customs duty charges

You won't have to declare anything or pay duty on your personal belongings. You only declare items when bought abroad and you are bringing them home. I travel all the time with cameras and my iPod with no problems.

Nancy is right, you don't pay any duty for bringing your private belongings. And you can even buy new stuff in Europe and take home. You'd only have to pay US taxes on it if it was for commercial reason, i.e. if you were planing on reselling those items. When buying e.g. clothes in Europe just make sure they look used, worn (so no more tags on them etc).

In six trip (7 year) I have never gone through customs in Europe. I carry on, and once I clear passport control, I am out the door. I never even go into the room for baggage claim and customs.

I've had the same experience as Lee. I carry on my stuff, walk through passport check and am off and running.

I don't buy heavy or expensive souvenirs. When I come home I write a detailed list of everything I purchased while abroad. It hasn't added up to more than the amount allowed without duty and it's all in my carry-on so customs in the U.S. goes quickly also.

There are two things you can get in trouble for. The first is trying to smuggle something into the country that is not allowed (Ivory, Cuban cigars, artifacts, etc.). The second is not listing what you are bringing into the country. Many times the fine for failing to disclose what you have is worse than any duty would be.

In my experience Customs people usually expect an honest effort and won't penalize you because a $10 pair of knit gloves wasn't listed. I try to be as exact as possible so I don't have to rely on that.

There are two altlernatives if you want to make sure you aren't hassled when returning to the U.S.:

1) If you still have the receipts for those items, bring photocopies.

2)Visit U.S. Customs--prior to your trip--with the electronic items you plan on taking. They will give you a form stating you had those items when you left the U.S. in case a Customs officer questions where you bought it when you return.

I will second the suggestion to declare openly your purchases, especially larger ones, alcohol, and food items. As a couple you get a pretty hefty excemption, and even if you go over the exempted amount, unless you owe hundreds, you may not have to pay. I suggest you go here: [http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/] and read the various sections, it will help alot.

We travel to Europe at least twice a year and I've never been questioned by customs here or in the EU on my MP3 player, camera, lap-top, jewlery etc. Customs inspectors can just look at something and know if it's suspicious. Customs is looking for smuggling, contriband (ivory and endangered species items etc.) and prohibited food items (bacteria, bugs and foods' other attendant hitchhikers). The U.S. and the U.K. are particulary strict on food. I always check the U.S. customs web page just before leaving so restictions returning to the U.S. are fresh in my mind. If there is something specific you think you'd like to buy in Europe go on-line and see if you can buy it in the U.S. and what it's price would be here. Frequently it's a wash and it's easier to buy at home although it won't have the sentimental value (which is frequently the most important component). We were in Ireland last year and I'd priced Waterford at home so I had a good feel for prices and styles that were not available at home.

A correction to Andreas' post - you have to pay customs fees on anything you buy IF you are over the limit (I think about $800 per person). It doesn't matter whether or not it is for commercial purposes, purchased items are purchased items. However, they are pretty relaxed about the limit - I've gotten away with more and have never been questioned about the value I've declared and never have been searched.

I'd agree not to worry about the electronics. I travel back and forth between the US and EU several times a year and have never been searched on either side of the Atlantic or even asked about electronics. And I usually am carrying a laptop case, and have carried two laptops at one point. I think the only reason to register electronics is if you were a photographer etc. who is carrying a lot of expensive equipment.

But DO declare any food/wood/perishable items because the regulations are there for very good reason.

Kate

I'll second what Frank said. Go ahead of time to customs with your items and have them stamp the form they will give you to fill out.

I WAS stopped when I was (much) younger at Customs and was detained for quite some time because I couldn't prove where I bought my expensive SLR camera and lenses. In the end, they let me go WITH my camera and lenses, but now, we go ahead of time and get the form!

We just renewed my daughters passport and stapled in the back cover was her first "certificate" that listed her "expensive" walkman and (now) crappy camera. Ah.... memory lane......