that most likely you won’t have to pay anything extra for your souvenirs. For the most part, none of these rules have changed since the current administration took over. U.S. customs will allow you to bring back $800 worth of goods without paying anything extra. You can also bring back 1 litre of alcohol, and 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars. If you want to mail something to yourself because you don’t have room in your luggage, you can send anything up to $100 USD in a single day. So, if you have $200 worth of things to mail, split them into separate packages and send them on different days. These rules apply to things you get while out and about on your travels and anything you buy at the duty-free shop at the airport or other border. (Duty-free shops are still selling duty-free items.)
Of course, there is an exception to every rule. But again, most of these rules were already in place before the tariffs were enforced. If you exceed the alcohol and tobacco allowance, you will likely have to pay duty and tax. Certain food products and other goods cannot be brought into the U.S. If you buy anything that exceeds the $800 limit, you will be subject to a duty and tax, so think twice about purchasing that luxury bag while in Italy.
All items bought abroad must be declared to avoid penalties. Failure to declare can result in fines and seizures of goods. Be sure to keep your receipts, and be honest on your declaration sheet upon returning to the United States.
A general rule of thumb is to research before you travel and understand the customs regulations of the countries you visit.
There are tools out there to help you better prepare, like this Tariff Calculator or the SimplyDuty Import Calculator . Mobile apps can also help make your return home smoother, like the CBP Mobile Passport Control. Utilizing these apps before you return home will give you a clearer idea if you’ll be paying any extra duties or taxes.
For the most part, the new tariffs should not impact your return home. Here is what you need to remember: