Customs duty for gold jewelry?

[Bryan and An 23]

I apologize if this is in the wrong forum...but when I go to bring my fiancee from Vietnam to the USA, we are going to have an engagement party in Vietnam. She will have some pretty valuable gold jewelry that I buy her for the engagement party (necklace, earrings, bracelet etc.). I keep reading different things about whether jewelry would be considered "personal items" and not subject to duty, or whether it would...and if it is, I can't find any information about how much the duty would be. If it's some ridiculous amount, I would rather just sell the jewelry back in Vietnam than pay hundreds of dollars in taxes again to bring it to America. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? I don't know why I can't seem to find a straightforward answer. 

[Fr8dog 312]

 

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/customs-duty-info

 

 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 may import household effects you acquired abroad duty-free if:

• 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. All vehicles are dutiable.

[Bryan and An 23]

Thank you. Seems pretty clear that it's dutiable if it's less than a year old (although how would they know that?) And how would they determine the value? It's a gift to my fiancee for her engagement; why would she be expected to know the value? The whole thing is confusing to me. I can see the point if it's a US citizen going to another country and returning with goods; makes no sense to me to tax a foreigner on HER STUFF when she's immigrating to the US. 

[kquyen 48]

Hi Bryan, im on the same boat here, i’m in the one on the K1 visa. 

Would you mind sharing your fiancee (now wife)’s experience when she arrived at POE? Did she have to pay duties in the end for the jewellery?

 

much appreciated!!

best regards,

Quyen

Edited December 20, 2017 by kquyen

[noraliz73 243]

I’m sure the question would be in the quantity.  A lot of people buy jewelry overseas. I bought 2 bracelets and a necklace in Syria many years ago and wore them.  No one asked about it, but if they had, I would have answered honestly.  There is an amount that a person might get as a gift that is daily use, and then there is stockpiling.  I was given a gold ring by my fiancé and plan to buy a bracelet or something when I go back.  It will be in plain sight of customs, not worth more than $1000 and if asked, I will provide the receipt.  People wear jewelry all the time and there is a difference between that and bringing super massive amounts.  Just be honest if they ask.

[dentsflogged 352]

On 2/19/2017 at 7:26 AM, Bryan and An said:

Seems pretty clear that it's dutiable if it's less than a year old (although how would they know that?) And how would they determine the value?

Pretty easy to tell the age of jewelery - both in the style (which tends to change) and any wear & tear (compare a brand new gold ring to one that's been worn daily for a year and it's easy to see which is which).

As for how they determine the value - jewelry is always stamped with a makers mark and type - ie: my engagement ring is 10k white gold, and even though its a very delicate/dainty ring, it has a tiny 10k stamped on the inside that's still easily readable with the naked eye.  They'll seperate all the pieces based on karat weight and weigh them, determine the value based on that and then any duty will be payable based on it.