Stephan Reinhardt posted on instagram a reference to a NY Times article or question. If someone brings their personal wine back to the U.S. do they pay a 15% tariff or just the duty? Just curious because if it is the latter it is an absurd post. Personally I think it is an offensive post either way from a journalist that works for a major wine publication.
I think technically the answer is yes, and on paper people returning to the US after several years abroad still need to pay tariffs on anything that is subject to them. So a wine collection, clothes, jewelry etc become an issue, and an interesting problem for companies sending employees abroad to gain experience of other markets. I know one or two have paid the tariffs, I know of one that hasn’t.
I’m almost certain the personal exemption from duties for travel still exists - when they got rid of the de minimus exemption, that was separate. But, who really knows anymore.
What’s offensive about the graphic? I mean, other than aesthetically?
I really don’t understand this so if I come back to the U.S. with wine in my suitcase do I pay the duty which is based on volume not price or a tariff or tariff and duty? Moreover who determines the value of the wine? This would seem to be a very complex exercise on a large collection.
I personally think it is offensive because it is a sensitive, politically charged topic where I don’t think a major wine critic should be making an incendiary post. You have to read what he wrote.
Reporting the facts would be welcome. Or even just having him post his German reviews on time : ) Said as a long time paying customer.
I have never paid duties on wine when coming back to the US (12 bottles or less usually). I get a bit of an eye roll when declaring and the officers wave me through.
I know I have done it 100s of times. This is why I am confused. Have you brought wine back since the tariffs? I have not.
Got it. I thought you were referring to the graphic.
Something must be lost in translation. I didn’t find the post incendiary, but I certainly hate the AI graphic.
The post is about bringing a 1000btl collection, not just a few bottles in a suitcase. As far as I know, nothing has changed on that front. Still technically one liter of alcohol duty free. I doubt they will throw up much fuss over 6. I wouldn’t even declare it.
No limit on how much you can bring back for personal consumption without having an import license.
I have, and there was no difference (declared, waved through)
If this is true then the NY Times and by Association Stephen would be incorrect. @Mark_Golodetz implies that you might have to pay the tariff. How would this work in practice?
An import license and paying tarrifs are not the same thing.
https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1395?language=en_US
We recently returned from Europe and when coming through customs there was no officer in the “declare” area so we didn’t declare . . .
“US Customs officials hate this one simple trick!”
I think the US is moving to the style I see in Europe where you go through a different door when you are declaring. Seemed to be that way when I went through Philadelphia on Sunday.
Exactly. And bringing back 5, 10, or 24 bottles is not the same as shipping home 1000 with the other household items. You’re not going through the airport line!
Historically, I think customs had its own de minimis rule for alcohol. It just wasn’t worth the hassle of filling out forms for the small amount of duty. (I recall once actually finding this codified in writing on the customs website.)
It may be now that technically they should be collecting both, or just one, but word hasn’t filtered down, or it’s just too much trouble.
(I can’t imagine why you think Reinhardt’s post or the cartoon is offensive or improperly political. No one – not foreign governments or companies – knows how all these tariffs are being applied. Literally! Many foreign post offices will no longer send parcels to the US because of the uncertainty. So it’s fair enough to ask how this applies to Americans returning to the US with wine collections.)
I think if you’re bringing back 1,000 bottles, you better be ready to show receipts to establish the cost or value. If not, I would think customs would be entitled to go on Wine Searcher or WineBid and come up with their view of current market values.
But David B will have a more informed view.
I have never seen this codified but this was my experience as well last year, travelling from NZ back to USA through LA. We had 10 bottles, which is definitely above the official minimum. We declared, and the agent was like “Are they for personal use? If so, just don’t worry about it.” Of course, now everything is probably different.
You don’t read it as poor Johnny with a cartoon of someone freaking as poor taste. Not to mention as we can see from this thread no one actually knows how this will be handled. If he wrote a post that explained clearly how the tariffs would be handled that would be welcome. And why is a European wine critic commenting on a U.S. issue?
Maybe @Mark_Golodetz could comment it seems he knows two people who have done this. I totally understand how a shipment of wine that was recently purchased would be subject to tariffs. I don’t know how you would hand a collection purchased over 20 years for personal use.
Yep - same experience just this Sunday.