CBP website still says personal exemptions of $200 per person exist if you’ve been out of the USA for 48 hours or more, but who knows if that still applies with the trump bull in the international trade china shop.
“You may still bring back $200 worth of items free of duty and tax. As discussed earlier, these items must be for your personal or household use.”
The way I read it you don’'t have to be out for more than 48 hours. It’s really not phrased very clearly though.
If you cannot claim other exemptions because you have not been out of the country for at least 48 hours, you may still bring back $200 worth of items free of duty and tax.
CBP website still says personal exemptions of $200 per person exist if you’ve been out of the USA for 48 hours or more, but who knows if that still applies with the trump bull in the international trade china shop.
“You may still bring back $200 worth of items free of duty and tax. As discussed earlier, these items must be for your personal or household use.”
source
The way I read it you don’'t have to be out for more than 48 hours. It’s really not phrased very clearly though.