Itemizing Purchases on U.S. Customs Form
 

I flew back to the U.S. on Thursday, arriving at DFW as my first port of call. There was a long line for customs (post baggage claim) and the agents were scrutinizing everyone's form very closely.

I noted that my purchases outside the U.S. totaled $10, but did not list the purchase (a small stuffed camel) on the back of the form. My understanding is that as long as you are below the limit on which duty is imposed, there is no need to list your purchases. The agent looking over my form asked me what I purchased (no big deal) and then told me that I needed to note it on the back of the form. I responded that I thought that was only if you exceed the free limit and she said, you must do it for all purchases.

I've entered the U.S. dozens of times, always with purchases well under the duty threshold, have never itemized and have never once been told that I needed to by any customs agent.

Have I been doing it wrong all this time?

Thanks!

I usually list things by groups: "Books," "Clothing," etc. The important thing is to make sure you can fit everything on one form.

In my recollection, that's what the form says--just list if you're over. But I always list anyway. I tend to bring in stuff way below the limit (like you, $10 worth of stuff) and so I list it because I want to send the message that I'm not hiding anything.

I just say souvenirs and alcohol. If i bought tobacco I'd list that separately as well.

Last week on the front I put $100 and on the back I put souvenirs $80, alcohol $20.

I have NEVER once itemized my stuff although I rarely bring back anything of significance. I just write $20 on the front of the form as a catchall for anything I may have and never write anything on the back. I leave it completely blank. Even on being secondaried a number of times where I had cigarettes and alcohol but nothing over the limit and nothing itemized, they have never said a word about it so I assume it is fine and whether it is technically correct or not, I've done it that way on over a hundred international arrivals and never had an issue so I will continue to do unless it creates an issue. I'd say the OP just got a wannabe bossy Customs agent and even then nothing came of it so I wouldn't worry about it or change anything myself.

I never do it, just listing the stuff that I have to declare and it may have duty associated with it. Only once (maybe it was the same person) did anybody say anything about it insisting that everything has to be listed.

The form itself is confusing, the instruction for the front says something like additional space on the back, if needed, but the instructions on the back says to declare everything (something like that).

I itemize everything, and the CBP officer always asks.

I check "no" to the $10K question, and the CBP officer always asks.

Etc.

:rolleyes:

The only time the form is actually read is when I check yes to anything or note extras like when I am carrying (doctor prescribed) narcotics.

I have been asked what I have bought outside the country but I have neve once filled out the back of the form. I too was under the impression the back is only if you are over the free allowance. I dont read that form much though as I am usually all jacked up on wine and xanax when I fill it out. :D

For those of you with a much longer list of items than the official form permits and especially if over-limit, here's a strategy I've used in the past, with great success at multiple US points of entry:

The night before your return trip to the USA, when doing final packing, take a clean sheet of paper, have a list of columns as follows:
Item, Country of Origin, Cost (Local), Cost (USD Equiv), Handmade/Exempt.
Then do your little matrix by suitcase-by-suitcase (or box by box). The last column is useful if your trip included a lot of purchases in this category that are not dutiable under US regulations, such as handmade crafts, artwork, books, etc. I fill in the last column Yes/No. At the bottom, do the USD Total and then the USD Dutiable Total (minus exempt items). Even on a heavy purchase trip, this usually takes me less than 1/2 hour. Along with all the receipts you can muster, keep this manifest handy with your travel docs. When you get the official US Customs form, fill in subtotals as general categories: "souvenirs" "household" "jewelry" etc. and then add "see attached for detail."

Hand the official form in at the exit. If you get sent to secondary (or get directed there before you make it to the exit checkpoint), have your own manifest ready. Whenever I've been sent to additional search (or self-declared Red Channel in the days when that used to exist at some locations, when I was overlimit), I've handed form plus neatly handwritten detail to the Customs Officer. After looking both over, they ALWAYS quickly signed off without demanding a luggage hand-search, waived the duties (usually was under $50 due) and sent me to the exit. When I asked why, they all said that they never worry about people who have such a detailed manifest, as they tend to faithfully record exactly what's in the luggage. (Note this was for returning US citizen, carrying no food items that might trigger a beagle alert---YMMV if you are foreigner or carrying food/agri products).