Import Duties in Russia

Visitors traveling to Russia should be aware of import duties.airplane image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com

Russia's customs service does not differ much from other nations' but travelers should be aware of specific regulations to keep them from being charged a hefty 20% tax on some items. The primary reasoning behind this screening process is to prevent illegal goods from entering the country and to regulate the commercial sale of foreign goods. The general guidelines for goods differ among those for personal use versus those intended for commercial or professional use.

Limited Entry and Restricted Items

There are some items and goods that have specific limits when being brought into Russia regardless of purpose. These include foreign currencies of more than $3000 USD, stocks, travelers checks, more than two liters of alcohol, more than 250 grams of tobacco and more than 250 grams of caviar. The import duties for items exceeding these limited amounts could go up to 30% of the total price value of the items. Other items are strictly regulated and restricted from entry without special permission. Such items include guns, explosives, strong medications, poisons, radioactive materials, endangered wildlife, offensive printed materials and technical communication devices such as those used in the military.

All individuals must fill out a customs declaration upon entry to the Russian Federation. Items for personal use that are not on the limited entry or restricted items list, do not exceed $1000 USD and are no more than 110.2 pounds (50 kilograms) in weight are exempt from duties. Items that are not exempt are subject to duties based on a percentage value of the goods or in the case of heavy items, an amount per weight unit may be assigned. If items are left off the customs declaration when they are not exempt, individuals may be subject to penalties imposed at the amount of the customs officials' choosing.

The Russian Customs and Border Control is particularly focused on commercial goods entering their nation. All goods for this purpose must be declared and a duty will be imposed if their value exceeds $2300 USD or if the weight is over 110.2 pounds (50 kilograms). The import duty for these items is determined at 30% of the value of the items. Visitors should be aware that the customs officers have the right to determine which goods are for personal use versus commercial use. It is recommended not to bring an unusual amount of items that an individual would not use themselves (such as five laptop computers) and to avoid keeping items of interest such as electronics in their original packaging.