RE: Import Duty

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

RE: Import Duty - U.S.A

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: << < 1 [2]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

veet

Posts: 231
Joined: Nov. 29 2004
From: L.A.

RE: Import Duty - U.S.A (in reply to Ricardo)

I landed in LAX.

This was not some clueless agent, he pointed out to me a passage _printed_ right there in the regs, saying musical instruments were exempt. I guess I should have noted the document he was pointing to to assuage y'all.

The guitar was considerably more expensive than the tourist allowance, and I was prepared to pay a duty if need be. All you naysayers are referring to laws about commercial importation, not personal purchases in your luggage.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 16 2006 21:46:49

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Import Duty - U.S.A (in reply to veet)

quote:

The guitar was considerably more expensive than the tourist allowance, and I was prepared to pay a duty if need be. All you naysayers are referring to laws about commercial importation, not personal purchases in your luggage.

I would indeed like to see the document as well. So what you are saying is, I can go to Spain and bring in dozens of Conde A26's and pay no duty?

I sure wouldn't want to be known as a "naysayer", although that would be a step up from what I have been called. LOL

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2006 0:20:08

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Import Duty - U.S.A (in reply to veet)

quote:

This was not some clueless agent

You took my comment out of context. If you refer above, you will see I was talking about custom agents dealing with commercial shippers.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2006 0:23:58

Ricardo

Posts: 14921
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Import Duty - U.S.A (in reply to veet)

This is the form I always fill out when coming back to US. I dont' see any reference to musical instruments being exempt.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/sample_declaration_form.xml

But if the Customs agent had to look it up and show you, then it is certainly good to know!

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2006 16:15:02

Cloth Ears

Posts: 152
Joined: Apr. 26 2005

RE: Import Duty - ANywhere (in reply to veet)

Buy a cheap guitar when you buy your 1F, give it to a kid in the street (don't get mixed up!).

Show the receipt for your guitar to customs.

None the wiser, eh?

p.s. dont forget the donkey and sombrero when you leave

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2006 17:00:04

veet

Posts: 231
Joined: Nov. 29 2004
From: L.A.

RE: Import Duty - U.S.A (in reply to Patrick)

I imagine one Conde at a time would be pretty doable. I also saw that tourist doc about what's dutiable, but that's not where the exemption reg was, it was in the agent's book.

Look, I'll be happy to be proven wrong, but so far, 100% of the people in this discussion who have actually done it, declared the instrument they're carrying, have been told it's non dutiable.

Has anybody out there had the opposite happen, ie. declare it and they charge a duty?

So far, it sounds like my experience vs. everybody else's theory.

Meanwhile, I'm going to Jerez and plan to do it again imminently. I'll let you know what happens.

Veet

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2006 22:56:25