A customs declaration is a form that lists the details of goods that are being imported or exported when a citizen or visitor enters a customs territory (country's borders).[1] Most countries require travellers to complete a customs declaration form when bringing notified goods (alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, animals, fresh food, plant material, seeds, soils, meats, and animal products) across international borders. Posting items via international mail also requires the sending party to complete a customs declaration form.
The declaration form helps the customs to control goods entering the country, which can affect the country's economy, security or environment. A levy duty may be applied.
Travellers have to declare everything they acquired abroad and possibly pay customs duty tax on goods. Some countries offer a duty-free allowance of certain products which may not need to be declared explicitly.[2]
Types of forms
Customs declaration used for parcels.
When an individual is transporting the goods, the form is called a customs arrival card, or a landing card, or an entry voucher. The traveller is required to fill out the form, sign and submit to the customs or border protection officer before entering the country.[3]
When an individual or an organization ships goods across the borders, one must use other customs declaration forms, such as a commercial invoice, or a proforma invoice, an import declaration form, an ATA Carnet, or a re-export declaration. Incoterms on these forms define the shipment and customs declaration. A Harmonized System Code (Hs code or harmonized code) might be required to define the type of goods and their associated tax rate. The importer is usually required to provide information about the goods' country of origin and the certificate of origin. Errors on the forms can cause delays or confiscation of the goods. For that reason, importers often use a customs brokerage to clear goods through customs.[4]
Some nations require a customs declaration form from each person crossing the border, while other nations require one form per family traveling together. A family is usually defined as family members residing in the same household, who are related by marriage, adoption, blood, or domestic relationship.[5][6][7]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form 6059B (arrival card)
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection handles the customs imports and exports of Australia. Incoming passengers are required to declare for inspection all food, plant material and animal products on arrival in Australia.[8]
Each Canadian resident returning to Canada can have a personal exception on goods and gifts purchased or received in another country. Personal exceptions are based on the length of the absence from the country. 24 hours, 48 hours, or 7 days.
Alcohol limitations: 1.5 L of wine or 1.14 L of liquor or 24 x 355 mL cans or bottles (8.5 L) of beer or ale. (Must be of legal age in the province of importation.) Tobacco limitations, 200 cigarettes, 200 tobacco sticks, 50 cigars or cigarillos and 200 grams of manufactured tobacco (Special Duty may apply).
Each individual must declare travelling with $10,000 or more in cash.[9][10]
The UKBA regularly cooperates with the Police, such as at this customs raid. The officer on the left is a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
Border Force is a British law enforcement command within the Home Office, responsible for frontline border control operations at air, sea and rail ports in the United Kingdom. Previously part of the UK Border Agency which was replaced in 2013 by UK Visas and Immigration which now manages applications for people who want to visit, work, study or settle in the UK.
The Customs Declaration Service is also used for declarations on goods movements to or from Northern Ireland, including goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland,[35] but other customs declarations will continue to use CHIEF pending a longer-term move to the CDS. HMRC explains that "CHIEF is a reliable and robust platform" but "its age means it can’t easily keep pace with new technology".[36]
U.S. Global Entry Kiosks, that can make a Customs declaration for the traveller.
U.S. Customs asks a Head of Household to complete the form (CBP Form 6059B as of July2016[update]). Family members residing in the same household, who are related by marriage, adoption, blood, or domestic relationship, can use one form.
For returning U.S. residents: The personal duty exemption for each family member is $800.00. For example, a family of five members returning is allowed a combined personal duty exemption of $4,000 (calculated as $800 for each family member multiplied by 5).[5][37]
For international visitors: US laws allow visitors some exemptions, like tobacco, gifts, personal effects, etc. The head of a household can complete a form for a family. It is good to check the current duties and exemptions to avoid tax or loss of goods.
Anyone travelling with more than $10,000 must declare it.[5][38][39]
If exporting goods that are valued more than $2,500, an extra form is required: the Electronic Export Information (EEI) form. The Automated Export System (AES) is the system used by U.S. exporters to electronically declare their international exports. This information is used by the Census Bureau to help compile U.S. export and trade statistics.[41]
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