How Can I Ship Beer To Another State? - 2023, Información de la cerveza

What you need to know when ordering beer online – What are the laws in your state : Not every state permits shipments of alcohol to residents so if you live in PA, TX, MA, UT, MD, DE, AR, OK, MT, ME, SD, KY, AK, HI, WV or MS then you can’t have alcohol of any kind delivered to you.

There are companies out there that do not adhere to or are not aware of laws from state to state and may be shipping to residents of these states which could land them and possibly even the resident in legal trouble. Even states that do permit shipments of alcohol to residents have certain legal restrictions and requirements that must be met.

Some states don’t allow anything with an alcohol content greater than a set percentage and many others put a monthly or annual limit on the amount of alcohol a person or household can receive from out of state retailers. Who can ship: There are only two legal ways to ship alcohol in the United States.

A retailer must be licensed to sell alcohol by a state that permits shipments in and out of that state and must have an alcohol shippers contract with either UPS or FedEx.
The US Postal Service does not permit shipments of alcohol.
It is illegal for a non-licensed individual to ship alcohol.
Signing for the order: When you buy alcohol online the package should ship with a sticker on each box identifying it as containing alcohol and when either UPS or FedEx show up with the packages there will have to be someone over 21 years of age to sign for receipt of the order.

If you think about it, this makes sense otherwise minors might end up in possession of product they shouldn’t have. UPS and FedEx charge each retailer several dollars per box to collect this signature and if by the third attempt no one has been available to sign for the package it is sent back to the retailer.

Cost: Beer is heavy so its going to be somewhat expensive to ship it so be prepared to spend at least what it cost for the beer.
A little trick is the more you order typically the less the cost.
If you order a case (24 bottles) you can get the shipping cost down as a percentage of each bottle.
So with all these hoops to jump through and additional expense why should you be considering buying beer online? Well, frankly it’s about the only way you’re ever going to be able to get that special bottle from that tiny brewery on the other side of the country.

So if you take your beer seriously and want to try the best the world has to offer, it’s all just a few mouse clicks away. If you’re one of those unfortunate souls that lives in a state that doesn’t currently permit alcohol shipments to its residents, then you need to be vocal.

Call your state representatives and tell them that they should support consumer choice and allow you to buy the products you want. We are also working on getting these states to open their doors to shipping, but we can’t do it without people in those states demanding it. Remember to watch my video on the best beer membership clubs that ship beer to your doorstep every month.

Most Popular 12oz Bottle Shipping Insert HOMEBREWERS and BEER SHIPPERS – An easy way to ship your 12oz beer bottles HASSLE FREE – No more bubble wrap, plastic bags, or packing peanuts FEDEX TESTED – Passed strenuous Fedex packaging design tests Check Price Lead marketer, brewer, dad, and husband. Pretty much an all-round awesome guy.

Contents

0.1 Can you ship beer to the States?
0.2 Can I ship beer to a friend in USA?

1 How do I send beer to a friend?
2 Can you check beer on a plane?
3 Can you ship beer to Texas?
4 Can I ship beer to Texas?
5 How much beer can I bring into the US?

Can you ship beer to the States?

Shipping alcoholic beverages by mail is prohibited by United States postal laws. The importer must be 21 to bring alcoholic beverages into the United States.

Can I ship beer to a friend in USA?

The United States Postal Service (USPS) prohibits sending alcoholic beverages through the mail, but you can ship alcohol via couriers, such as FedEx or UPS if you’re a licensed alcohol shipper. The laws around shipping liquor in the US are quite complicated, so if you’re considering setting up a business that ships alcohol, either within the US or internationally from the US, you should do plenty of research first.

How do I send beer to a friend?

Helpful tips for safely packing your homebrew and craft beer, as well as deciding which shipping service to use to ship your beer. If you’ve ever brewed your own beer, you’ve probably wondered, “How do I send this to people so they can try my beer?” If you’re a craft beer fan and you moved to a new city, you’ve probably wondered, “How do I get that great beer from my favorite hometown brewery?” I used to ask myself these questions because I share a lot of homebrew.

I also moved from Cleveland to LA, and I’m always trying to get my hands on beer from Great Lakes Brewing Company.
ISO: Christmas Ale, btw!!) I started digging around forums, blogs, and asking friends what they do when they are trying to ship beer.
After searching for answers, my research lead me to the conclusion that there’s really no wrong way to ship your beer.

As long as you get your bottles and cans safely from point A to point B, then you are doing it right. It’s not unlike brewing beer. There are plenty different malts, hops, and yeasts you can use to make beer, but a long as you’ve got the right supplies and follow some basic instructions, then you’ll get the results you want! What I written below are the basic instructions for how to pack and ship your beer.

