This is the current set of rules on household/personal effects.
https://www.help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1392?language=en_US
There are clear ways to avoid duties/tariffs on personal/household items.
5 cents please! 
Damn! I had hoped to be able to ship my wine collection to the US at some point and not face the tariffs.
Very interesting and you are selling yourself short. That was worth at least a dime simply for the fact that it contains the phrase (and a special form for) âCanadians ⌠who are known as âsnowbirdsââ 
So the answer is that if you are returning from living abroad, you can bring your âpersonal effectsâ and âhousehold effectsâ back with you duty and tariff free, even if they were acquired abroad, under certain conditions.
In addition to the conditions, there are the definitions of the two quoted terms, and it does not appear that the contents of oneâs wine cellar meets either definition. Domage!
Another thing I found amusing besides âsnowbirdsâ is the definition of âpersonal effectsâ as items that âbelong to and are used by one personâ (as opposed to the household, like furniture) but among the examples of those are photography equipment and tape recorders, which are certainly among the first things Iâd think of as items typical people own but donât share within a household (the only other examples given are clothing and jewelry).
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When I came back from Germany in March of this year, on one occasion there was no check. The second time through there was a customs agent inspecting bags adjacent to the luggage carousel. Iâve always declared my wine I bring home and get waived through. I fully expected to get hit with a fee but as others noted it seems they donât want to hassle with the paperwork.
The main thing would be to declare and be prepared as they will yank your Global Entry if you donât declare and are caught bringing excess.
Kind of curious to see if anything has changed for when I come through next time. I should be back in Germany either later this year or early next year.
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Yes. While itâs nice that they often donât check, itâs always best to be 100% honest lest bad things happen.
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I did. Didnât declare. Bag wasnât searched (or at least didnât have the sticker). All bottles are sitting at home nice and happy (at least those I havenât drunk yet)
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Thanks. This is what I was recalling (and qualified for):
Household effects are furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, books, libraries, artwork and other usual household furnishings and effects that were used abroad for not less than 1 year by resident or nonresidents, and not intended for any other person or for sale. Such items may be allowed entry free of duty and tax under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202).
Household effects used abroad not less than 1 year by a family of which the importer was a resident member for not less than 1 year during the period of use, may be allowed free entry whether or not the importer owned the effects at the time of such use. In order to obtain free entry for household effect, the use of the effects abroad for 1 year must be proven to the satisfaction of the port director. The port director may require evidence other than the declaration.
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LAX no longer seems to have customs officers in the declaration area. I think itâs been that way for a couple years now. Wild!
Just got back from Italy, both ways through Atlanta, and no one was asking if we have anything to declare coming back. Went to France in May and it was the same, again Atlanta. Also no one in Milan or Paris was around to show interest when going there. Somewhat surprised.
Been a long time since Iâve flown internationally. Do they still hand out those little declaration forms to fill out before you land? And no oneâs there to collect them?
People get stopped pretty frequently for purses, watches, etc. A lot of stuff gets through, but there are plenty of people who have stories to tell about being hassled.
Nope
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Hassled? Is that how kids today describe being asked to pay the applicable duties?
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Same on return from Iceland in August.
You brought back Icelandic wine? 
No, I brought back wine I took to Iceland and never drank (all us wine). High corkage fees. Lots of people fly Icelandic to Europe, so they would be able to bring wine back.
Off topic, but not really worth buying booze in Iceland unless you buy at the duty free on the way into Iceland.
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US wine would not be subject to duties.
Why do American wine âcriticsâ presume to comment on European wine?
[For the sake of clarity and those struggling with my sense of humour, this is a joke. Wel, mostly. ].
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currently at LAX? I know a 5-6 years ago they were very vigilant as my friend is on a blacklist for purses. But nowadays thereâs not even anyone there to stop you