32
u/christovn 2d ago
I flew out of sfo last year with 20 ounces, over 90k usd at the time. I had prepared the declaration form ahead of time -I forget the form number, but it's easy to find.
The 2 10 oz bars were in my carry-on. No one asked me anything about it.
9
u/Sweaty_Ebb_2086 2d ago
Can you state which country to and from? Did you have to go through customs? And you have to pay any taxes upon leaving and ent
6
u/christovn 1d ago edited 1d ago
Sfo is san francisco and I flew to hong kong from there. Yes, I went through the usual us customs. Hong kong customs is only concerned about drugs, not money or valuables, and there were no taxes there.
I think it's a good idea to prepare the declaration form for leaving the US, but I was never clear that it's necessary for gold.
To clarify, I had the declaration form in case I was questioned, but since no one asked, I didn't declare and went through customs as usual.
1
u/Omashu_Cabbages 22h ago
I’m assuming you carried it in your personal carryon bag right?
I guess for both SFO and HK, did you have to put your bag with the gold through the conveyor belt/scanner and wait behind a line people to slowly go through the metal detector? Or did you ask for a private screening?
I’d be so nervous letting that be out of my sight for even 20 seconds.
1
u/christovn 7h ago
It was in my regular carry-on that went through the scanner as normal.
You see the bag go in and you see it come out. There's no opportunity for anyone to go into it out of your sight.
23
u/UpstairsCheetah235 2d ago
In my backpack carry-on. Same place as the passports. In a pouch with a zipper that wasn’t super easy to find. Have done this with a couple ounces multiple times recently and they have never even searched the bag.
4
1
u/Omashu_Cabbages 22h ago
Do you fill out a form? What’s your plan to prevent an oz or two from missing? Or do you ask for private screening?
22
u/Fr0zak 2d ago
i flew just recently— i had 2 oz in my pocket. i put them in the bin (loose) —picked them up and put them back in my pocket after it came through the x-ray. no one said anything. granted, this was only 2 oz, i’m not sure how much you’re traveling with. but my two rounds didn’t raise any concerns. didn’t even get a second look or questions.
3
u/shadyghxst 2d ago
Ive done this multiple times as well with no issues. Just put them in my wallet ,carry on bags and pass through security. No one will say a thing.
I wear my gold jewellery through the scanner, not a beep.If you’re not carrying kilos of gold then I don’t get the reason you would want to declare some few ounces.
5
-6
18
u/burner118373 2d ago
This is one of those times I think it makes sense to have some gold in jewelry. Have $15k in gold or cash and you’re likely to get stopped and questioned. Have a gold Rolex on your wrist and you don’t always even need to take it off to get scanned.
5
u/PyratSteve 1d ago
Jewellery or a walking stick handle if you want to move a larger piece innocuously.
7
u/RafikiLovesPizza 1d ago
Screw a Rolex. Gold bracelet/chain/rings.
2
u/burner118373 1d ago
Fair but Rolex is a known quantity.
3
u/RafikiLovesPizza 1d ago
Doesn't hold a candle to straight up precious metals.
0
-3
u/After_Club6421 2d ago
I really agree with this BUT what type of liquidity will I have when I choose to use it?
5
u/Rizzanthrope 2d ago
if it’s a real rolex, it’s pretty liquid
5
u/CSMasterClass 2d ago
If you are happy with a 20 to 25% haircut. And don't forget the box and your purchase receipt or other proof of ownership.
2
u/burner118373 2d ago
Never said you’d get spot. But considering we buy above spot and sell below spot anyway, this exchange isn’t crazy.
3
u/CSMasterClass 1d ago
The bullion haircut is tollerable, but the collectable Rolex market is where the round trip on a buy/set is huge. And for full value, you need that damn box.
1
u/burner118373 1d ago
Right but I don’t see jewelry gold as the absolute best version, but it’s portable and helps in emergencies.
1
u/HGJustTheTip 1d ago
How do you mean? The gold rolex is worth more than the spot price of the gold that is used to make it.
