Originally Posted by
Landing Gear
No, not at all. I am quite willing to pay whatever duty is assessed.
When I got backed from France in April, I was $800 over my exemption and they asked me for nothing. My questions come down to things:
1. Is there any possibility that Customs would let you "skate" on a $5,000 watch?
2. If not, how much will the duty be?
So, I think the officers have pretty broad discretion.
(anecdotal data point)
Three years ago, I bought my wife $4500 worth of diamond jewelry in Amsterdam for her birthday and declared at full value. The conversation went like
Officer: That's pretty expensive jewelry.
Me: Wife's birthday
He looks at her passport and says Oh, I see. Special one. Welcome home, and happy birthday.
I don't know what the rate would have been, but I had brought my checkbook because I read somewhere that not all POE's will take CC for duty.