Duty on Imported Items (Electronics)
 

I'm going to Belgium tomorrow and might buy a couple unlocked iPhones there for myself and the others for "gifts." What will the customs agent think of this?I googled and could not for the life of me find what the duty is on declared values exceeding $800 which is the allowance if I read the site correctly. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Assume you mean US customs. They won't even blink unless you point it out. iPhones cost $199. Everyone knows that. :)

I have carried a dozen iPhones the other way on more than one occasion - in my carryon - and customs in AMS and Madrid didn't even ask.

Interesting. Should I declare them?

Only if you want to pay duty.

Well then, I guess I'll try and tuck them away in my suitcase then even though I'm not checking anything.

Now I just have to hope I can snag some VAT Refund Cheques from the Mobistar store.

Do you mean iphones cost $199 in Belgium?

Mobistar in Belgium would sell them for Euro 500 unlocked and they seem to have taken them offline now..

Or can one get a $199 iphone in the US unlocked w/o contract and bring them back to AMS?