Corrugated cardboard box
Packing tape
Bubble wrap
Zip lock bags

You can find all these materials at your local Staples, Office Max, or Walmart, and they will get the job done. You can wrap your bottles and cans in bubble wrap, tape the bubble wrap together, then put your bubble-wrapped beer in a zip lock bag. Once you’ve got your beer packed up, then you can put the beer in your corrugated cardboard box.

Add some padding to make sure your beers don’t shift around, and tape up your box.
Apply your shipping label, and drop off your box at your local courier.
A lot of beer gets shipped this way, and I still ship some of my canned beer this way.
The drawback to shipping beer with these basic materials is how well you package your beer comes down to your personal preference and comfort.

Maybe you want to over protect your beer, and you use a bunch of bubble wrap. Great! Your beer will make it in one piece, but you are taking up a lot of space with bubble wrap. Maybe you want to get as many beers in a box as possible, so you use less bubble wrap.

Crafty Shipping! These are my beer shippers! I made these because I wanted packaging material custom made for shipping my 12oz bottles of homebrewed beer. These inserts work great for homebrewers who are shipping beer to family and friends, as well as judging competitions. It also works great for shipping your standard 12oz bottle size too. I sell these on my site as well as on Amazon, and of the hundreds of people who have purchased and used these shippers, every bottle has arrived safely at it’s destination.
Whale Pod and Beer Shippers, Both of these shippers are meant for shipping cans. A lot of breweries have started canning their beer, and putting those beers in 16oz cans. Both Whale Pod and Beer Shippers are great for folks who are trading beer, as well as breweries who want to ship their 16oz cans.12oz cans are also an option for shipping with these containers. Both of these shipper options are available on their respective websites. Although I haven’t shipped cans with these products before, I’ve see a lot of people who do, and they look like they work great!
Options for Big Bottles, If you are shipping 22oz bottles (bombers), or even 750mL bottles, then there are a few specialty options for you as well. Uline has a variety of sizes for wine shippers, which should fit your 750mL bottles nicely, and if you add some extra padding, then your bombers should fit in this packaging as well. The drawback is that you need to buy 25 shippers from Uline at a time, and pay for shipping. All that can get pretty expensive when you start to add up the costs. The other option is to look for wine shippers either on Amazon, or even at a local packaging supply store. Your local liquor store may even have a wine shippers for sale that you can use for your beer.

Courier Options Now that we’ve discussed how to package your beer, let’s discuss with whom to ship your brews. The three most common options people use are the Post Office, UPS, and FedEx. I’ve used all three of these options myself, so let’s dig into each service as it pertains to shipping your homebrew and craft beer.

USPS I general, I would not recommend shipping with the Post Office.
Shipping beer with USPS is strictly prohibited, and if you get caught shipping beer you can be charged with a felony.
That being said, I’ve never heard of anyone getting charged with a felony from USPS for shipping beer.
At most I’ve heard of people being issued warnings, but what most likely happens is that your beer will be thrown out.

The only way the Post Office will find out if you are shipping beer is if one of your bottles or cans breaks and spills over into the package. Wet boxes will be inspected and disposed of if it contains beer. Also, if you try to ship via media mail to save some money, there is a chance the post office will open your package to make sure you are actually shipping items such as books.

If they find beer, then your beer will be shipped directly to the garbage or to some lucky postal worker’s fridge.
Despite the fact that I would discourage shipping beer with USPS, people still do it. I get it.
USPS does have the lowest shipping rates if you are sending a package within your region.
I also have a personal issue with the Post Office’s no beer policy when it comes to shipping homebrewed beer.

My logic goes like this: If making homebrewed beer is legal in every state, and you don’t need a license to make homebrewed beer, then why would it be illegal to ship homebrewed beer with USPS??? Regardless of how I see this issue, the Post Office will most likely treat homebrewed beer like craft beer and dispose of it if they find you shipping beer with their service.

UPS and FedEx For the purposes of shipping beer, UPS and FedEx are about equal with one another, UPS rates can be slightly less if shipping locally and regionally, while FedEx can be more economical if you’re shipping across the country. Whether you ship with one or the other comes down to personal preference, and most likely which courier has a location closest to you.

Also, because both UPS and FedEx aren’t run by the federal government, you won’t be breaking any laws if ship beer with them. If a bottle or can breaks with UPS or FedEx, they will dispose of your package, and you will be issued a warning, but you won’t be charged with a felony.

