is it illegal to send a couple cartons to states for personal use? i will be taking two cartons on plane but that won't last long

Yes it is illegal. they opened my box took 3 cartons. Got a letter a week later saying I had 90 days to pick them up in san juan. Last summer i had no problem. I think it is hit or miss

It is illegal to mail duty free cigarettes to the states....FYI, you can take 5 cartons to the states with you duty free when you are travelling.

Used to send them all the time but last time they got caught in customs ....
the good old days are over.

Pamela

You can declare 5 cartons at the STX Air Port and if you connect in PR you can buy an additional 5 cartons to carry on the plane providing you don't leave the secured area.

On the side of each pack: "U.S. Tax Exempt - For Use Outside U.S" Only take what is allowable, or you will be subjecting yourself to possible repercussions....JMHO.

~Marty

"We're all here...cuz we're not all there!"

Check out the Indian reservations' websites. Some sell cigs cheaper & mail them within the US.

~Trade~

If you Declare 5 cartons when you leave STX and connect in PR and purchase an additional 5 cartons in PR no declaration is required as long as your in the secured area it's not illegal.

Hey, Liz, I'm not arguing, as I'm not 100%, but I believe that, according to the Customs Laws, if you are allowed only 5 cartons and you show up with ten, then you may be liable for tax evasion...something to think about...caveat emptor.....

~Marty

"We're all here...cuz we're not all there!"

When you purchase and make your declaration and go thru customs on STX with your five cartons, and connect in PR and purchase an additional 5 cartons in PR (different custom zone in transit) no declaration is required "provided you stay in the secured area" this is not true if you connect in MIA.

Trade,
Good idea about the indian reservations but they are not always cheaper, I bought a carton at the local indian reservation before I left home in Sept. and it was $59.00 for one carton (and no tax). I would guess that there would be cheaper places in other parts of the states....at least I would hope. At least I didn't make the mistake of stocking up BEFORE I got to STX like I did last year.....LOL

Congress was set to vote to make sending tobacco thru the mail illegal, but they pushed the vote back. It is still legal to send tobacco thru the mail (US Postal Service). I don't know how much cigarettes cost in V.I. but they are almost $100 per carton in Alaska. Here is a link to a reservation in Oklahoma. it takes a few weeks to get your account set up. They take the money directly from your checking account with no finacial reporting to anyone. I have used this place so I know the are legit, be careful some mail order tobacco places are just scams. [www.oklahoma-outlet.com]

A friend's parents that live in Michigan were buying their cigs thru the mail from someplace that didn't report....the State of Michigan hit them later for over EIGHT GRAND in taxes!!! Eeek!!

~Marty

"We're all here...cuz we're not all there!"

Quote:

Lizard
When you purchase and make your declaration and go thru customs on STX with your five cartons, and connect in PR and purchase an additional 5 cartons in PR (different custom zone in transit) no declaration is required "provided you stay in the secured area" this is not true if you connect in MIA.

Do you know where I can find this info on the internet so I can print it out and carry it with me next time I go? It'd sure be nice to show up in Michigan with 10 cartons instead of five...they make great gifts for smokers! I only hafta pay $17.99/carton at Little K-mart...friends in MI think I spent a load of money on them! Haha!

~Marty

"We're all here...cuz we're not all there!"

You go through Customs in the VI with the 5 cartons. If you're going through PR, you don't go through Customs again so they don't check. However, the cigs in PR aren't as cheap as they are here but still cheaper than the mainland and you don't go through Customs when you get off the plane in the States..

~Trade~

Most states monitor the sales of smokes to their states from Indian reservations. If you buy them and do not pay the state taxes at the time of sale, or when you file your taxes, most states will actually jam the equivalent of a carton of smokes up your bum.....or just make you pay HUGE penalties.....OOOO, just the thought....Ouch!!! Not trying to scare anyone, but in the states, internet sales are now monitored (not just smokes)and if you forget to declare it, and they get the report from a company you are a "tax cheat"......OUCH!!

Yeah, Jay, that's pretty much what happened to my friends' parents...

So, Trade, does that mean that it's still, technically, illegal to do it, but can be done without much risk?

~Marty

"We're all here...cuz we're not all there!"

I have no idea if it's illegal but if they're in your carry-on & you don't go through a Customs checkpoint on the mainland, they're not too concerned but I don't smoke & have never done it.

~Trade~

If you purchase the cigarettes in another custom zone PR leave the secured area you will have to declare the cigarettes purchased in PR. If you stay in the secured area you will not have to clear customs again. There is no time limit required for a stay in PR or STX as other Carib islands (48hrs for duty free). You are bringing back Allowed amount from two different custom zones via your travels. If there was a time requirement for duty free on PR it would then be illegal, however there is no time requirement so it's legal.

Be careful, Tobacco is the deadliest drug in the United States, and it's legal! Our laws frequently make no sense.

I know, it's natural! Like cannabis. But deadlier!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2009 01:51PM by rotorhead.

I stand corrected there is no customs check in PR just an agri check of baggage when returning to mainland. So buy em if you gotta.

Better check out the Electronic cig and start saving money

Yeah, I, myself, already have the Blu Cig electronic cigs...very cool...and I can 'smoke' where smoking isn't allowed! Yay! [www.blucigs.com]

~Marty

"We're all here...cuz we're not all there!"