Customs form question at POE - CR1

[tawinder 0]

So when my spouse has to fill out the customs form at POE, what would she answer for Q15?

She only plans on bringing her used clothes and personal stuff (nothing commercial). The total would probably be less than $700. Will a duty be charged on these goods?

This is what question 15 asks for--

Q15: If you are a U.S. resident, print the total value of all goods (including commercial merchandise) you or any family members traveling with you have purchased or acquired abroad (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the United States) and are bringing into the United States.

[speedwell 224]

In practice they are not worried about your clothes, shoes, and cosmetics in your suitcase. They are worried about gifts, food, booze, commercial samples, and things you shouldn't be bringing in, like meat products from Germany (I ran into that one myself a few years ago haha). They are also not worried about anything you are shipping into the country that you are not actually bringing with you on the trip. You declare customs value on the shipping label for that. 700 dollars probably won't trigger duty for a US resident unless it is more than two bottles of booze (Yes, I do that all the time too) or a ton of cigarettes or something else for which there is a stated limit.

Edited May 6, 2013 by speedwell