Package your beer at home. If you aren’t using Crafty Shipping, Whale Pods, or Beer Shippers for you bottles or cans, then make sure you use bubble wrap, tape, and zip lock bags for your beer.
Print a shipping label at your home, and apply to your package. Make sure your dimensions and weight are accurate.
Drop the package off at your local UPS or FedEx location. If an associate asks what’s in your package, do not tell them it’s beer. Even if your are shipping homebrewed beer to a certified homebrew competition (which is legal by the way), chances are this associate won’t let you ship your package. You can tell them it’s “gifts” or “souvenirs”. These short answers are usually enough to satisfy their question.

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UPS and FedEx also have flat rate boxes, so if you plan on shipping a lot of beer over a long distance, then this could be a great option to save some money on your shipping. Just make sure you follow the three steps above. Beer on a Plane If you are traveling and want to bring beer on your flight, then you can pack beer into your checked bag.

This is completely legal, and it doesn’t matter which airline your use. When I found this out, I was shocked. I always imagined the TSA as being very strict, but if you are putting beer in your checked bag, then you are all good. This most likely has to do with wine being allowed to be checked in your luggage, and beer just piggy-backed on that trend.

If you are putting beer in your checked bag, the biggest thing you want to guarantee is that the beer are packaged safely. Use your ziplock bags, wrap them in some of your clothing, and make sure your beer is near the middle of your luggage. I don’t ship much beer in my checked bag, but when I have, all my bottles and cans have arrived safely.

I mostly don’t want to risk all my clothing getting covered in beer in case a bottle or can bursts. That being said, good packaging is your friend. Double zip lock if that makes you feel more comfortable. Your luggage will get tossed around, and be exposed to rapid elevation changes, so more packaging for your beer won’t hurt.

Just make sure you are still leaving room in your luggage for other items like clothing and toiletries 😉 Recap Ok, that’s a good chunk of info, so let’s review quickly:

Good packaging is your friend. You can never really over-protect your beer during shipping, but you can definitely under-protect your beer and risk having it spill everywhere. Find good packaging material, and protect your bottles and cans during shipping.
Use discretion when shipping your beer. Package and apply shipping labels at home before dropping your package off at UPS or FedEx. I wouldn’t recommend shipping with USPS because shipping beer with them is explicitly against the law.
Shipping beer on a plane in your checked luggage is legal. Make sure your beer is well packaged so in case a bottle or can breaks, your luggage won’t get covered in beer.

I hope all this information helps! I’ve learned all these lessons from shipping beer myself. In case I missed something, please comment below. Cheers, and happy shipping! Previous

Can you check beer on a plane?

Want to bring some ‘air sodas’ on your next flight? That’s cool with us! Whether you are traveling with craft beer, cougar juice or hard liquor, we’ve got you covered. Don’t be absinthe-minded and make pour choices, follow these tips on your next trip! According to the FAA, it’s all about the alcohol content! Alcohol less than 24% alcohol by volume (ABV) or 48 proof, like most beers and wine:

For carry-on you are limited to containers of 3.4oz or less that can fit comfortably in one quart-sized, clear, zip-top bag. If it’s overflowing from the bag, that isn’t comfortable. Please remember, one bag per passenger, For checked bags, there is no limit! I wish this was true when I was in college.

Alcohol between 24% – 70% ABV (48 – 140 proof):

For carry-on, same rules apply as above. You are limited to containers of 3.4oz or less that fit in your quart-sized bag. For checked bags you are limited to five liters per passenger. However, it must be in unopened retail packaging!

Alcohol over 70% ABV or over 140 proof:

Leave your bathtub brew at home! Seriously the strong stuff isn’t allowed in carry-on or checked bags!

Our airline partners and the FAA ask that you don’t drink your own booze while flying. Let’s leave the pouring to the pros! And be sure to check your airline’s website to make sure they are cool with being a designated flyer for your hooch. Planning on buying some ‘cough medicine’ at the duty-free store after the security checkpoint? You’re limited to 5 liters of alcohol between 24%-70% ABV or 48 – 140 proof.

The bottles are packed in a transparent, secure, tamper-evident bag by the retailer. Don’t try to sneak a swig! If the bag looks opened or tampered with, then it won’t be allowed to fly in your carry-on bag. Keep the receipt! You must show that the alcohol was purchased within the last 48 hours.

Are you brining wine or other spirits from overseas? Our friends at Customs and Border Protection are in charge of the rules for bringing alcohol into the United States, Cheers! Jay Wagner

Can you ship beer to Texas?

Here’s why it’s hard for Texans to get alcohol shipped directly to them Credit: Graphic by Ben Hasson Today’s Texplainer is inspired by a question from Texas Tribune reader Richard O’Dell. Hey, Texplainer: Can liquor be mailed into or around Texas? Liquor stores outside of my area say they aren’t able to send their products to me.

