Importing decorated bottles of alcohol to the USA
I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I am planning to buy bottles of sparkling wine, decorate them (to the point where it won't be possible to read the label anymore) and cross the border to the Washington state (USA) by road. I have not quite decided on the number of bottles but probably of the order of 10 bottles.
The bottles are meant to be gifted at Burning Man. They are not meant for commercial purposes but they are not for personal consumption either.
Additional info: I am a Swiss citizen, I am older than 21 year old and I have travelled to (and lived for 6 months in) the USA before. I will take the bill from the liquor store with me just in case.
How much trouble am I going to have? Because homemade wine are subject to same rules that store bought wine (according to this source), I am hoping that decorating the bottles won't matter too much. Are they going to believe me that I mean to gift and not sell all these bottles?
How much tax should I expect to pay? I think this source suggests that I will likely pay around 3% (on everything above the exemption; 1 liter is allowed if I am not mistaken) extra when entering the USA. Is it a realistic expectation?
Any general advice? Of course, I mean to declare them and I mean to be polite!
Pictures about "Importing decorated bottles of alcohol to the USA"
Can I import alcohol into the US?
There is no federal limit on the amount of alcohol someone may import into the U.S. for personal use, however, large quantities might raise the suspicion that the importation is for commercial purposes, and a CBP Officer could require you to obtain an Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) import license before ...How do I import alcohol into the US for personal use?
To apply for a special license, file Form TP-125, Application for Temporary License to Import Liquors for Personal Use and Consumption. You must pay the alcoholic beverages tax due on any imported liquors.How do I import alcohol from overseas?
Requirements for importing alcohol for resale. The importer must obtain a basic permit from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) prior to engaging in the business of importing distilled spirits, wines or malt beverages. You may contact TTB at (202) 453-2260 or email them at Permits.Online@TTB.gov.Who sets rules for the sale and importation of alcohol?
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the Department of the Treasury regulates, among other things, the importation of distilled spirits, wine, and malt beverages 1 pursuant to the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act).How to Import Alcohol
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Pixabay, Thiago Miranda, GEORGE DESIPRIS, Chris F