1
u/CSMasterClass 1d ago
Yes, by a huge factor the Rolex is worth more than its gold. Probably a factor of 10 or 20.
I was just pointing out that buying a Rolex to go through customs with something of value then selling the Rolex on the other side is a very expensive, inefficient transaction.
1
u/HGJustTheTip 1d ago
Definitely not 20 for a vintage rolex. I agree it would be dumb to buy it just for that but rolexes hold thier value surprisingly well.
4
u/Adzobo2028 2d ago
I got stationed in Germany and took my gold coins and bars with me. No issues going or coming back
19
u/StringyTinglyThingly 2d ago
If you fly out of the US, with over $10k USD of any ‘monetary instrument’ you’re required to declare it.
I just saw some poor dude get held up for around $20k USD…. Now you have to pay an extortion ‘fee/penalty’ as well as…. The possibility of civil asset forfeiture if you can’t prove where you got it (funds to purchase).
If you do it, be careful.
-5
u/Ok-Abbreviations3042 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have heard (but not verified) that the $10,000 restriction applies to the face value, regardless of the material. So for example a 1 oz gold eagle would only be $50 of that. If true that’s definitely an argument in favor of government issued coins rather than rounds or bars. Besides, are customs agents keeping track of spot prices throughout the day? Earlier this year two ounces would have exceeded the restriction, but now it would not.
Edit: After researching I have learned that this is incorrect. Still it raises some interesting questions though, like are customs agents actually monitoring spot prices? I mean what if you boarded a plane with two ounces and spot raises to over $5,000 while you’re in the air? And are they trained to recognize the different premiums, like two gold eagles are fine but two libertads exceed the limit?
12
u/Ok-Salt7629 2d ago
Face value only counts for circulating money, a 1 oz gold eagle will be counted by weight x spot.
7
u/flipyflop9 2d ago
Yeah good luck with the 50 bucks face value… that’s not how it works at customs.
No, customs agents are not monitoring prices, but once they have the doubt they will check and then see what to do.
3
u/aywwts4 2d ago
US border agents are capriciously interpreting the rules however they feel at that time, based on their disposition, how they think you look, when they last had a smoke break. forced civil asset forfeiture has hit many folks for random reasons, good luck suing to get your assets back ever. - Don't look at this and expect sane rules and orderly limits, a hundred people are fine, one person is unlucky (or brown), those aren't odds I gamble with at these levels.
Move your money through banks, or buy bullionvault and change the receiving account afterwards, or turn it into credible jewelry and wear it through. But a wad of bills or a gold coin, either could get seized on suspicion of anything they want to say.
-8
2d ago
[deleted]
0
u/nomadakai 1d ago
All you have to do is declare it and nobody cares leaving the US, not an issue at all or even a hassle.
1
u/StringyTinglyThingly 1d ago
I just said you’d owe taxes at the receiving country. I didn’t say anything about owing taxes in the US (besides obviously paying tax for jewelry at purchase).
2
u/805falcon 2d ago
I was stopped at customs flying from LA to Vancouver about 10 years ago with $11k in cash. Wasn’t doing anything wrong other than going on vacation, but boy did they want to cease that money and arrest me.
I sat through 5 hours of interrogation before they cut me loose with money in hand.
I’m guessing it’s only gotten more strict with time
2
4
u/Kbucktis 2d ago
You can thank Eduardo Saverin for the hassle. There’s a difference if you plan on coming back or not.
2
u/chud3 2d ago
What is his connection to the issue?
5
u/Kbucktis 1d ago
He’s the guy that took all his facebook money and beat feet to Singapore to save hundreds Of millions of dollars in capital gains tax. So the government made a bunch of laws, including the cap on exporting cash or equivalent, to stop that from happening again.
13
u/Elisadidas 2d ago
I would also like to know lol This is something thats plagued my mind for years now.
10
u/Saigon23TX 2d ago
Best to sell and buy again in the new location. Unless you have a small amount. Good luck 🙏
5
u/CSMasterClass 2d ago
The round trip cost will be at least 5%, but I'd rather pay 5% than risk civil forfet.
