bringing gifts to the USA

Hey,

I'm new here, I hope someone can help me.

I am canadian. My boyfriend lives in the state. For Christmas, I will be going over there and I want to buy him a laptop. I have been looking at the prices here and there and with the exchange rate, it would be better for me to get it in Canada and then bringing it to him than to buy it in the States.

I just want to know what it implicates going at the border with the computer, if I said it was for a gift. I can not pretend it is mine because I will have mine also with me.

I hope someone can help or direct me

Thanks

If you claim it, you'll have to pay.

It's not uncommon for business travelers to have two laptops. Despite the illegality, I would carry both across. If asked, just say one is new and you haven't transferred the files. Worst case (if you don't claim it), they'll hold it at the boarder for you until you cross back.

The customs limit is US$50. They definitely do look out for this, I've had both CBP and CBSA ask me about my laptop on various occasions and CBSA gave me a card to keep with my laptop showing that duty and tax had been paid on it in Canada to stop me from being quizzed about it all the time.

Here's the page from the CBP website http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacat ... /gifts.xml