An arriving nonresident who is in transit to a place outside U.S. Customs territory may take with him through U.S. Customs territory for carriage to such place articles not exceeding $200 in aggregate value (including not more than 4 liters of alcoholic beverages) without the payment of duty or internal revenue taxes as provided in subheading 9804.00.40, Chapter 98, U.S. Note 3, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202).

[T.D. 73-27, 38 FR 2449, Jan. 26, 1973, as amended by T.D. 78-394, 43 FR 49788, Oct. 25, 1978; T.D. 89-1, 53 FR 51264, Dec. 21, 1988; T.D. 97-82, 62 FR 51771, Oct. 3, 1997]

(a) Exemption. A nonresident arriving in the United States, regardless of age, is entitled under subheading 9804.00.20, and Chapter 98, U.S. Note 3, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202), to entry free of duty and internal revenue tax for his wearing apparel, articles of personal adornment, toilet articles, and similar personal effects. “Similar personal effects” include all articles intended and appropriate for the personal use of the nonresident while traveling, such as hunting and fishing equipment, wheelchairs for invalids or crippled persons, pet and hunting dogs, and the like.

(b) Application of exemption. The exemption applies only to articles which were actually owned by the nonresident and in his possession abroad at the time of, or prior to, his departure for the United States. The articles must be appropriate for the personal use of the nonresident, and intended only for such use and not as a gift for another person nor for sale.

[T.D. 73-27, 38 FR 2449, Jan. 26, 1973, as amended by T.D. 89-1, 53 FR 51264, Dec. 21, 1988]

(a) For personal use. Fifty cigars, or 200 cigarettes, or 2 kilograms of smoking tobacco, and not exceeding 1 liter of alcoholic beverages may be passed free of duty and internal revenue tax under subheading 9804.00.25 and Chapter 98, U.S. Note 3, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) (19 U.S.C. 1202), when brought in by an adult nonresident for his personal use, and not for commercial use or to be given to another person. This exemption for tobacco products may be applied proportionately. The exemption may be applied to more than one kind of alcoholic beverages but not to an aggregate volume of more than 1 liter for one adult nonresident.

(b) For gifts. A nonresident who is allowed the $100 gift exemption (see § 148.44) may include not more than 100 cigars under such exemption from duty and internal revenue tax, provided the cigars accompany him and are to be disposed of only as bona fide gifts.

[T.D. 73-27, 38 FR 2449, Jan. 26, 1973, as amended by T.D. 78-394, 43 FR 49789, Oct. 25, 1978; T.D. 80-19, 45 FR 45580, July 7, 1980; T.D. 89-1, 53 FR 51264, Dec. 21, 1988]

(a) Exemption. An arriving nonresident who intends to remain in the United States for not less than 72 hours is entitled to claim as free of duty and internal revenue tax under subheading 9804.00.30 and Chapter 98, U.S. Note 3, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202), articles not over $100 in aggregate value (not including alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, but including not more than 100 cigars) which accompany him and are to be disposed of by him as bona fide gifts. See § 148.43(b) for limitations on cigars under this exemption.

(b) Frequency of allowance. The exemption for gifts may be allowed only if the nonresident has not claimed the exemption within the immediately preceding 6 months.

[T.D. 73-27, 38 FR 2449, Jan. 26, 1973, as amended by T.D. 78-394, 43 FR 49789, Oct. 25, 1978; T.D. 89-1, 53 FR 51265, Dec. 21, 1988]

Nonresidents are entitled to entry free of duty and internal revenue tax under subheading 9804.00.35 and Chapter 98, U.S. Note 3, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (19 U.S.C. 1202), for automobiles, trailers, aircraft, motorcycles, bicycles, baby carriages, boats, horse-drawn conveyances, horses, and similar means of transportation and the usual equipment accompanying them, if such articles are imported in connection with the arrival of the nonresident to be used in the United States only for the transportation of the nonresident, his family and guests, and such incidental carriage of articles as may be appropriate to his personal use of the conveyance.

[T.D. 73-27, 38 FR 2449, Jan. 26, 1973, as amended by T.D. 89-1, 53 FR 51265, Dec. 21, 1988]

(a) Sale resulting in forfeiture. The following articles or their value (to be recovered from the importer) upon their sale, shall be subject to forfeiture in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 98, Subchapter IV, U.S. Note 1, HTSUS (19 U.S.C. 1202), unless the procedure set forth in paragraph (b) of this section is followed:

(1) Any jewelry or similar articles of personal adornment having an aggregate value of $300 or more which have been allowed an exemption under § 148.42, if sold within 3 years of the date of importation.

(2) Any conveyance or its equipment allowed an exemption under § 148.45, if sold within 1 year after the date of importation.

(b) Procedure permitting sale. Articles described in paragraph (a) of this section may be sold if, prior to the time of sale, payment is made to a port director of the duty which would have been payable at the time of entry if the article had been entered without the benefit of the applicable exemption.

(c) Permissible sales. A sale pursuant to a judicial order or in liquidation of the estate of a decedent is not a basis for any liability for duty or forfeiture.

[T.D. 73-27, 38 FR 2449, Jan. 26, 1973, as amended by T.D. 89-1, 53 FR 51265, Dec. 21, 1988]