Manufacturers that make the product — wineries, breweries and distilleries. Wholesalers and distributors that buy from manufacturers and sell it to retailers. Retailers that sell the product to consumers.

Texas law — specifically, the Alcoholic Beverage Code — only allows businesses with an appropriate permit to sell alcohol to consumers. So if you want to buy booze, you need to get it from a retailer (e.g., a grocery store, convenience store, bar or restaurant).

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission oversees all three tiers — and issues separate permits and licenses for each.
This is where the confusion starts.
Only TABC-licensed carriers can transport alcohol, and only permitted businesses — including those out of state — can sell alcohol to Texas consumers.

Without a permit, liquor can’t be shipped directly to Texas consumers, and there currently is no permit that would allow out-of-state liquor stores to sell products directly to Texas consumers. Here are some of the licenses and permits that stores, carriers and manufacturers need to move booze into and around the state:

To ship alcohol into, out of or within Texas, businesses must have a carrier’s permit. Licensed wineries in Texas may ship their products to people in the state. Stores that want to make deliveries within their city limits need a local cartage permit. TABC spokesman Chris Porter said most stores have this permit because it allows them to transport alcohol within a city, both to customers and between store locations.

Legally, distilled spirits can’t be shipped from a store to a Texas consumer who lives outside of the city where the store is located — instead, they have to be shipped from a package store in the same county as the consumer, said Dick Wills, the CEO of the Gerald Franklin Agency, a liquor licensing business.If a company has multiple liquor stores in cities around the state, each of those stores could deliver liquor to customers living in the cities where the stores are located.”The company could accept orders online, then forward the order to one of their stores in the customer’s city, which would then fulfill the order and deliver the product to the customer,” Porter said.So what about those out-of-state wine clubs?

“The wine clubs likely don’t have a TABC, as that would be required to ship wine directly to consumers in Texas,” Porter said. “Most wine clubs would fall into the category of ‘retailer,’ and there’s no law which allows an out-of-state retailer to ship alcoholic beverages directly to Texas consumers.” For any other out-of-state liquor manufacturer that wants its product in the hands of Texans, a nonresident manufacturer’s license allows them to sell products to Texas distributors that, in turn, sell to Texas customers.

Another thing to note: Alcohol cannot be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service. Only TABC-licensed common carriers, which includes most commercial shipping companies, can ship alcohol. The bottom line: Legally, distilled spirits can’t be shipped directly to Texas consumers. They have to be shipped from a package store in the county you live in.

Any any out-of-state wine club needs an out-of-state winery direct shipper’s permit to ship wine directly to Texas consumers. : Here’s why it’s hard for Texans to get alcohol shipped directly to them

Can beer be shipped to California?

Certificate of Compliance – A Certificate of Compliance is required of all out-of-state vendors shipping beer into California. Section 23671 of the Business and Professions Code, hereafter referred to as B&P, requires the out-of-state vendor to hold a certificate of compliance issued by the Department prior to shipping any beer into California.

In addition, section 23671 requires certificate of compliance holders to file a report with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, hereafter referred to as CDTFA, showing the quantity of beer shipped by the out-of-state vendor to each licensed importer in California.
Form ABC-410,
Section 23671 B&P provides that an agreement (Form ABC-410) with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (hereafter the Department) must be entered into by all out-of-state vendors shipping beer into the State of California.

For purposes of this agreement, “vendor” means the company that appears as consignor (shipper) on the freight bill of lading. Under the agreement, such out-of-state vendors agree to furnish monthly to the CDTFA, information on the quantities of beer shipped by them to California beer importers.

Separate report forms are required for packaged beer and draught beer. A report must be filed even if no beer is shipped. The CDTFA will furnish you a supply of the report (Form CDTFA-1056) after the certificate of compliance is issued by the Department. The Department will issue a numbered certificate of compliance to each out-of-state brewer, wholesaler, United States importer, or other vendor who executes an agreement.

An ABC-410 should be completed for each organization that will ship beer to licensed importers in California. The completed ABC-410 should be sent to: Alcoholic Beverage Control Attn: Price Posting Unit 3927 Lennane Drive, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95834 If you have branches for which you elect under (a) above to execute separate agreements, additional forms will be furnished upon request.

How much does it cost to ship a 6 pack of beer?

How Much Does It Cost to Ship Beer? – Shipping a four- or six-pack of beer runs about $15 to $16 in most cases. Package shipping fees are often calculated volumetrically, which takes into account the package’s total dimensional size as well as weight.

Can you ship alcohol to Texas?