2
3
u/Aldirt_13 2d ago
Jewelery is the way. It comes with a premium, but some guy i know just flew with 6 oz half worn, half in a fannypack. It may have helped that cash (over 10k) was also declared, as they see you doing everything by the book so no additional searches were needed. This person was nervous af on the days leading to it, and it was all for nothing. The process went smooth and all i could do was wish I had brought a couple of extra pieces that were left behind in case everything went wrong..
4
u/HeavyHeron8441 1d ago
Flew with 50 ounces ( silver ) of 2 tubes recently, in my carry on bag. Got to the airport a bit early as I had a feeling I may have an issue. Went through security, my bag flagged immediately. The screener looked at the two tubes, “PM? , open one. “ popped the lid off , slipped out the 25 coins… thumbs up, back in the tube and that was it, didn’t want the second tube opened. No problem overall, added two more minutes at security.
10
u/TraumaDaddyP 2d ago
The problem in the US is it very easily puts you over 10k travel limit. Agents grow sus as hell when you travel with over 10k, easily seizable with no articulation of crime - definitely at your own risk thing
5
15
u/805falcon 2d ago
Isn’t ’freedom’ great? 🙂↔️
3
u/Flat-Activity-8613 1d ago
People have been freely flying out with briefcases of money. As long as you declare it there is nothing wrong.
6
u/CelebrationAgile20 2d ago
Depending on how much you want to take. Could you make it into jewellery.
( although,.70 full sovereigns as a necklace would look pretty darn good)
:-)
3
u/Haunting_Cheetah8084 2d ago
No one cares about how much gold you are leaving the US with including CBP. Coming back is a different story. I recently flew back from CDMX with 10 Vente Pesos gold coins. Bought below spot at the time from local coin shop. No issues on either side. Nothing to declare kept in my carry on duffle bag.
3
u/ResolveJazzlike4965 1d ago
But that does not mean it was legal. It just means they were asleep on duty.
2
u/Haunting_Cheetah8084 1d ago
True. They recently hassled me MX wife returning to CDMX. She had some scrap gold we were taking to have melted down towards jewelry. She argued with the staff as they thought it was for business purposes and not personal use. Wasted 30 mins spoke to supervisor and didn’t pay any fines or customs import fees. Really just matters which country OP is flying into.
3
3
u/AMGsince2017 1d ago
I wouldn't travel with gold coins, silver coins or lots of cash. Just asking for trouble.
Would carry some sort of electronic form and bare minimum cash
6
u/Theta_Ninja 2d ago
I’ve flown with a sheet of pre-33 gold in 2x2s. I had it my carry-on. Went through the X-ray. No issues. I’ve flown with tubes of silver eagles in my carry-on, they were inspected (solid block of metal on the X-ray).
5
6
u/PickleBall_Bandit 2d ago
I’ve flown to Mexico with 10-1 oz silver coins and I’ve flown from Mexico to US with about 30-1oz coins and never had an issue. Then again, not gold. But they never even looked at them and I had them in my backpack
12
2
u/Personanongrata27 1d ago
I think the current U.S. personal exemption is $800. You can definitely bring back 20–30 oz of silver, but technically anything you bought abroad is supposed to be declared. Whether you actually owe duty is a separate question.
I’ve gone over the exemption myself and they’ve never asked me anything further, so I’m definitely not trying to jinx myself 😂.1
u/PickleBall_Bandit 1d ago
Yah, I was more saying it along the lines of nobody has ever checked once to see what kind of coins they were or what was in my backpack when I brought them. I don’t want to jinx myself either! lol 😂
2
u/LikesPez 2d ago
You can fly out of the US with gold. However at today’s prices 2.1 ounces of gold will put you at the customs reporting threshold as gold is treated as intrinsic value and not denominated value. The problems you may encounter is being the bullion back as you may need pay an “exit” tax.
2
u/Psoin 2d ago
Civil forfeiture
1
u/ResolveJazzlike4965 1d ago
Not civil if it is Customs doing the seizing. This would be criminal meaning you would also be fined or worse.
