Since Puerto Rico is a United States territory – meaning it belongs to the United States, but is not part of the United States – requirements for moving there may seem slightly confusing. And, I’ve discovered that it’s difficult to find factual information about how to move to Puerto Rico from the U.S.

So, after some extensive research, here’s what I’ve learned:

• Residents of Puerto Rico pay U.S. federal taxes, which include import/export taxes, social security taxes, federal payroll taxes, commodity taxes and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico income taxes.
• Used household goods and personal effects can be imported duty-free as long as you have owned them for one year and you do not intend to sell the items or give them to another person.
• There are some items tha...
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If you’re moving to Puerto Rico, there are some taxes and customs procedures that you will have to keep in mind.

SED form
In my last blog, I spoke a little about the Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED) form. This form is required by the US Census Bureau on any items of more than $2,500 in value. Moving companies should file this for you, but there is usually a nominal fee for the filing. Secondly, moving companies will also charge a sales tax. This is paid to the government of Puerto Rico and is also a small amount, usually less than $30 regardless of the move size.

Clearing your items
When you’re moving to Puer...
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Caribbean Destination – Puerto Rico
Just imagine living on a Caribbean Island where the beach is within an hour’s drive no matter where you are. You can enjoy sun-filled days and warm tropical nights. More people than you think move to Puerto Rico each year. Take a look at this Welcome to Puerto Rico – it gives the history, geography and suggests places to visit once you get there. You can also check out each of the 78 municipalities and what they have to offer.

Declare It – Move It
Now about the move itself…Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory so no customs fees or passports are required for entry. However, you are required to declare the items you're moving with their approximate value. You’ll do this on a ...
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