Texas Package Stores and Wine-Only Package Stores – If your business holds a Package Store (P) or Wine-Only Package Store (Q) permit, you can make alcohol deliveries to consumers within the city or county where your store is located. If your city extends into an adjacent county, you may deliver into that county as long as you stay within 2 miles of the corporate limits of the city.

Your business must also hold a Local Cartage Permit. You are not allowed to ship alcohol through a Carrier’s Permit holder to customers outside of your local delivery area. You can deliver alcohol to a Carrier’s Permit holder to transport to consumers outside of Texas.

Can you check a bag with a 12 pack of beer?

To check or not to check your luggage with alcohol – The next step to traveling with beer and wine is knowing whether or not you can bring it through security as a carry-on or if it will need to be checked and travel in the cargo hold. As anyone who has traveled on a plane in the last few years knows, the TSA has strict rules about flying with liquids.

That pertains to alcoholic liquids as well.
For carry-on, you can only bring bottles that are less than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters and are secured in a single quart-sized plastic bag.
But in checked bags, you can bring up to 1.3 gallons or 5 liters per passenger.
So, if you want to buy more than a mini bottle, you’ll also have to pay those checked baggage fees.

Another thing to keep in mind is the alcohol content when flying with alcohol. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, alcoholic beverages that contain “more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol by volume (up to 140 proof)” and are still in their unopened retail packaging can be taken as carry-ons if they are at or under 3.4 ounces.

Can you send beer in the post?

Liquids under 1 litre Items must be securely closed and placed in a leak-proof inner liner, such as a sealed polythene bag and in a leak-proof outer. Mark as ‘FRAGILE’ when sending glass bottles.

Can beer be shipped to NY?

Is It Illegal To Send Alcohol In The Mail From New York State? Some people will never truly know how refreshing it is to have a Labatt Blue, an Ellicottville Brewing beer, or Loganberry wine. Those who don’t live in Western New York are really missing out on the local alcoholic beverages, and you may be wondering if you can send WNY-native alcohol in the mail to the out-of-staters.

I moved to Buffalo almost 6 months ago, but my family, including my younger brother, are still residents of the state of Indiana.
My brother is turning 21 in just a few weeks, and I thought the perfect gift for him would bereceiving some of Western New York’s favorite alcoholic beverages in the mail.
But is it legal to send alcohol in the mail from New York State?
I have bad news and good news for you.
The bad news is that the United States Postal Service (USPS) prohibits sending alcoholic beverages through the mail, but the good news is that you can ship alcohol via couriers, like FedEx or UPS if you’re a licensed alcohol shipper.
Turns out, it’s actually rather complicated to ship liquor in the United States.

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While you could ship alcohol with FedEx or UPS, both companies have strict procedures when doing so. Both require you to enter into an official Alcohol Shipping Agreement to use their services. Depending on what kind of alcohol you are shipping, whether it be wine, beer, or liquor, there may be different shipping agreements required.

There are also a handful of restrictions on “retailer to consumer” shipments, including which U.S. states you’re allowed to send those consumer shipments. When You Ship Alcohol Between States You will need to comply with not only the alcohol shipping laws for the state you are shipping from, but you also have to comply with the shipping laws for the state you are shipping to, which as you might imagine is very complicated.

One thing you should remember is not all U.S. states allow the direct shipment of alcohol to consumers. The states that prohibit this include:

Alabama
Utah
Oklahoma
Kentucky
Mississippi

States that do not allow alcohol to be delivered are:
It sounds confusing, I know, but you should be aware of the loophole when shipping alcohol between states.
The Loophole

There is a loophole that helps people ship beer, liquor, and wine to other states – if that other state allows alcohol to be shipped to consumers. Instead of shipping a bottle from New York state to another state, you can simply find a retailer based in the state you are shipping to and order it from that retailer.

That way the retailer won’t need to cross state lines and it will only need to meet the rules of their state’s alcohol regulation board. SoCan You Ship Alcohol As A Gift? Technically, yes. If you are an individual looking to send wine or beer as a gift, you’ll need to do this through an approved retailer with a license to ship alcohol on your behalf.

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Can I ship beer to Texas?

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission oversees all three tiers — and issues separate permits and licenses for each.
This is where the confusion starts.
Only TABC-licensed carriers can transport alcohol, and only permitted businesses — including those out of state — can sell alcohol to Texas consumers.

Another thing to note: Alcohol cannot be shipped via the U.S. Postal Service. Only TABC-licensed common carriers, which includes most commercial shipping companies, can ship alcohol. The bottom line: Legally, distilled spirits can’t be shipped directly to Texas consumers. They have to be shipped from a package store in the county you live in.

