Bring purchased items overseas through customs
 

I am returning from Russia after about 6 months coming back through LAX and have purchased approximately $1200-1300 worth of outdoor clothing like moisture wicking underwear, summer suit, wet weather suit, hunting suit, waterproof boots, hot weather shoes, rucksack, military style belt with all sorts of pouches, knives, etc.

Do I understand correctly that I am entitled to an $800 exemption, leaving $500 or so to pay duty on? Is this duty rate 3% so I'd just have to pay about $15?

Duty rates vary by item but assuming all the items you purchase are assessed at the 3% Duty Rate then your calculations are correct. You can go to the US Customs and Border Patrol website www.cbp.gov) to variety duty rates for specific items on your purchase list.

Best advice, declare all the items on your Customs form when you return to the US and let the Customs agent tell you how much you owe. Sometimes when there is only a small amount of duty owed the agents give you a "pass".

Read--most times there is no duty charged. Are these worn?

I don't believe customs forms are handed out to US citizens anymore on arrival. At least not if there are kiosks at the airport.

Forms or no forms, either way it doesn't matter. OP will still have to declare the items.

If using a kiosk there's a question about having "anything to declare. OP should answer that honestly. If no kiosk then OP will indeed have to fill out a Customs Form.

We got custom forms last week from UK. I have never had anyone ask me once about what I bought except in Dublin and he was more interested in what liquor we bought and why. He wanted to know about yellow spot. I would not worry unless asked and then be truthful.

If you used the clothing before coming home, declare them as used. The value plummets.

IMO the key word here is DECLARE, used or not.

As a follow-on: when your passport is "read" it will indicate exactly how long you've been out of the country, too.

Is Russia so ahead of us in outdoor clothing? Does LLBean know about this!!! LOL