Duty or taxes at airport when moving back to mainland?

Check with the airline but I believe it is $25 for the first checked bag , $35 for the second per person and not weigh more then 50 lbs Or fee goes up substantially to about $90 depending on weight. One carry on per person is allowed plus a small item such as a purse. There should not be custom charges for personal items.

You might save yourself some money by mailing those things back through USPS. When in Italy I mailed things back rather than pay the high fees after my free first checked bag and even from there it was cheaper than the extra bag fees.

Checked bag fees charged by the airlines has nothing to do with taxation on items/Customs when leaving the territory. OP, the answer is no. Go into the airport prior to your departure date and pick up the customs declaration forms so you can fill them out at home.

You ARE, as the previous posters noted, in for quite a chunk of change in checked baggage charges so good advice to ship a lot of that stuff back via USPS. Hint - the sewing machine may not be worth the checked baggage fee and they sell very quickly here! Good luck with the move!

You probably already know this but make sure you have all the paperwork necessary for the cat - up to date shots, health certificate ...

Mailing your stuff via the postal service would probably be cheaper than paying the extra bag fees. Sending via Priority Mail and insured would probably be cheaper than paying the extra fees at the airport.

Mailing your stuff via the postal service would probably be cheaper than paying the extra bag fees. Sending via Priority Mail and insured would probably be cheaper than paying the extra fees at the airport.

Already suggested earlier but unless the mailed goods are needed immediately, much less expensive to send them regular parcel post - which is now trackable. A box recently mailed to me took only two weeks.

Thanks for all the tips, and sorry that I wasn't clear enough with the original question. We're all set with airline baggage fees and cat certificate. We've also got a bunch of packages (the heavy stuff) ready to send via flat rate USPS, but will look into the regular USPS shipping rates. The question had more to do with the declaration form that you fill out at the airport. For example, visitors returning to USA have to declare the liquor they bought, etc. Since it will be obvious that we're moving back to the States (forgot to mention a suitcase full cuddly bears), what will we declare on the form, and will they charge customs/duty/etc. for bringing a ton of personal goods from VI to USA?

Thanks for your patience and prompt responses!

... what will we declare on the form, and will they charge customs/duty/etc. for bringing a ton of personal goods from VI to USA?

Only any luxury goods recently purchased here (jewelry, etc.) and liquor which are above the allowed duty-free limit. Your personal used belongings are exempt. Pick up the forms now and you'll easily figure it out if you follow the instructions.

are you taking back things like cigarettes , alcohol , jewelry or souvenirs? or just all of your own stuff

We're taking just our own stuff - no room for jewelry, souvenirs or alcohol.

you should not have to pay anything at all. you have nothing to declare because you did not specifically buy anything to take back to the states

Thank you everyone for your prompt responses. One less thing to worry about! Even so, I can guarantee you that there will be a tear in my beer as we're leavin' on a jet plane ...

Thank you everyone for your prompt responses. One less thing to worry about! Even so, I can guarantee you that there will be a tear in my beer as we're leavin' on a jet plane ..

Every time I arrive on STT, I walk off the plane and take a deep, satisfying Ocean breeze. When leaving I always take one last look, with a great deal of sadness that I cannot stay.

The price of a non-peak first class ticket or two which includes lot's of checked luggage and generally no over weight fees (50-70lbs) may be cheaper than some/all those checked bags.