Declaring camera on Arrival
 

Hi,
I am traveling to the phillipines in the recent weeks out of LAX-my question is do i have to decalre my camera upon departue and arrival at coustoms?
Will i have to pay taxes on bring my camera to the phillipines and back?
I am a US citizen if that helps.
I am traveling to LAX to Manila in the phillipines.
And if anyone has flowien this route with phillipine airlines woul;d you be able to tell me if they allow the use to cameras on board?
Thanks a bunch

I haven't done this in ages, so someone correct me if the policy has changed.

If you're starting from the US where you have a camera or other items of value, I believe you have to swing by US Customs before the day of your trip. You have to fill out a form, declaring the item. Then, they stamp it. Carry that form with you on your trip, so you don't get ding on the way back.

Could i fill this form out about a week before i go?
And this may be a stupid question but coustoms is only located at airports right?

I have never had a problem taking camera gear out of and returning it to the states (never to Philippines) I would recommend keeping a list of all of the items you are taking with serial numbers, leave a copy with someone in the states. That gives you some level of backup in case they ask you and is also handy if you get ripped off while traveling.

Where would i get the serial numbers-coustoms?
So bqasicly all thing that i bring that are of value i have to regester it?

Consider taking your receipt with you, which shows that you purchased it in the US. Same thing for any (other) high value electronics or items.

US Customs is not only just located at the airports.

The serial # is on your camera or some other valuables, such as watches.

If you're planning to bring a lot of stuff back, I'd register items of value before going unless you want to run the risk of being charge when you get back.

I have never encountered any hassles at customs bringing cameras and laptops during multiple travel occassions and back into the country and I never bring the receipts with me.

What should happen should you loose the receipt or no longer have it. Should customs also question you whether or not all the clothes in your luggages were purchased overseas? Should you also bring a copy of the receipt for each piece of clothing in the luggage? :rolleyes:

What would happen if i dont have the reciet?

Don't bother. US customs has not actively gone after "camera stuff" for about 15 years. As long as it is not new in the box, they do not care (for that matter camera prices in the US have been the cheapest in the world for over a decade so only a fool would be grey market importing a camera). For that matter Filipinos are some of the happiest snappers on earth and most travel home every year so I do not think it would be a problem (again as long as its not shiny new out of a box). If you go to customs to register a camera these days they will laugh at you.

I agree. Although I haven't visited the PI (at least since Uncle Sugar paid for the trip a LOOONG time ago,) I have been back and forth to Asia several times recently. US Customs has never even looked at my cameras.

As long as it is not brand new in the box, you should be fine.

JR

I would tell them I purchased the items back home should they start questioning. They may say that I don't have the prove that such items were indeed purchased at home but at the same token, they don't have the prove to say that I purchased it overseas. :p

Look...just relax. Tourists travel out of the country all the time with their cameras and very seldomly do they ever be questioned upon return home at customs regarding the location of the purchase. People would have stopped bringing cameras on their vacation long time ago if they have such paranoia that they'll have to pay duty everytime they bring their cameras overseas.

i took my cameras, laptops etc to AMS, PVD and a few other places and they haven't looked at much of anything, let alone the contents of my bags..

you'll have no problem, at all.

Customs at Borders & Customs at Seaports.