Bringing wine home from France

Recently is the problem. There have been reports that people who were over the limit were just waved through because the custom officer really doesn't have way to conveniently collect the tariff. But if you are bring a dozen or more then he might figure out a way to do it. Good luck.

Just declare it, show them the receipt, and if they charge you 25 %, so be it.

We brought back 6 bottles last summer and they didn’t even question it. It might be a bit different now, but it is still probably cheaper than shipping the bottles home.

At the 10% Tariff that has been in place for years, I do not recall, in hundreds of comments, anyone having to pay additional duty on items brought back with them. I suspect even with the increase, it is much the same (no issues last June anyway...not sure when the 25% went into effect). Duty is typically only an issue on shipments that need to clear Customs, and especially if the items are not for personal use.

The 25% tariff went in place last October, I believe. Some good thoughts above and "agree" with above, it's completely foolish not to declare all the wine you have, for sure. Just wondering how it goes - when passing through customs. Thanks!

I believe the tariff is for commercial imports. You are bringing in wine for personal use and therefore NOT subject to a tariff. You are subject to import duties over the limit, but those are usually waived unless you are bringing in a lot. For a dozen bottles, they might go ahead and charge the duty. But most likely not.

The key is to declare the wine. If they catch you trying to sneak it in, they can impound it or charge you fines.

We brought back 6 bottles last summer and they didn’t even question
it. It might be a bit different now, but it is still probably cheaper
than shipping the bottles home.

Actually, you paid the VAT which would not be paid if you shipped. Often, the shipping costs washes out the value of the VAT, especially for higher priced items.

Customs officials will enforce whatever laws are applicable to transporting liquor into the state you are entering. Enforcement is therefore widely diverse depending upon where you enter the US, not your destination nor where you live.

Some states are more generous with what is allowable than are others.

That doesn't make a lot of sense since you are entering the US and not a specific state. I would doubt if Federal customs agent would be enforcing state laws.

Ok, there's some confusion.
The Import duties are based on the tariff (which is determined by the Harmonized Code). You get a personal exemption (which commercial importers do not get).
The only thing that Customs enforces vis a vis states is the AGE of the importer. The states don't get to say how many bottles or liters you can import. If you're 21, you're good to go.

The actual duty is based on a MYRIAD of things - for example:

Wine in a contianer that holds less than 2 liters - if it's effervescent = 19.8c/liter
If it's not, and the alcoholic strenght is not over 14%, then it's 6.36c/liter

ETC ETC
(hts.usitc.gov is where the actual Harmonized Tariff schedule is).

So there's too many variables, but even if it's $10 bottle of wine, at 25% tariff is $2.50. Well worth it.

And ALWAYS DECLARE.

Customs officials will enforce whatever laws are applicable to transporting liquor into the state you are entering.

While they may or may not have the authority to do so, I believe the fact is that they don't do so.

We have always declared and never been taxed for more than the allowed amount -- but we have never brought in a full case; friends who have have also not been taxed on entry. But that was then. Who knows what is happening now? In any case -- so what? Declare and see what happens.