How much beer can I bring into the US?

What Is A Customs Duty? – Customs Duty is a tariff or tax imposed on goods when transported across international borders. The purpose of Customs Duty is to protect each country’s economy, residents, jobs, environment, etc., by controlling the flow of goods, especially restrictive and prohibited goods, into and out of the country.

Dutiable refers to articles on which Customs Duty may have to be paid. Each article has a specific duty rate, which is determined by a number of factors, including where you acquired the article, where it was made, and what it is made of. Also, anything you bring back that you did not have when you left the United States must be “declared.” For example, you would declare alterations made in a foreign country to a suit you already owned, and any gifts you acquired outside the United States.

American Goods Returned (AGR) do not have to be declared, but you must be prepared to prove to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the articles are AGR or pay Customs duty. The Customs Duty Rate is a percentage. This percentage is determined by the total purchased value of the article(s) paid at a foreign country and not based on factors such as quality, size, or weight.

The Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) provides duty rates for virtually every existing item. CBP uses the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUS), which is a reference manual that the provides the applicable tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the U.S.

Duty-Free Shop articles sold in a Customs duty-free shop are free only for the country in which that shop is located. Therefore, if your acquired articles exceed your personal exemption/allowance, the articles you purchased in Customs duty-free shop, whether in the United States or abroad, will be subject to Customs duty upon entering your destination country.

Articles purchased in a American Customs duty-free shop are also subject to U.S.
Customs duty if you bring them into the United States.
For example, if you buy alcoholic beverages in a Customs duty-free shop in New York before entering Canada and then bring them back into the United States, they will be subject to Customs duty and Internal Revenue Service tax (IRT).

Determining Customs Duty – The flat duty rate will apply to articles that are dutiable but that cannot be included in your personal exemption, even if you have not exceeded the exemption. For example, alcoholic beverages. 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.
A joint declaration is a Customs declaration that can be made by family members who live in the same household and return to the United States together.
These travelers can combine their purchases to take advantage of a combined flat duty rate, no matter which family member owns a given item.

The combined value of merchandise subject to a flat duty rate for a family of four traveling together would be $4,000. Purchase totals must be rounded to the nearest dollar amount. Tobacco Products Returning resident travelers may import tobacco products only in quantities not exceeding the amounts specified in the personal exemptions for which the traveler qualifies (not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars if arriving from other than a beneficiary country and insular possession).

Any quantities of tobacco products not permitted by a personal exemption are subject to detention, seizure, penalties, abandonment, and destruction.
Tobacco products are typically purchased in duty-free stores, on sea carriers operating internationally or in foreign stores.
These products are usually marked “Tax Exempt.

For Use Outside the United States,” or “U.S. Tax Exempt For Use Outside the United States.” For example, a returning resident is eligible for the $800 duty-free personal exemption every 31 days, having remained for no less than 48 hours beyond the territorial limits of the United States except U.S.

If the resident declares 400 previously exported cigarettes and proves American Goods Returning (AGR), the resident would be permitted or allowed to bring back his AGR exempt from Customs duty. If the resident declares 400 cigarettes, of which 200 are proven AGR or previously exported and 200 not AGR or not previously exported, the resident would be permitted to bring back his 200 previously exported cigarettes tax and Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) free under his exemption. The tobacco exemption is available to each adult 21 years of age or over.

Cuba: In December 2014, President Obama announced his intention to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. The President did not lift the embargo against Cuba. Absent a democratic or transitional government in Cuba, lifting the embargo requires a legislative statutory change.

Since the announcement, however, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has amended the Cuba Assets Control Regulations (CACR), effective January 16, 2015, to authorize travel within certain categories to and from Cuba and to allow certain imports from and exports to Cuba.

All travelers, including those from Cuba, must comply with all applicable laws and regulations. This includes the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) (2016) limitations on personal exemptions and rules of duty extended to non-residents and returning U.S.

Residents.
Persons subject to U.S.
Jurisdiction are authorized to engage in all transactions, including payments necessary to import certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs as determined by the State Department and set forth in the State Department’s Section 515.582 list located at FACT SHEET: U.S.

Department of State Section 515.582 List, On October 17, 2016, the Office of Foreign Asset Control relaxed restrictions so authorized travelers, arriving direct from Cuba, are now able to bring Cuban merchandise for personal use back to the United States and qualify for the U.S.

Resident exemption (HTSUS 9804.00.65, which allows up to $800 total in goods, and adults 21 and older may include 1 liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars).
This exemption also applies to travelers, arriving from any country in the world, with declared Cuban merchandise.
Declared amounts in excess of the exemption are subject to a flat 4% rate of duty, and any applicable IRS taxes, pursuant to HTSUS 9816.00.20 and 19 CFR 148.101, which impose a duty rate of 4% of the fair retail value on goods from a Column 2 country.

