HTSUS, United States

9804.00.72

Articles whether or not accompanying a person, not over $800 in aggregate fair market value in the country of acquisition, including- (a) but only in the case of an individual who has attained the age of 21, not more than 1 liter of alcoholic beverages or not more than 2 liters if at least one liter is the product of one or more beneficiary countries, and (b) not more than 200 cigarettes, and not more than 100 cigars, if such person arrives directly from a beneficiary country (but this item does not permit the entry of articles not accompanying a person which were acquired elsewhere than in beneficiary countries)

Classification path

  1. Articles imported by or for the account of any person arriving in the United States who is a returning resident thereof (including American citizens who are residents of American Samoa, Guam or the Virgin Islands of the United States)
  2. Other articles acquired abroad as an incident of the journey from which the person is returning if such person arrives from the Virgin Islands of the United States or from a contiguous country which maintains a free zone or free port, or arrives from any other country after having remained beyond the United States for a period of not less than 48 hours, for his personal or household use, but not imported for the account of any other person nor intended for sale, if declared in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury and if such person has not claimed, an exemption under subheadings 9804.00.65, 9804.00.70 and 9804.00.72 within 30 days preceding his arrival, and claims exemption under only one of such items on his arrival
  3. Articles whether or not accompanying a person, not over $800 in aggregate fair market value in the country of acquisition, including- (a) but only in the case of an individual who has attained the age of 21, not more than 1 liter of alcoholic beverages or not more than 2 liters if at least one liter is the product of one or more beneficiary countries, and (b) not more than 200 cigarettes, and not more than 100 cigars, if such person arrives directly from a beneficiary country (but this item does not permit the entry of articles not accompanying a person which were acquired elsewhere than in beneficiary countries)

Rates of duty

General (MFN)
Free
Column 2Cuba, North Korea, Russia, Belarus
Free
Unit of quantity
n/a

Related lines in heading 9804

About heading 9804

Articles imported by or for the account of any person arriving in the United States from a foreign country

Heading 9804 covers duty-free entry of personal, household, professional and travel-related articles imported by or for a person arriving in the United States from abroad. It is split by article type and traveler situation, including used household effects, tools of trade, wearing apparel, tobacco and alcohol allowances, gifts, vehicles, articles acquired on the trip, replacement articles, crew effects and effects from a deceased citizen's estate.

Full guide to heading 9804

Products in this heading

  • Used household furniture owned and used abroad for at least one year
  • Professional books and tools of trade taken abroad by the traveler
  • Personal wearing apparel owned abroad and intended for the traveler's own use
  • Automobile brought in by an arriving traveler for personal transportation
  • Bona fide gifts accompanying a traveler and valued not over $100
  • Cigars, cigarettes and alcohol within the traveler allowance
  • Medal or trophy awarded abroad as an honorary distinction
  • Game animal killed abroad and imported for noncommercial purposes

Frequently asked questions

What is the HTS code for used household furniture brought back by a returning resident?

Used household furniture and similar household effects owned and used abroad by the traveler for at least one year are classified under 9804.00.05, general (MFN) rate Free.

What is the duty on personal clothing owned abroad and worn by an arriving traveler?

Personal wearing apparel and similar personal effects owned abroad and intended only for the traveler's own use are classified under 9804.00.20, general (MFN) rate Free.

How do I classify professional tools taken abroad and brought back by the traveler?

Professional books, implements, instruments and tools of trade taken abroad by the traveler or for the traveler's account are classified under 9804.00.10, general (MFN) rate Free.

Source: USITC Harmonized Tariff Schedule, retrieved October 21, 2026.

HTS 9804.00.72: Articles whether or not accompanying a person, not over $80..., Free duty | HTSBase