U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently seized a large amount of cash from a man traveling internationally.
On April 30, a K-9 trained to detect bulk currency alerted on a man traveling to Mexico at Philadelphia International Airport, CBP reported.
Upon questioning, the man declared he was carrying $10,000. After an inspection, CBP officers found $44,690 in the man’s possession. Officers seized the cash, left the man with $240 for “humanitarian purposes” and released him.
He could have faced criminal charges, a possible fine of up to $500,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
There is a limit on how much undeclared money you can bring into and take out of the U.S., including to and from Florida.
Here’s how much domestic and international travelers can legally carry into and out of the U.S., what counts as money at customs, how to declare it and when you have to:
How much cash can you travel with domestically in the US?
There’s no limit on the amount of money you can travel with domestically and there’s no reporting requirement, though carrying a large amount of cash could raise suspicion and questions from authorities.
How much cash can you travel with into and out of the US? How much can you bring on a plane?
There’s also no limit on the amount of money you can bring into and take out of the U.S. when traveling internationally. However, there is a reporting requirement for amounts over $10,000.
Travelers carrying more than $10,000 must report it to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer when entering or exiting the United States and fill out Currency Reporting Form (FinCen 105). Additionally, international travelers entering the U.S. must fill out CBP Form 6059B.
You can fill out FinCen 105 online, but be aware it expires after 72 hours. Alternatively, you can print out the form and fill it out ahead of time or ask a CBP officer for copy at customs.
Can family members or groups traveling together each carry $10,000 to and from the US?
No. According to CBP, “When families or groups are involved, the $10,000 threshold applies to the total amount they are carrying or sending collectively, not per individual.”
Not just cash: What counts as money when traveling internationally in and out of US
According to CBP, cash isn’t the only thing that counts toward your money total when traveling.
Currency and monetary instruments that are subject to the $10,000 rule include U.S. and foreign:
What happens if you don’t declare you are carrying more than $10,000?
According to CBP, if you fail to report you are bringing more than $10,000 through customs or do so fraudulently, penalties may include:
Kim Luciani is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s Audience team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: US Customs and Border Protection seizes cash. How much you can travel with
Reporting by Kim Luciani, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
