1

A lot of money.

2

Thanks for the intel

3

latinbeauty: customs and fees in Cuba seem to be quite arbitrary. The enforcement level varies from day to day, individual to individual and arrival point to arrival point. I suspect you are flying into Havana which seems to be the most liberal.

Now that is a difficult concept for us Americans where rules are clear, well communicated, and enforced consistently. But I have experienced that arbitrariness, as well as significant changes in policy that were never communicated to the actual people at the airport.

The only thing that is sure is that you will pay $1 per pound excess baggage charge to the airline for anything over 44 pounds if flying Miami - Havana and $2 per pound if departing from Tampa or arriving in Holguin, Cienfuegos or Santiago.

Edited by: bobmichaels

4

Figure that they cost about 700+ CUCs in Havana so whatever you paid for it plus tax will be a lot less. As noted above, Cuba just changed customs duties in September so you could pay nothing or 50-100 CUCs.

5

latinbeauty: I suggest that you use a word processor to create a bogus invoice with a lower price. Customs will not know the difference in an invoice from a major retailer and one from "joe's used TV sales" Identify what you are bringing as used. Make the transport box look used. At least break the factory new seal.

You may or may not need this bogus invoice but it will be good to have it if it is needed.

6

Coming in on the Miami flight - which I seem to read none of the replies so far have done - and expect to show a invoice (yes you can mock one up, a Xerox-looking copy is more than acceptable, best invoices is one that shows the serial # of the TV if the get medieval on you and want to check... be prepared to pay 100% tax.

That said - if you are going to bring in a LCD TV - I would suggest one has built-in DVD for movies, USB input for movies-on-a-stick,plus component video inputs for game consoles (still big in Cuba)... HDMI big in the real world really isn't important as those other things......

Also bring a multiple outlet strip with built-in resetable surge protector, and a big budget bottle of screen cleaner... Cuba humidity wreaks havoc on LCD TV's..if you can stop in a fabric shop and get some polyester velvetine or velour materrial in black to throw over the TV when not in use, that is good too...

Coming in on the charter flight from the US - with checked luggage xrayed - you should be prepared financially to pay tax.. if you "get lucky" which much more rarely happens on the Miami flights, then you are all to the good... look at your bags when they come off the carousel for marks or stickers from the xray, stall around and try to discreetly remove before leaving the carousel...

Keep the beat !

7

The aduana website sets out what the rules are supposed to be.

As indicated, one key point is the tax is supposed to be based on the value of the goods - hence the idea about the false invoice.

8

Coming in on the Miami flight - which I seem to read none of the replies so far have done -

All of my experience is on flights direct from Miami. I have learned to simply take my bags off the carousel and simply walk out the door in Havana although I have never had a separate TV in a dedicated box. I have had a number of things such as a notebook computer packed in my baggage. I think looking like an American tourist is the key.

I did get pulled by aduana on my last trip to Havana but they paid no attention to my suitcase, only my camera bag. I think this may have been a continuation of the hassle I had in immigration.

I have only had my bag searched in Cienfuegos, hence my comment that Havana is more liberal.