What to expect from Customs when bringing back a $5,000 watch?
Aug 9, 2019, 6:23 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
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What to expect from Customs when bringing back a $5,000 watch?
[Apologies if this is the wrong forum. If so, mods, please move.]
Travel companion wants to buy a Cartier watch while in Europe. All will be in order. Everything will be declared.
Based upon your recent experience, how likely is Customs to charge duty on this watch? If they do, what is the rate?
Travel companion wants to buy a Cartier watch while in Europe. All will be in order. Everything will be declared.
Based upon your recent experience, how likely is Customs to charge duty on this watch? If they do, what is the rate?
Aug 9, 2019, 9:12 pm
#2
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
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Posts: 11,004
Duty is 3%
[Apologies if this is the wrong forum. If so, mods, please move.]
Travel companion wants to buy a Cartier watch while in Europe. All will be in order. Everything will be declared.
Based upon your recent experience, how likely is Customs to charge duty on this watch? If they do, what is the rate?
Travel companion wants to buy a Cartier watch while in Europe. All will be in order. Everything will be declared.
Based upon your recent experience, how likely is Customs to charge duty on this watch? If they do, what is the rate?
Aug 9, 2019, 9:41 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New York City/NY22
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Posts: 5,285
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?
Aug 9, 2019, 10:00 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,454
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?
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?
(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.
Aug 9, 2019, 10:03 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
I was informally told by a customs agent that they use their discretion up to $1000 over.
When I have returned with over that amount my receipts have been examined — but what I brought in was not subject to duties so it was an administrative process with nothing payable.
Duties are complicated because of classification —for watches it has to do with precious metals, movement etc.
There are online duty calculators —but now sure how accurate they are.
When I have returned with over that amount my receipts have been examined — but what I brought in was not subject to duties so it was an administrative process with nothing payable.
Duties are complicated because of classification —for watches it has to do with precious metals, movement etc.
There are online duty calculators —but now sure how accurate they are.
Aug 10, 2019, 4:46 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
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I will never be in the postion of affording a $5000 watch, but couldn't your traveling companion simply wear the watch? I understand the ethical need to pay duty on alcohol, tobacco and other products, but this is something you wear. It's not a consumable product. Should duty be payable on what is simply an accessory? Just askin'
Aug 10, 2019, 5:36 am
#8
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I will never be in the postion of affording a $5000 watch, but couldn't your traveling companion simply wear the watch? I understand the ethical need to pay duty on alcohol, tobacco and other products, but this is something you wear. It's not a consumable product. Should duty be payable on what is simply an accessory? Just askin'
Last edited by Low Roller; Aug 10, 2019 at 5:56 am
Aug 10, 2019, 5:49 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: BA
Posts: 65
From within Europe you shouldn't need to pay duty anyway - From the GOV website
You do not pay duty or tax on goods you bring in from the European Union(EU) as long as you:
You do not pay duty or tax on goods you bring in from the European Union(EU) as long as you:
- transport them yourself
- will use them yourself or give them away as a gift
- have paid duty and tax in the country where you bought them
Aug 10, 2019, 6:01 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Prince Edward Island
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Are those the rules for within Europe (you don't say which government website)? If so, I'm pretty sure the OP is talking about bringing the watch from Europe to the US, so US customs rules would apply.
Aug 10, 2019, 6:49 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2018
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Aug 10, 2019, 7:36 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Paying the duty
I have brought back and paid the duty on a $5000 watch. After all of the calculations done by the Custom’s officer, the final cost was about 1/2% extra.
I felt that given the discount I received at the time of the sale payment of what would be a very low sales tax was still a really good deal.
The total duty was around $30.
Am I really going to try and cheat the system for that amount of money?
I felt that given the discount I received at the time of the sale payment of what would be a very low sales tax was still a really good deal.
The total duty was around $30.
Am I really going to try and cheat the system for that amount of money?
Aug 10, 2019, 7:56 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
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I have imported a fair number things into the US. The harmonized tariff schedule is on line: https://hts.usitc.gov. Do a search under wrist watch and you should get to the heading for 9101. From there you will need to figure out the correct sub-heading and Stat. Suffix. But my initial read would that one could expect to pay 3.1% of the value. If they know exactly which watch they will be buying one can call the customs office and ask for a specific reading. They are quite helpful. I do this to verify duty and then print the appropriate pages for the goods. This helps whether the item is being shipped or hand carried into the US. because the customs office has the duty right there in front of them. This is especially helpful when there is no duty.
Of course given they are bringing the item in themselves, I would declare it, but then let the Customs office decide if they want to collect the duty. I.e. have the duty paper work ready to verify the correct duty is being applied (i.e. Customs may charge less or nothing). Also when declaring the item make sure one writes down the value - not the price paid as that would include the VAT. Finally make sure when leaving the country there is time to find and wait in line to have the VAT paper work stamped at the airport.
Of course given they are bringing the item in themselves, I would declare it, but then let the Customs office decide if they want to collect the duty. I.e. have the duty paper work ready to verify the correct duty is being applied (i.e. Customs may charge less or nothing). Also when declaring the item make sure one writes down the value - not the price paid as that would include the VAT. Finally make sure when leaving the country there is time to find and wait in line to have the VAT paper work stamped at the airport.
Aug 10, 2019, 8:10 am
#15
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Apart from any duty which might be owed, the OP should be aware that, if he resides in a state with a sales tax, he might owe a compensating use tax in an amount equal to the sales tax. U.S. Customs will make customs declarations available to state tax authorities:
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...imported-goods
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...imported-goods