Importing goods, personal belongings or tools of the trade

[moneyburner 0]

I'm not sure if this is the right section. If it's not, please move this thread to where it should be.

I don't even have my NOA2 yet but I'm trying to decide what to do with all my tools.

Officially I'm not a mechanic but I have used my tools in the past to make a living. I don't plan on using them in the USA to make a living, they will be used to fix my car, and family member's cars.

Should my tools be classified as household goods and therefore free of import taxes or will they be considered tools of the trade and need to be taxed? If they will be taxed, how do I assign value to them? Is it based of what I paid for them or what I could sell them for? Tools are often twice the price in Canada vs USA so selling them and buying new tools in the USA isn't out of the question but I'd prefer not to go through the hassle. Do I need to get the HS code for each tool if it will be taxed? The new value of my tools is around $3000-$5000 cad. Used I'd be lucky to get half of that I think. By the time I get my visa I'll have owned them all over a year.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[nobbie 105]

I brought all my tools over, did not even give it a thought. I think you are over complicating things, they are personal items

[NikLR 13,232]

Import your belongings as such, your belongings, aka household goods. The only time you need to know value of anything being brought is if it's being shipped without you.

[Ryan H 3,834]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to General Immigration-Related Discussion; topic is applicable to multiple processes.