Culture, Traditions, and a wedding in US (declaring heirlooms)

[Lights 56]

We will be having our wedding in the US and my parents just asked me a question that I don't have the answers to.

In our culture, it is tradition that they give us gives that were passed on through generations. Some of the gifts are old, gold jewelry. They are Jewelry that I would never wear, but it's been passed on from my great great grandparents to my mother and now to me.

Just by looking at them, you can tell that they are old and that they're not 'new' or recently purchased items.

How do we go about declaring them? Will my parents be taxed if they bring them to me during our wedding? We have no receipts since we don't even know exactly when and where they were purchased… they've been in my family longer than I've been alive.

Any help would be appreciated.

[NikLR 13,227]

I found this: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/975/~/visitor's-gift-exemptions
So it looks like people can bring up to $100 as a gift across the border.

The only way to know the value of your heirlooms is to have them appraised and then there would be duty on them afterwards if they go over this limit.

However, if they choose to, they can give you these gifts before you move. While it may not be traditional, it would save on any duty needed. The same goes with any other gifts. It would be best if your parents or bridesmaids could to keep in mind to let people know that if they choose to buy you a gift card, to do so in the USA because many of them cannot be transferred across the border.

Edited February 1, 2014 by NLR

[Lights 56]

I found this:

Thanks for this. If they gave them to me before I move, and I bring them with me through POE, would I be taxed on it? I hear that they can be exempt if they are over a year old? but I'm not sure how I can prove that since we don't have any receipts… they just look old.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Not sure how much jewelry you're talking about but I really wouldn't worry about it. Unless its an obscene amount like 50 different boxes, no one is going to worry about a couple jewelry boxes with necklaces or a couple gold rings in their luggage. If they're driving, the border guards aren't even going to ask. Honestly you could divide it up between a couple family members who are flying and they won't ask a single question - people travel with jewelry.

I bring $500+ worth of Christmas presents back to the US after being home for Christmas and they never blink an eye. Sometimes they ask, but not often.

We will be having our wedding in the US and my parents just asked me a question that I don't have the answers to.

In our culture, it is tradition that they give us gives that were passed on through generations. Some of the gifts are old, gold jewelry. They are Jewelry that I would never wear, but it's been passed on from my great great grandparents to my mother and now to me.

Just by looking at them, you can tell that they are old and that they're not 'new' or recently purchased items.

How do we go about declaring them? Will my parents be taxed if they bring them to me during our wedding? We have no receipts since we don't even know exactly when and where they were purchased… they've been in my family longer than I've been alive.

Any help would be appreciated.

Edited February 1, 2014 by Udella&Wiz

[nightingalejules 678]

There's something about antiques that might apply here. If they're over 100 yrs old, they're exempt from duty. You'd need an appraisal for them saying that, though, I think. You'd want an appraisal for insurance purposes anyway, so you might as well go ahead and do that.

[nightingalejules 678]

Oh! And also, if I remember correctly, the $ amount for gifts applies to each individual gift being under the dollar value (at least that's the case the other way around, which applied for a lot of people coming from the US to our wedding in Canada). Anyway, if that's the case, each individual item might be under 100 - and without documentation, no one would know if they were.

Take a look at a US customs website - I'm sure there's something about duty free allowances on there.

[NikLR 13,227]

if they gave them to you before you moved you won't pay duty on them. They have that funny stipulation in there about owning it for a year, but the choice is, they can give it to you, keep it for a year then you go back and get it because you have 10 years to move your stuff. Or just bring it over with you when you move. I didn't own every single item I moved for a year, but the POE didn't even open my uhaul or look at my manifest.