Hi All I came back from Peru this morning (an early landing by United to Newark).
I asked the customs agent when he asked if I wanted to declare anything. I said no but then I asked what the rules are and he said nothing has changed. So there we are. All good Helane Sent from my iPhone On Sep 10, 2025, at 1:04 AM, Carl Stork via Mifnet <mifnet@lists.mifnet.com> wrote:  It's fine with me if you quote it. It's from the CBP website Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________ From: Suzanne Shaps via Mifnet <mifnet@lists.mifnet.com> Sent: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 8:01:02 PM To: mifnet@lists.mifnet.com <mifnet@lists.mifnet.com> Cc: Suzanne Shaps <suza...@aya.yale.edu> Subject: [Mifnet 🛰 74049] Re: Question ref de minimis exemption Someone was asking about this in one of my Facebook groups today. May I reply with a full quote of your comment? This post was in a local group unrelated to aviation. People want to travel and shop and are totally confused about what they can legally bring home with them. Thank you, Suzanne Shaps On Tue, Sep 9, 2025 at 11:42 AM Carl Stork via Mifnet <mifnet@lists.mifnet.com<mailto:mifnet@lists.mifnet.com>> wrote: If the U.S. government websites are accurate, nothing has changed in what you can bring back duty free. What has changed is for parcels shipped from abroad via a carrier. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/what-expect-when-you-return Personal exemptions that do not require the traveler to pay duty will be $200, $800 or $1600 depending on the countries you visited. The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1600) apply if: The items are for your personal or household use or intended to be given as gifts. Merchandise is in your possession, that is, it accompanies you when you return to the United States. Items to be sent later may not be included in your duty-free exemption. (Exceptions apply for goods sent from Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.) Merchandise is declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting the item. If in doubt, declare it. You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours. This time limit does not apply if you are returning from Mexico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands. You have not used all of your exemption allowance, or used any part of it, in the past 30 days. For example, if you go to England and bring back $150 worth of items, you must wait another 30 days before you are allowed another exemption. The items are not prohibited or restricted as discussed in the section on Prohibited and Restricted Items. Before departing on your trip, check the latest information for the full list of prohibited and restricted items on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Cuba Sanctions website, as well as other related government resources. $800 Exemption If you are arriving from anywhere other than a U.S. insular possession (U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Guam) you may bring back $800 worth of items duty free, as long as you bring them with you. This is called accompanied baggage. $200 Exemption If you cannot claim other exemptions because: You have been out of the country more than once in a 30-day period or because You have not been out of the country for at least 48 hours. You may still bring back $200 worth of items free of duty and tax -----Original Message----- From: Helane Becker via Mifnet <mifnet@lists.mifnet.com<mailto:mifnet@lists.mifnet.com>> Sent: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 6:49 AM To: mifnet@lists.mifnet.com<mailto:mifnet@lists.mifnet.com> Cc: Helane Becker <becker32...@hotmail.com<mailto:becker32...@hotmail.com>> Subject: [Mifnet 🛰 74040] Question ref de minimis exemption Question for the team; does anyone know the answer: Does the elimination of the $800 exemption for goods purchased overseas that are shipped into the US also apply to goods purchased (such as souvenirs, shirts, scarves, etc) while traveling internationally? I am asking because I always thought the $800 exemption on the customs form (or the kiosk if using global entry) was $800 because it was the same as the de minimis exemption. Now I am uncertain and am finding contradictory comments when researching this. Thoughts? And although Americans are traveling outside the country, I wonder if this applies to purchases they bring back, which could lead to less shopping overseas. I am not at all sure how to think about these changes. Thanks Helane Becker Sent from my iPhone -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revised: 20250507 You are receiving The Mifnet because you requested to join this list. The Mifnet is largely a labor of love, however the infrastructure isn't exactly cost-free. 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