Sefco's General Advice

On clearing your household goods,
and personal property (including autos)
through US Customs


[click here] if you are looking for information on overseas (non-US) customs clearance.




Inbound to the USA
Informal entries (under $2,000)
and Personal Effects imports


[scroll down]

Household effects and tools of trade or occupation which you take out of the United States are duty free at the time you return if properly declared and entered.

All furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, linens, and similar household furnishings acquired abroad may be imported free of duty, if:

They are not imported for another person or for sale.

They have been used abroad by you for at least one year or were available for use in a household in which you were a resident member for one year.

This privilege does not include articles placed in storage outside the home. The year of use need not be continuous nor does it need to be the year immediately preceding the date of importation. Shipping time may not be included when you compute the "one year of use."

Items such as wearing apparel, jewelry, photograph equipment, tape recorders, stereo components, and vehicles are considered personal articles and cannot be passed free of duty as household effects, although the duty rate on them will be assessed on a devalued basis according to age of the item. Articles imported in excess of your Customs exemption will be subject to duty unless the items are entitled to free entry or prohibited.

The inspector will place the items having the highest rate of duty under your exemption, and duty will be assessed on the lower-rated items.

After deducting your exemptions and the value of any articles duty free, a flat 10 percent rate of duty will be applied to the next $1,000 worth (fair retail value) of merchandise. Any dollar amount of an article or articles over $1,000 will be dutiable at the various rates of duty applicable to the articles.

Articles to which the flat rate of duty is applied must be for your personal use or for use as gifts. You cannot receive this flat-rate provision more than once every 30 days, excluding the day of your last arrival.


[scroll down]




There are special flat rates of duty for articles made in and acquired in either Canada or Mexico.

The flat rate of duty is 5% for articles purchased in the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Guam, whether the articles accompany you or are shipped.

Example: You acquire goods valued at $2,500 from:
U.S. insular possessions:
Total Declared Value: $2,500 Personal

Exemption up to: $1,200 Flat duty rate at 5%: next $1,000 Various rates of duty: remaining $300

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act:
Total Declared Value: $2,500 Personal exemption (free of duty) up to: $ 600 Flat duty rate at 10%: next $1,000 Various rates of duty: remaining $ 900
Other countries or locations:

Total Declared Value: $2,500 Personal exemption (free of duty) up to: $ 400 Flat duty rate at 10%: next $1,000 Various rates of duty: remaining $1,100

The flat rate of duty will apply to any articles which are dutiable and cannot be included in your personal exemption, even if you have not exceeded the dollar amount of your exemption. Example: you are returning from Europe with $200 worth of articles which includes 2 liters of liquor. One liter will be free of duty under your exemption, the other dutiable at 10%, plus any Internal Revenue Tax.

Members of a family residing in one household traveling together on their return to the U.S. will group articles for application of the flat duty rate, no matter which family member may be the owner of the articles. Rates of duty on imported goods are provided for in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. There are two duty rates for each item, known as "column 1" and "column 2." Column 1 rates vary from free (prism binoculars, books, antiques) to 34.6% (man-made fiber wearing apparel) and are applicable to most favored nations. Column 2 rates are higher and apply to products from the following countries:

Afghanistan North Korea Cuba Laos

Note: The tariff duty status accorded these countries is subject to change. Please check with Customs for updated information. Products of the above-listed column 2 countries are dutiable at the column 2 rates of duty, even if purchased in or sent from another country. Example: A crystal vase made in Laos and purchased in Switzerland would be dutiable at the column 2 rate. If the article accompanies you, however, it may be entered under your duty-free personal exemption or the flat rate of duty allowance.

Payment of duty, required at the time of your arrival on articles accompanying you, may be made by any of the following ways: U.S. currency (foreign currency is not acceptable).

Personal check in the exact amount of duty, drawn on a national or state bank or trust company of the United States, made payable to the "U.S. Customs Service."

Government check, money orders or travelers checks are acceptable if they do not exceed the duty amount by more than $50. (Second endorsements are not acceptable. Identification must be presented; e.g. traveler's passport or driver's license.) In some locations you may pay duty with credit cards from Mastercard or VISA.


The above is excerpted from the US Customs web page which you can access direct, for further information.


Also see:
Moving Household Goods to the United States:
A Guide to Customs Regulations
Determining Your Customs Status

See: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/travel/movinghouseholdgoods.ctt/moving.doc

Car importation and clearance: in some cases, can be handled as a "personal property" move, using the 3299 form and treasury supplemental form as noted below. Also see: www.sefco-export.com/carclear.htm




Go to
US Customs on-line

Proceed to their importing & exporting section, and then click on their informal entry section.
Follow through to Moving to the US, where you find information concerning either returning residents or those immigrating to the US.

Property owners: you can clear your own goods directly with US Customs, with or without using an outside broker.

