CUSTOMS! Can anyone Gimme the lowdown??

johnk123

Ok, i'v spent like, the last 10 days filtering through loads of posts on boards about new york and i'v found it fantastic!(Would have been real handy on other trips) But one of my main questions still remains vague...... CUSTOMS? the dreaded customs! Like iv read basically the entire Revenue Commission Webpage and its full of crap about receiving gifts etc. What about shopping in US?

Whats legal? And what's not?

So... can anyone give me the lowdown?? What happens really? do they just say "come here, let me search your bag?" or whats the story??? If they open a bag, find stuff, do they ask you to pay the import duty?? or send a bill to your home address?

By the way, im not trying to defraud the customs, im just wondering what is the actual law regarding shopping etc in the states

Any help will really be greatly appreciated!!! Any at all,
Thanks in advance..... JK

Pythia

You'll most likely be fine. No one really ever gets searched.

I think you're allowed bring about e150 worth back tax free, officially.

Just don't be an idiot and bring back 40 iphones in their boxes or something.

BuffyBot

Right, I've just deleted quite a few posts on this topic.

This is a general reminder to all posters: Remember to read the forum charter which expressly prohibits advice on how to bypass customs

johnk123

Sorry BuffyBot, i might have started something bad....... but please keep on topic posters. I think I should be alright though, as customs go anyway. And i won't be bringing home any iphones, promise!

Mr. Presentable

Hi johnk123, they're after smugglers and commercial imports. Goods bought (within reason) as gift or for personal use are not usually stopped. However, from the horses mouth, so to speak:

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/faqs/faq_cat5.htm

Savman

Safest option when you collect your bags in Dublin Airport is to just run as fast as you can. Hopefully you'll be ok.

I trid doing reading on it before but they make it all very wishy washy and the lines are blurry. So long as you're not bringing thousands of cigs back or something dodgy then you should be fine.

johnk123

Savman wrote: »

Safest option when you collect your bags in Dublin Airport is to just run as fast as you can. Hopefully you'll be ok.

I trid doing reading on it before but they make it all very wishy washy and the lines are blurry. So long as you're not bringing thousands of cigs back or something dodgy then you should be fine.

I agree,trying to read up on the whole thing is a nightmare! But yep, my flight arrives back into dublin at 5.00AM irish time, and knowing irish staff, they'll all probably be still rolling out of bed!!

Interesting you say "run" in dublin. Is that where they check for it, or is it US??? I think I know what you mean though. Is that in the place just to the side of the final walkway before you leave the baggage belts and head for the front??? I'v seen bags been searched their, and cigerettttes taken off people etc

mikedragon32

johnk123 wrote: »

I agree,trying to read up on the whole thing is a nightmare! But yep, my flight arrives back into dublin at 5.00AM irish time, and knowing irish staff, they'll all probably be still rolling out of bed!!

Interesting you say "run" in dublin. Is that where they check for it, or is it US??? I think I know what you mean though. Is that in the place just to the side of the final walkway before you leave the baggage belts and head for the front??? I'v seen bags been searched their, and cigerettttes taken off people etc

There are plenty of Customs officers in the green and red channels, specifically because between 4:30 and 6:00am there are at least 5 flights coming in from NY and Boston.

Your bags would only be checked in the US by TSA as part of routine security procedures and they won't care if you've got any number of iPods or iPhones or whatever. Customs here are on the lookout for people coming through on a regular basis and then take folks at random too but so long as you're not one person coming through with two huge suitcases or something that might arouse suspicion, you'll be fine.

Savman

I worked in the airport for 5 odd years, and there are indeed plenty of 'em around for those morning flights from the US. It all depends on what you plan bringing home I guess. A couple bits and piece it won't be worth anyone's while going thru the rigmarole but if you're extracting the urine they'll probably be there waiting for ye.

Or not. There's no definite answer.