Do I need to declare my money (over $10K) in the US if I'm in transit?
I'm travelling from south America to Toronto via Houston. Do I need to declare the cash I bring to Canada at Houston Airport?
Let me add some information for clarification purposes: we are travelling as a family and we plan to settle, legally, in Canada. We have proof of that by the Canadian government.
UPDATE 2: I did bring well over 10k into Canada, declared it at Houston, filled two FINCEN 105 forms, with the exact amount, no questions were asked, I did explained, however, we are starting a new life in Canada and show all the proper paperwork. Everything went really well and my money is with me. I'm adding this for anyone else who needs an answer.
Best Answer
WARNING: You are at risk of losing your money!
You actually have to declare it TWICE:
You have to declare cash (or equivalent) over 10k both when entering and leaving the country. See https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-195?language=en_US#:~:text=International%20travelers%20entering%20the%20United,file%20a%20FinCEN%20Form%20105.
Most people don't know that you need to declare cash on departing the US as well and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) doesn't advertise it a lot. You need to fill out form FinCEN Form 105 once for import and once for export. You can NOT use the same form for both entry and exit. I honestly don't know where and how to drop off the export version and retain proof that you have filed it.
Failure to declare is often a trigger for "Civil Forfeiture": the government can confiscate your money just on a paperwork mistake or simply by assuming it's related for something criminal. They do NOT need to proof anything, file charges, or arrest anyone, they can just take it if they feel like it. The only recourse is to sue the US government for "return of property", which is prohibitively expensive and complicated for most people.
This is a VERY real thing: the DHS seizes over 100 million dollars per year at US airports.
To be blunt here: It's entirely possible that a DHS officer will say: "you are coming from South America, so I assume that is drug money, and so we will confiscate it". Astonishingly this is entirely legal and happens regularly.
I strongly recommend transferring the money some other way. Even if you do everything correctly and the money is perfectly legal, there is non-trivial risk that it gets confiscated.
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Do I have to pay tax if I bring more than 10000 into the US?
International travelers entering the United States must declare if they are carrying currency or monetary instruments in a combined amount over $10,000 on their Customs Declaration Form (CBP Form 6059B) and then file a FinCEN Form 105.Can you fly with over $10000 cash?
Is there a TSA cash limit? No, there is no limit on the cash you are permitted to bring on a domestic flight and there is no rule that requires you to disclose carrying more than $10,000 on a domestic flight.How much money can I bring to us without declaring?
Here's what the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website writes: \u201cIt is legal to transport any amount of currency or monetary instruments into or out of the United States,\u201d But anyone carrying more than $10,000 must declare the amount by filing a Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary ...How do you declare money when traveling?
You may bring into or take out of the country, including by mail, as much money as you wish. However, if it is more than $10,000, you will need to report it to CBP. Use the online Fincen 105 currency reporting site or ask a CBP officer for the paper copy of the Currency Reporting Form (FinCen 105).IRS form 8300 (over $10,000 reporting, tracking and notification)
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Answer 2
Yes, you must declare the cash.
The US doesn't have sterile airside transit: all passengers on every international flight arriving in the US (except those flights departing from a non-US airport with a US Preclearance Facility) must pass US Immigration and US Customs when physically arriving in the US, and enter the US. There are no US Preclearance Facilities at airports in South America, so you will pass Immigration and Customs in Houston.
Because you will enter the US, and you're carrying more than $10K in cash, you must declare the cash when you enter. For you, that's Houston. Travelers who pass US Immigration and Customs at a Preclearance Facility must declare at the Preclearance Facility.
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