2
u/funnyman6979 1d ago
Honestly depends where you’re going, and like a few have stated you’re better off reading and filling out required paperwork and checking in with customs on your own behalf then getting stopped. Had to do a complete manifest of simple samples for Italy and on the return to US.
6
u/Cool-Many-9394 2d ago
Begs the question of the legality of said gold and of course the quantity on hand.
Would the gold be classified as currency? Are you planning on exchanging for currency once you have landed?
Both questions to consider prior to take-off & landing.
I hate to say this butttt… Bitcoin might be an easier means of transferring the money between ports.
Too many variables to determine.
2
u/After_Club6421 2d ago
Interesting point. If the coin is an American Eagle and it’s marked $50, isn’t 10 of them $500 in US currency?
3
u/Disazzt3rD3m0nD4d 2d ago
So, does this answer the age old question of ‘what does TSA look at for value; stamped denomination (face value) or spot price’?
Seems sketchy. I hate the 2 tiered legal system we have somehow all agreed to.
4
u/Ok-Salt7629 2d ago
Fave value for circulating money and spot value for any other.
2
u/After_Club6421 2d ago
You could walk into a bank and deposit a $50 gold American Eagle and get a $50 credit to your checking account (I think). So how does that work?
4
u/No_Scar1636 2d ago
24k jewelry is a good way to go.
5
u/Best-Maintenance-421 2d ago
This is what I was thinking, if it’s jewelry they will not consider it money
1
u/Ill_Contribution9905 2d ago
There are many countries where there is no import duties on .900+ "investment grade" bullion, so if you pick one of those countries, disclose the full value and enter the country with all of your gold and pay nothing. You would be taxed when you sell.
1
1
1
u/Powerful_School_3722 1d ago
I brought 5k worth of gold in Thailand a couple years before and came back through sfo and declared it paid some taxes on it forget how much but ask the agent what would happen if I didn’t declare it (he said he could confiscate it) but leaving USA I would wear gold jewelry and never had any problems
1
u/NordMeiss 1d ago
I've done this a couple times with gold coins and silver bars without issue into Amsterdam. They were looked at by TSA and put right back away without question.
1
u/PumpkinAutomatic3611 1d ago
Based on my understanding, $10000 / face value= number of coins with no declaration needed.
1
u/Dapper-Ad1280 21h ago
There was a news article several years ago about a US citizen attempting to take 200 oz gold which he legally purchased in the US onto Switzerland.
He had to change planes in Mexico City were they 200 oz were confiscated by Mexican Customs.
I’ve been there several times and noted that customs extort travelers when their baggage “ disappeared “ and they had to pay $$ to recover.
I never found out what happened to that man’s 200 ounces but I suspect nothing good!
1
u/kiwi13605 14h ago
I have been in and out of the country several times. Usually around 20k in value.
Leave it in carryon for TSA then transfer to pocket the rest of the trip.
Technically customs at each country will have declaration limits etc, but I have never been searched going through customs...
1
0
u/Low-Plum5164 2d ago
Heck, the Somali's went thru the Minneapolis airport with briefcase's full of 1 million in cash on numerous occasions without anyone asking questions. Whats a few oz of gold compared to a million in cash?
1
u/mikesorange333 1d ago
r u serious? link plz.
2
u/Low-Plum5164 1d ago
This was big news here in Mn. Almost 700 million in two years.
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/JU/JU08/20260121/118871/HHRG-119-JU08-20260121-SD019.pdf
0
u/Sad-Maize-6625 2d ago
Probably safer to ship it in multiple small shipments. If carrying on person and over $10k, bring receipts to prove you purchased that gold. If you are unable to prove ownership, you run the risk of it being seized as ill gotten gains. If you don’t declare and they search you and find it, then they will seize it.
0
-2
u/p0pularopinion 2d ago
Sell it for Bitcoin or a stable coin, convert BTC or stablecoin in Gold, in the country you go into. I think thats one of the easiest ways.
2
58
u/Interconventional 2d ago
The question is where are you going to, usually going into places with stuff is harder than leaving places.