Well, I declare! Bringing home the goods - and the receipts to show for it.

Keywords: airport, documents, receipts

So you did a little shopping while you were abroad, did you? Well good for you. Whether you’ve bought enough furniture for an entire house, a fabulous new suit or watch, a car, or a handful of souvenirs to bring to relatives and friends back home, upon your entry into the country, you’ll have to declare your purchases, clear customs and possibly pay duties for your newly acquired bounty.

Your duty is their job: Customs’ mission is to ensure that nothing harmful, potentially harmful, or illegal is brought into the country, including such things as plants, fruits and vegetables, meats, alcohol, automobiles, and animals. Customs officials also want to know about what was purchased on your trip. Goods purchased outside of your own country, such as clothes, jewelry, electronics, furniture, or anything else may be dutiable, and you may be subject to a duty fee upon returning with those items.

The cost of the duty fee varies depending on the item and its worth. Luckily, each person is eligible for an exemption on goods costing up to a certain amount. The amount of the exemption is dependent upon the country you visited, but in most cases will be $800. For some U.S. possessions (such as U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa or Guam), the duty-free exemption is $1600. This exemption can be used toward anything purchased while abroad, except for alcohol and certain tobacco products, which are charged a flat rate of duty instead.

Here’s something worth remembering: Things you packed for your trip, such as expensive jewelry, foreign-made electronics or camera equipment, can be questioned upon your return. If you leave the country with these items, be sure to make note, pack along receipts, or register the items before leaving the country. Otherwise, they can be subject to duty fees upon your return.

Finally, did you know that you can get reimbursed for taxes paid on goods purchased abroad? How cool is that? Give yourself a little extra time at the airport and you can apply for reimbursement of the VAT taxes you paid for goods and services. These refunds must be applied for as you leave the country or you become ineligible to receive them. So, keep a pen (for your forms) and your receipts handy and reap the rewards of being not just a worldly consumer, but a model global citizen.