This is what would really chafe - tariffs put in after you committed, and then they imported while tariffs are in place (no sure thing they’ll remain long term). Going forward, yeah, you know you’re paying more so you can make an informed decision . . .
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Sure you can find something to complain about with just about anything, but most of these orders were placed where tariffs were a clear risk and with the knowledge that any tariffs would be added.
And tariffs are likely on the horizon for the foreseeable future, it’s not like if they just wait a few weeks everything might be different, so it’s not reasonable to expect them to wait indefinitely to import.
Being upset when they give you the option to cancel with no penalty because “you’d rather not pay them” is pure fantasy.
Says the man with way too much money.
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Well, the option to cancel without penalty is pretty nice, and agree you can’t get both. But IIRC, 2023 futures went on sale when Biden was still a candidate.
No, actually 2023 bordeaux released before the Trump election in Nov 2024. My purchases were May/June 2024, at that time dollar was strong and no tariffs with our non-adversarial trading partners. True, that tariffs had historically been added on during first Trump admin.
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Practical question:
If you take a trip overseas there’s an $800 exemption for goods. There’s also a 1l exemption for alcohol.
I have been told, but not certain, that 1l means 1l of pure alcohol, which means a 750ml wine bottle holds about .1l of alcohol, assuming ABV around 12.5%.
In the past the tariff was based on the amount of alcohol and it was low.
Now of course there’s a 15% tariff on European wines. So how does this all sort out for the duty free limit?
If you’re under the limit of 1l (however calculated) you’d still pay nothing I assume.
If you’re over that limit, what is the tariff based on - the cost of the bottles in excess of 1l?
Any personal experience? And I know in the past CBP basically didn’t care if you were relatively close to the limit on anything - tariffs were so low it wasn’t worth collecting, say, 2.5% on someone $500 over the goods limit so they waved you through.
It does not - it is 1L of volume of alcoholic beverages:
“One American liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your returning resident personal exemption”
Regarding cost - if the overall cost of the beverage is under the $800 exemption (assuming you brought back nothing else) then there is no duty. Over $800 or over 1L has a duty.
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99/100 times CBP is going to waive you through and not hassle with the paperwork. Declare it if there is someone there to declare it to.
There have been very few times, maybe once over the past decade where I have returned from a wine region globally without any wine in my suitcase. My last Germany trip I did not have any spare time and brought nothing back. The trip 3 weeks prior to that I had well over a case of riesling come back with me.
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Exactly, they are not going to bother - just make sure to declare.
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This is being discussed ad nauseum currently.
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Thanks - lots of questions but few real answers!
Yeah, understand. Real question is whether anything has changed with the potential for 15% of value rather than some pennies per litre. Sounds like not yet . . .
The info at the link explicitly says otherwise (though I note the whole thing was last updated in 2024, though this part hasn’t really changed)
If you return from Europe with $200 worth of purchases, including two liters of liquor, one liter will be duty-free under your returning resident personal allowance/exemption. The other will be dutiable at 3 percent, plus any Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) that is due.
I would think it’s a straight 15% if they tariff you. Just hold receipts and be ready if needed.
Given the government shutdown, perhaps now would be a great time to bring in personal wine.
But on the flip side, those wines that have not been brought in in reefered containers may face customs delays with no protection for the wine.
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Customs won’t shut down but it will slow down. You will still pay.
October? No problem unless it extends into winter with a deep freeze… or until next summer when your wine will be nicely boiled.
Checked the weather forecast lately? Also depends on the port.
Without getting too far into politics, I suspect it may be a long term problem. I hope I am wrong.
Just came back from Umbria. Brought several bottles of Sagrantino. I was happy to declare and pay the tariffs. But no one asked anything about what I brought. Passport control is now unmanned at JFK. What are you supposed to do in this case? You eventually going through corridor towards the exit where customs officers are. Are you supposed to approach and voluntarily tell them what’s in your bag? Are you supposed to know what needs to be declared?
Did you use Global Entry?
No. Regular entry now is kiosk free for US citizens in JFK. You don’t even scan your passport. Machine just takes your picture, then you proceed to baggage area and then to the exit through the customs. But at no point anyone asks you questions any more. So supposedly you are brining back a case of wine. If customs don’t randomly stop you then can exit without paying any dues. If they stop and find the wine you pay the dues, but are you violating anything? No one asked you anything. How do you suppose to know the one litter rule? Unless I missed any signs what in fact I have to declare.
I came back the day before yesterday, Terminal 8.