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Are virgin Island residents of St thomas allow to purchase duty free items like perfumes, jewerly, cigarretes without any limits. The reason that i ask this is because i know Us Citizens are only allowed 1600 allowance of duty free to bring back to the Mainland. In my experience every time i buy something in those stores like tropicana a Perfume or Liquor in Ah riise they always ask me for ID and they always ask me in which cruiseship or hotels i am staying at.
Posted : February 25, 2008 11:48 am
Do you mean can we buy for our own personal use without restrictions, or do you mean can we transport more? We can't transport any more than a visitor can.
Posted : February 25, 2008 12:01 pm
Topic starter
Yes?? you don't have any restrictions when you buy for your personal use???/ For example i decide to buy a Cartier watch cost over 4,000 dollars if i am a resident of the virgin Islands does the 1,600 allowance apply??? and why do Duty free stores are always asking you for your cruiseship name or hotel i do not understand?????
Posted : February 25, 2008 12:41 pm
The duty free stores report large purchases to the department in charge of collecting Customs Duties. Since most buyers of these kinds of items in STT stores are from cruise ships or are staying in the hotels, the stores help to track where the people are housed who the Customs officials need to watch to make sure those buyers report their purchases on their Customs Form when departing the territory.
Residents can buy and consume these goods within the USVI and not pay the Duty on them. If we transport new goods out of the territory, they become subject to the tax.
Posted : February 25, 2008 1:14 pm
Topic starter
What about if i buy a watch in the Virgin Islands over 4,000 dollars and the following month i traveled to Florida while wearing this watch do i have to reported???? when does an item become not new?????
Posted : February 25, 2008 1:28 pm
I believe an item is considered "used" after 1 year.
This document explains it in detail:
http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/travel/moving_goods.ctt/moving.doc
Page 26 may cover the case of the $4000 watch:
QUOTE
Returning Residents
Duty Exemptions for Household and Personal Effects
You may import furniture, dishes, linens, libraries, artwork and similar household furnishings for your personal use free of duty. To be eligible for duty-free exemption, the articles must have either been available for your use or used in a household where you were a resident for one year. The year of use does not need to be continuous, nor does it need to be the year immediately before the date of importation. Personal and household effects entitled to duty-free entry need not accompany you to the United States; you may have them shipped to your U.S. address at a later time if you choose.
UNQUOTE
The document covers various types of travelers (residents, military, immigrants, etc) and goods, so check for your specific case.
Posted : February 25, 2008 2:13 pm
Some stores also track where their customers come from to show where they need to advertise more or if the advertising they're paying for on ships is worth it or not. Some, but certainly not all give discounts to locals.
Posted : February 25, 2008 2:18 pm
Just buy it, don't tell anyone, and get on with your life!
🙂
Posted : February 26, 2008 2:25 am
If you are a resident you can freely travel with whatever you have. When you fill out the customs form you put your address as the VI and they won't bother you. In the old days you were asked to register stuff, like camera equipment, to show them that you were a resident, but I have not seen that done in years.
The only reason they ask you what ship or hotel you are in is because they pay kickbacks to the port lecturers and shopping lecturers at the hotels.
RL
Posted : February 26, 2008 11:02 am
