Tariffs on gifts when returning from Europe

Just declare it and its approximate value. That will probably get a shrug from Customs and Border Control.

No, it's not subject to tariffs. Tariffs apply to items being shipped commercially, not to personal goods carried in your luggage.

And with your pen knife gift, it needs to be in your checked bag for the trip home or on any flights prior to your return flight. Caution from (husband’s) experience…

Exemptions remain the same for what you're bringing back - $800 if out of the US more than 48 hrs, $200 if out for more than 24 hrs.

I very much doubt that custom's will look into your bags if you are an American citizen.

Tariffs have nothing to do with souvenirs (or gift in your case) <$800 in value that we bring home from our international travels. Tariffs are related to commercial shipping.

I very much doubt that custom's will look into your bags if you are an
American citizen.

Um, not necessarily. We got pulled for a random customs agriculture check once and no, we hadn't purchased any prohibited 'ag' products. The official who went through our bags at MSP raked me over the coals for a partially consumed package of Lifesavers I hadn't declared as "food", had largely forgotten about, and hadn't even bought in Europe, I'd purchased the silly thing AT MSP before we flew out 10 days earlier. Go figure.

Yes, you can be pulled over by customs.

I also had a “random” customs check (assuming agricultural) about 2 years ago when returning to the U.S. They asked me a number of questions including if I had any food. I said “mints and water”. They recorded my passport info, wrote down my responses to all their questions, xrayed my bags, and then said everything is fine and sent me on my way.

Just returned Saturday from Italy via a connecting flight in Montreal to San Diego.

The only thing done for re-entry into the U.S. was a single facial photo taken in Montreal. There were absolutely no Customs requirements at any point. No online or paper form to fill out— no interview because there were no Customs agents in the Montreal or San Diego airports. Also no Immigration officers other than the one agent staffing the camera.

And this was the procedure for EVERYONE- not just Global Entry Passholders.

So, the enforcement of any Customs rules at the airports seems to be suspended during the current U.S. government shutdown.

I could have had the Shroud of Turin in my carry on with no apparent consequences!

@kenko - you would not have seen anyone at SD because you did US Customs in Montreal since it's a pre clearance airport. SD is a domestic flight, essentially.

I realize that and just wanted to make it clear there were no Customs agents, no information requested, or any Customs procedures being enforced in Montreal or SD. The only evidence of any U.S. re-entry was a sole employee taking our mugshot with the digital camera. No passport was requested, other than by the airline.

Face matches to your pic in their system (same pic as in your passport). https://www.cbp.gov/travel/biometrics

Can’t wait for this to be what replaces those long lines of the past!

The question was

how does one declare it when returning back to the States? Is it
subject to tariffs?

Which illustrates integrity.

Some of the answers dealt with what you can get away with despite the law which is different.

I have also been subject to a random search during which it was asked if I had receipts ... I didn't. Great agent, we joked about one of the items he found in my bag, and still laughing he told me to keep receipts in the future then wished me a good day and sent me on.

If you are over the limit I suggest you look for the door that says something to declare or tell the guard. I'm not sure it's his responsibility to ask you.

Hi, kayfeed, you've gotten a lot of information (and a few arguments 😊) about bringing back a small gift. In a nutshell, here is what you need to do to comply with the law.

1. If you are given a customs sheet to fill out, enter the knife (and estimated value) there.
2. If you are NOT given a customs sheet (more the norm now), just tell the CBP agent as you go through. All you need to say is that you have a small knife that was gifted to you, that is worth X amount of dollars.

I would say you have a 99% chance of them stamping the customs sheet (they will have it if you don't) and waving you through. If not, you might want to have the knife and any documentation handy in case they want to see it (again, huge IF and probably extremely unlikely).

I hope you are having a great trip!

We just returned to Detroit from Morocco yesterday. We had purchased a rug and some other items and knew we were over the $800 per person limit. The officer at passport control asked us if we had anything to declare and we said yes, that we had purchased approximately $3500 worth of stuff.
He handed my passport to another officer who escorted us to luggage claim and waited while we got our luggage. Them we were escorted to another area where an officer asked for details of our purchases. My husband had made a list of what we had and approximate values. They didn't ask for receipts, but we had them. Most of it required no duty (small souvenir items, argan oil) but we owed duty on the rug and some jewelry, about $3300 worth of items. Our duty was $55 and we were escorted to a cashier to pay, credit cards or cash accepted. My passport was returned and we were done.
I wasn't sure how much the duty would be, but it wasn't bad and the process was easy.

Patricia. Its wonderful when people play by the rules and all goes the way it should. Renews my faith. Thank you.