Imports to the USA may require a duty payment.
Customs authorities control goods traveling between countries. The Customs and Border Protection agency is responsible for regulating customs for the United States of America. Anyone that enters or reenters the United States encounters Customs and Boarder Protection agents. The Agency publishes rules for reentry that cover identification, declaration and fees.
Identification
American citizens entering the United States must verify citizenship by presenting a U.S. passport or passport card, state-issued enhanced driver's license, enhanced tribal card, U.S. military identification and military travel orders, U.S. merchant marine document or a Form I-872 American Indian Card.
Children Identification
Children under sixteen may present an original or copy of a birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a Naturalization Certificate for identification.
Non-Citizens
Some non-citizens must apply for entry into the United States. Lawful permanent residents of the United States, refugees and asylees will continue must carry a Permanent Resident Card or Form I-551 or other evidence of permanent resident, refugee or asylee status to apply for entry into the United States .
USDA Certificates and Permits
You must carry permits and other certificates to bring animals, plants and other commodities that are regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Health Inspection Department into the country.
Import Declaration
You must supply a declaration document with some items that are entering the country upon entering the United States. The declaration includes information about the item and its value. You must declare items that you received, bought, inherited or purchased at duty free shops outside of the country upon entering the United States. The declaration must include any items that a person intends to sell or use for business purposes, including items that are from the United States and reentering the country. You must declare repairs or alterations that occurred with items in another country upon entering the United States, even if those items are from the United States and reentering the country.
Duty
People that bring dutiable items into the United States pay a duty. A duty is like an tax on imported goods. Most imported items have specific duty rates. Duty rates are determined based on where the item originated, manufacture location and composition or what the item is made out of. Higher duty rates apply to items from certain countries. 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.
Duty-Free Excemptions
Duty-free exceptions apply to non-prohibited items that you declare upon entering the United States. These exemptions apply to items for personal or household use things that you will give away. An $800 duty-free exemption applies to items that are in your possession upon entering the country. A $200 exception applies for a person returning from oversees stays that exceed forty-eight hours unless they return from Mexico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
