I plan to go to many of the factory outlets in Italy (by the way, if you haven't gone to them, they are a fantastic bargain). Has anyone tried to send purchases back to the US via the mail, to avoid customs duties?? Anyone been nailed not declaring purchases on the way through customs (not drugs though)?

<BR>Dear Al, <BR>I think you need the advice of an attorney if you're trying to avoid <BR>paying what you're supposed to pay. <BR>I will tell you from experience that if your vendor ships your belongings to you, you will have to pay customs duty when your items arrive. If you pack and ship the items yourself, I'm not sure what happens. <BR>As to being "nailed" by Customs on returning home and not declaring, <BR>you can consult Mrs. Governor Bush <BR>who was recently nailed for quite a pretty sum, I believe the penalties were more than the original value of the items. I think it's like breaking the speed limit. Many people do it every day, but if you're the one who is nailed, it's quite illegal,inconvenient, and expensive.

<BR>Dear Al, <BR>I think you need the advice of an attorney if you're trying to avoid <BR>paying what you're supposed to pay. <BR>I will tell you from experience that if your vendor ships your belongings to you, you will have to pay customs duty when your items arrive. If you pack and ship the items yourself, I'm not sure what happens. <BR>As to being "nailed" by Customs on returning home and not declaring, <BR>you can consult Mrs. Governor Bush <BR>who was recently nailed for quite a pretty sum, I believe the penalties were more than the original value of the items. I think it's like breaking the speed limit. Many people do it every day, but if you're the one who is nailed, it's quite illegal,inconvenient, and expensive.

Packages that you mail to yourself via the US Mail are subject to duty. Items that you personally carry back with you to the US are exempt from duty (as long as they meet the requirements: i.e. under $400 total, legal to imports, etc.). <BR> <BR>If you are buying gifts for friends/relatives, you can send them gifts under $50 with no duty being charged. There is a limit of one gift per day per recipient. There are some other requirements on how to do this, so you should check with customs. I'm sure this info would be on a web site somewhere.

Hi Al, <BR> <BR>Just wondering about these factory outlets.. I will be in Vienna, Florence, Naples, Sorrento, Rome and Sienna in October... which ones should I not miss? <BR> <BR>Amanda

I'm curious?? If you have the money to spend on going to Europe and go to all the factory outlets, then why are you worried about the small amount of duty you would end up paying. That's not fair to the honest people how declare their merchandise and pay their duty. <BR> <BR>People like you in my opinion deserve to have their merchandise seized and or have a penality assessed against then. <BR> <BR>Your friendly Customs Officer

I've never had my bags searched, but my sister has - a random yanking out of line. 6 of us went to Greece (all women, all past our early 20's) and ONE got pulled out of line for a random search. Don't take the chance - the only time I brought back more than $400 of stuff (about $600) I wrote it all down, and figuring I'd pay about $20 (10% of the overage), was all prepared. They charged me $6 - I have no idea why, except that I told them the truth. <BR>There's a website on us customs: http://www.customs.treas.gov/travel/travel.htm <BR>Read it - there are some things that aren't "dutyable" (some antiques, etc.) which might save you paying duty you don't have to. <BR>Don't pay more than you're legally obligated, but don't try to cheat. The cost is high: fines, embarrassment, confiscation of the stuff...

On returning from a trip to Hong Kong I honestly wrote down all the purchases I made, which was several hundred dollars over the duty free limit. The customs officer just waved me through without charging me the duty. I guess I was small potatoes compared to most people coming through from Hong Kong. Your best bet is to be honest.

Al- Just be honest. Don't take any chances (why would you?) If you cheat with something simple like paying your fair duty, do you cheat in other areas of your life like taxes, shoplifting, stealing from your neighbor, lieing to your wife or partner?. Get real- get a life!