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Regarding goods: The Department of State will, in accordance with the State Department’s Section 515.582, issue a list of prohibited goods. Placement on the list means that any listed good falls within certain Sections and Chapters of the HTSUS which do not qualify for this exception.

Regarding entrepreneurs : The Cuban entity must be a private business, such as a self-employed entrepreneur or other private entity, not owned or controlled by the Government of Cuba.
Travelers engaging in these transactions are required to obtain evidence that demonstrates the goods purchased were obtained from a Cuban entrepreneur, as described above, and should be prepared to furnish evidence of such to U.S.

Government authorities upon request. Evidence may include a copy of the entrepreneur’s license and/or an invoice and/or purchase order demonstrating the goods were purchased from a specific Cuban entrepreneur. Whether a traveler presents adequate evidence that a good qualifies from importation and that it was bought from a licensed independent Cuban entrepreneur shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the inspecting CBP officer.

Imports under Section 515.582 (i.e., imports from licensed independent entrepreneurs not on the Department of State’s prohibited list) must comply with all current U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) formal and informal entry requirements, as applicable.
This means that, while there is no value cap on the amount of goods that may be imported under this provision, the applicable duties in the HTSUS must be considered.

In particular, HTSUS 9804.00.65 allows for the duty-free importation of personal-use articles from a Column 2 country when the fair retail value of such goods is under $800. Also see 19 C.F.R.148.33. HTSUS 9816.00.20 establishes a duty rate of 4% of the fair retail value for personal-use articles under $1,000 imported from a Column 2 country.

Thus, any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate. Any articles valued over $1800, regardless of whether for personal use, will be subject to entry and should be classified, appraised, and assessed duty appropriately under the specific HTSUS Column 2 rates.

Also see 19 C.F.R.148.101 and 148.102. Any commercial importation, i.e., not for personal use, is subject to entry requirements and payment of applicable duties, fees, and taxes. While these revised regulations may facilitate certain travel and trade with Cuba, all other laws and regulations applicable to international travel and the importation/exportation of goods remain in full effect.

This means that all United States agency requirements applicable to a particular importation must be met and fully complied with, such as the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Alcoholic Beverages One American liter (33.8 fl.

oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your returning resident personal exemption if:

You are at least 21 years old. It is intended exclusively for your personal use and not for sale. It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.

Federal and state regulations allow you to bring back one liter of an alcoholic beverage for personal use duty-free. However, states may allow you to bring back more than one liter, but you will have to pay any applicable Customs duty and IRT. While federal regulations do not specify a limit on the amount of alcohol you may bring back beyond the personal exemption amount, unusual quantities may raise suspicions that you are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as for resale.

CBP officers enforce the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) laws, rules, and regulations and are authorized to make on-the-spot determinations that an importation is for commercial purposes. If such determination is made, it may require you to obtain a permit and file a formal entry to import the alcohol before the alcohol is released.

If you intend to bring back a substantial quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should contact the U.S. Port of Entry (POE) through which you will be re-entering and make prior arrangements for the importation. Also, state laws might limit the amount of alcohol you can bring in without a license.

If you arrive in a state that has limitations on the amount of alcohol you may bring in without a license, that state’s law will be enforced by CBP, even though it may be more restrictive than federal regulations.
We recommend that you check with the state government about their limitations on quantities allowed for personal importation and additional state taxes that may apply.

Ideally, this information should be obtained before traveling. In brief, for both alcohol and cigarettes, the quantities eligible for duty-free treatment may be included in your $800 or $1,600 returning resident personal exemption, just as any other purchase should be.

But unlike other kinds of merchandise, amounts beyond those discussed here as being duty-free are taxed, even if you have not exceeded, or even met, your personal exemption. For example, your exemption is $800 and you bring back three liters of wine and nothing else, two of those liters will be dutiable and IR taxed.

Federal law prohibits business-to-private consumer shipping of alcoholic beverages by mail within the United States. How to Pay Customs Duty – If you owe Customs duty, you must pay it before the conclusion of your CBP processing. You may pay it in any of the following ways:

U.S. currency only. Personal check in the exact amount, drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. You must present identification, such as a passport or U.S. driver’s license. CBP does not accept checks bearing second-party endorsement. Government check, money order or traveler’s check if the amount does not exceed the duty owed by more than $50.