Costs vary depending on the port of entry. SEFCO can make all arrangements on your behalf including selection of and liaison with the CHB Customs House Broker. Customs clearance service charges would be for your account if you choose not to clear your goods directly.

Every major US port of entry / city has a US Customs district office with divisions that handle different types of goods.

US Customs port offices include:
LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH SEAPORT AREA
Address: 300 S. FERRY ST
TERMINAL ISLAND, CA 90731
Port Director IRENE JANKOV
Phone Number 310-514-6910
Fax Number 310-514-6769
Hours of Operation 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Other US Customs port offices are easily found, via their on-line location directory

US Customs Service, New York:
1-800-697-3662 (automated phone response line)

    Sefco Export Management Company, Inc.
    Tel: 718-268-6233


    FIND OUR INFORMATION USEFUL AND INFORMATIVE?

    We know you have a choice.
    Choose to work with Sefco.
    www.sefco-export.com/toproceed.htm

    A typical move, falls under the
    "Informal Entry - Personal Effects" category.

    Fill out your two basic forms: the "3299" and the "Treasury Supplemental" and present these with copies of your shipping documents

      Documents include:
    • a copy of the BL-bill of lading
    • a copy of the packing list
    • a copy of your passport
    • a copy of your visa if not a US citizen
    • a copy of your airline flight ticket for when you enter the US

    CLICK HERE: 3299

    To read instructions and download the US Customs 3299 form.
    Read and print-out the Treasury Supplemental form.

    If you self-clear your incoming consignment, communicate directly with the nearest customs office to verify once your particular import has been released / cleared to go.


    The above constitutes general advice only. Sefco Export is not a US Customs broker. If the situation warrants, we simply employ the services of a US Customs broker at the port of entry-with whom we have normal working relations.

    If you prefer for us to arrange US Customs clearance on your behalf, you will need to complete the US Customs 5291 form. This form gives Sefco and our designated customs broker the authority to clear your household goods and personal effects through US Customs without your presense.

    CLICK HERE: US Customs - Power of Attorney - 5291 form
    www.sefco-export.com/documents/uscustomspoa.pdf (printer friendly)

    Individuals and partnerships will need a second POA page, notarized (ask us) .

    Our Rates for US Destination Delivery Services:
    Please ask us for a specific rate quote covering your particular in-bound (to the US) shipment.



Looking for information related to clearing
your used household goods/personal effects
through customs overseas?
Have a look at our informal guidance section
concerning clearing customs in non-US locations.
Go to: www.sefco-export.com/informal-advice.htm





    IMPORT PROCEDURES REGARDING PORT FEES
    Port fees vary from port to port around the World.

    The consignee is always responsible for any cod-collect charges including port THC terminal handling, storage, SS line port agent fees, duty/taxes (if any).

    Our worldwide D/A destination agents charge for their specifed services only: typically, tending to customs entry/clearance formalities, arranging pier pickup of cargo after it has been cleared (or transport "in bond" to an examination facility), and inland delivery to the agreed destination with any/all attendant services as agreed (complete documentation for insurance purposes, inside of residence delivery, set up, removal of debris on date of delivery).

    The consignee is responsible to directly cover any storage (if any) port deconsolidation or terminal charges as may be due. Neither SEFCO nor its designated full service D/A destination agent is obligated to advance cash funds for any collect charges, storage if any, duties/taxes, THC or port deconsolidation charges.

      THE ONE STOP SHOP - import disbursements of COD collect fees.
      Cost: $ 125.00 minimum handling fee (additional to any shipping/insurance/origin/destination services)
      Plus: Cost of dispursements plus 10% (includies issuing various checks to CET customs examination terminals, stevedores, deconsolidation warehouses, SS line port agents, FedEx costs, messengers). SEFCO can save shippers/consignees considerable time and effort by attending to these matters, for an additional cost.

      Premium One Stop Shop service

    In lieu of our "One Stop Shop" option, the consignee will remain soley responsible to obtain all information from the SS Line and their port agents, and cover all fees. Observation: If the cargo is not routed by SEFCO from the point of origin - then our company would have no say in choosing the port agent at destination - as they are often selected by the steamship lines.

    Read about the shipping industry and "World Port News" www.sefco-export.com/portnewsupdates.htm




courtesy of...

www.sefco-export.com



Read our Sefco Export Advisories  >  CLICK HERE

[Home] | [Easy to Access Online Guides] | [How to Proceed] | [Standard Contract] | [Choose Commodity to be Shipped] | [Photo Gallery]
[Personal Property Shipping Inquiry] | [Heavy Equipment & Commercial Inquiry] | [Online Guides & Site Map] | [Contact Us]
Have a question or comment about SEFCO or the SEFCO website?
Use our international shipping rate request form to advise us of your thoughts.

v.12/2009 ©J.Quinn/sefco-export.com