As with all that have traveled abroad, especially with firearms, we are familiar with the safeguard of completing form 4457. It is my understanding that this form declares that the property was in your possesion when leaving the U.S. and is NOT subject to import duty.

In preparation of my upcoming plainsgame management hunt in Namibia, I register the following: 1) Winchester model 70 338 caliber, Sr.# 1234xxx. Made in USA

2) Leupold VX3 scope Sr# 456XX Made in USA.

The humor of this exercise became apparent upon returning home and reviewing my packing list.

Chukka boots made in China
6 pr. socks made in Pakistan
6 pr. underwear made in Vietnam
3 cotton tee shirts made in Haiti
3 long sleeved shirts made in Thailand
Hunting jacket made in Vietnam
Hunting cap made in China
3 hunting trousers made in China
Heavy belt made in China
Ammo culling belt made in Spain
leather gloves made in Korea
Pentax pocket camera made in Japan
Pentax binos made in Japan(early model)
Hunting knife made in Germany
Suitcase made in China
leather knapsack made in China
IPOD made in China
Cigars made in Dominican Republic
Cigar lighter made in China
Flashlight made in China

And finally, 60 rds of Fed. Premium ammo made in USA which I do NOT plan on returning to the US.

Something seems to be in reverse here.

Geoff

If they were dutiable items, they could have ordered you to pay or forfeit the items.

George

George,
All of the items listed are subject to import duty.

Geoff

What is really strange is that the rifle and scope are both made in the USA and would therefore not be imports subject to duty. At least that's my understanding, but of course the intended use of the 4457 by U.S. agencies is NOT what foreign governments use it for. It has become a USA proof of ownership/firearm license to the rest of the world. The DHS now views it in the same light apparently. Silly.

You could start by not buying China made.

Based on two trips to Africa, and several other places, I doubt anyone here at Customs cares about clothing, etc. It's the high ticket items you might have bought overseas that concern them.

My cigars are Nicaraguan...

I just had rifles and scopes on the 4457 the previous two trips.

I found out I could just have had my county sheriff cut me a note saying he knows me, and that I had the rifles (SN & make/model/caliber) here before I left.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:

I found out I could just have had my county sheriff cut me a note saying he knows me, and that I had the rifles (SN & make/model/caliber) here before I left.

Rich

Do as you wish Rich but I wouldn't recommend anyone else in their right mind trust their ability to clear customs in .....say.......Los Angeles with a note from a sheriff in .......say.......Idaho.

Good luck with that.

You're packing too much clothes.

I called my nearest office to transact this process of beauracratic dredgery. They suggested I set up an appointment, 'here we go' I thought. So yesterday I went and found the offie in some obscure part of large office building. The gentleman couldn't have been nicer or more polite and had a sincere interest in m trip. Wrote his name and number on the form and said if here were any issues have them call him directly. Go figure

u can get a 4457 on line

Yup, that's the easy part. You still need to present the items in person for inspection, verification and have the form signed and stamped. If there's any empty space on the declared items part they fill it in with red ink (or should I say tape)just so you can't add something later. Not much fun if one of these offices are not nearby. I guess you could take a chance at your airport on deoarture but I'm pretty sure they'd be on coffee break.

Just got back from Anchorage airport customs office. Easy process the last three rifles I did.

In regard to firearms, there is really no chance that you'll be charged import duties upon your return if you don't have your 4457. You'll just have the firearms confiscated.

You see, the reason for proving that you owned them prior to your departure is not like the situation with a Swiss watch, ie., to avoid paying import duties since the customs office suspects you purchased it overseas. With firearms, if you did not own them when you left and therefore acquired them overseas, then you are "importing" them, and attempting to do so without an import permit (which is not necessary for a Swiss watch, a diamond ring, or a cookoo clock.) If you are "importing" firearms without a proper import permit, then they will be confiscated, not taxed.

It is true that, as with any dutiable good, you can theoretically use a purchase receipt from a U.S. source, obviously dated prior to your departure from the U.S., to prove prior ownership of firearms. However, that's a bit dicey compared to simply listing them on a 4457.

No one forced you to buy foreign made stuff; your personal sense of cost/value for the above items did.