In some locations/POEs, you may pay duty with either MasterCard or VISA credit cards. Increased Duty Rates – Items from Certain Countries Under what is known as its “301” authority, the United States may impose a much higher than normal duty rate on products from certain countries.

Currently, the United States has imposed a 100 percent rate of duty on certain products of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, The Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Ukraine. If you should bring more of any of these products back with you than fall within your exemption or flat rate of duty, (see below) you will pay as much in duty as you paid for the product or products.

While most of the products listed are not the type of goods that travelers would purchase in sufficient quantities to exceed their exemption, diamonds from the Ukraine are subject to the 100 percent duty and might easily exceed the exemption amount. For information on countries that may become subject to a higher than normal duty rate, check the Department of Commerce Web site.

Countries With Free or Reduced Customs Duty Rates – The United States gives Customs duty preferences-that is, conditionally free or subject to reduced rates-to certain designated beneficiary developing countries under a trade program called the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Some products that would otherwise be dutiable are not when they are wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a beneficiary GSP country.

Visit the Office of United States Trade Representative website for additional GSP information. Similarly:

Many products from Caribbean and Andean countries are exempt from duty under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, Andean Trade Preference Act and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act. Many products from certain sub-Saharan African countries are exempt from duty under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Most products from Israel, Jordan, Chile and Singapore may also enter the United States either free of duty or at a reduced rate under the U.S. free trade agreements with those countries. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect in 1994. If you are returning from Canada or Mexico, your goods are eligible for free or reduced duty rates if they were grown, manufactured, or produced in Canada or Mexico, as defined by the Act.

Additional information on these special trade programs can be found on the CBP Web site. Household Effects & Personal Effects – Customs Duty Guidance Household effects conditionally included are duty-free. These include such items as furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings; tools of the trade, professional books, implements, and instruments.

You used them abroad for no less than one year. They are not intended for any other person or for sale.

For Customs purposes, clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, portable radios, and vehicles are considered personal effects and cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects. However, duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year of age.

Up to $1,600 in goods will be duty-free under your personal exemption if the merchandise is from an IP. Up to $800 in goods will be duty-free if it is from a CBI or Andean country. Any additional amount, up to $1,000, in goods will be dutiable at a flat rate (3%).

To take advantage of the Customs duty-free exemption for unaccompanied tourist purchases (mailing/shipping) from an IP or CBI country: Step 1. At place and time of purchase, ask your merchant to hold your item until you send him or her a copy of CBP Form 255 (Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles), which must be affixed to the package when it is shipped.

Step 2. (a) On your declaration form (CBP Form 6059B), list everything you acquired on your trip that is accompanying you. You must also complete a separate Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles form (CBP Form 255) for each package or container that will be sent to you after you arrive in the United States.

This form may be available where you make your purchase. If not, you may find the form on the CBP website. Step 3. When you return to the United States, the CBP officer will: (a) collect Customs duty and any tax due on the dutiable goods you have brought with you; (b) verify your list of unaccompanied articles with your sales receipts; (c) validate your CBP Form 255 to determine if your purchases are duty-free under your personal exemption ($1,600 or $800) or if the purchases are subject to a flat rate of duty.

Step 4. Two copies of the three-part CBP Form 255 will be returned to you.
Send the yellow copy of the CBP Form 255 to the foreign shopkeeper or vendor holding your purchase, and keep the other copy for your records. Step 5.
When the merchant gets your CBP Form 255, he or she must place it in an envelope and attach the envelope securely to the outside wrapping of the package or container.

The merchant must also mark each package “Unaccompanied Purchase.” Please remember that each package or container must have its own CBP Form 255 attached, the most important step to follow in order to gain the benefits allowed under this procedure. Step 6.

If your package has been mailed, the U.S.
Postal Service will deliver it after it clears Customs.
If you owe duty, the Postal Service will collect the duty along with a postal handling fee.
If a freight service transports your package, they will notify you of its arrival and you must go to their office holding the shipment and complete the CBP entry procedure.

If you owe duty or tax, you will need to pay it at that time in order to secure the release of the goods. You could also hire a customs customhouse broker to do this for you. However, be aware that customhouse brokers are private businesses and are not CBP employees, and they charge fees for their services.

If freight or express packages from your trip landed in the U.S.
Before you return and you have not made arrangements to pick them up, CBP will authorize their placement into general order bonded warehouse or public storage after 15 days (days for perishable, flammable, explosives).
This storage and all other related charges (transportation, demurrage, handling) will be at your risk and expense.

If the goods are not claimed within six months, they will be sold at auction. Per U.S. Postal Service regulations, packages sent by mail and not claimed within 30 days from the date of U.S. arrival will be returned to the sender unless the amount of duty is being protested.