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What is you experience with regard to facturas at the various Havana shops?  Let me lay some groundwork first.

Per Cuban Aduana:

[quote]Up to twenty (20) units of bulk cigars, without submitting any document.

Up to fifty (50) units of cigars, but they must come in their original package, unopened, sealed and with the official established hologram. The export is not authorized without meeting these requirements; and

Amounts exceeding fifty (50) units of cigars, provided that passengers produce the [u][b]official sales invoice[/b][/u] issued by the store chains authorized to sell Cuban cigars, corresponding to all the cigars they intend to export which should be in the original package, unopened, sealed and with the official established hologram.
2.- What actions will be taken when the export of cigars does not meet the set requirements?

The amounts of cigars exceeding fifty (50) units not declared by passengers and any other amount exceeding the declared number; or if declared, the licit purchase cannot be proved by the official sales invoice, or the packages do not have the required characteristics that define them as Cuban cigars will be seized.[/quote]

I correlate an "official sales invoice" as a factura and not a cash register receipt.

In past trips, a box purchase in 25 or 50 units was always given a factura.  On my most recent trip, I was told at various locations only purchases exceeding 50 units would be issued a factura.  I attribute this to a few things:

One, misunderstanding of the regs.  It's required on any units over 50 not on any purchase over 50.  If I buy around town let's say 100 total cigars, but never exceed 50 at one location, by that thinking I would never require a factura which is false.  

Two, they are reluctant to give facturas because facturas are tied back to inventory and revenue, thus cutting into their off-the-books take.  
But if one wants to avoid the possibility of confiscation (yes confiscation, as paying duty on excess undocumented cigars, even legitimate purchases is not an option) they would be well served to diplomatically yet firmly request a factura with every box purchase including 10-count boxes so all boxed cigars are documented on exit.

So what are your experiences with regard to facturas and have you ever asked for them on 10, 25 and 50 count boxes (where those are the only purchases at a given location) and had them comply in recent times?

Thanks,
ss

I just give them my passport and ask for a factura. I have never been denied. I've done this at all LCDH's in Havana. The staple a register receipt to the factura. With that said I have never been questioned at Cuban customs about the amount of boxes I was bringing back.

Went to Cuba in November.  Purchased 10-12 boxes/jars some of which were 10-counts.  Often purchased just a single box in a transaction at an LCDH.  I obtained factura's (the actual pink official LCDH receipt) for every box.  While no one outright refused to give me one, I did get a few who grumbled about doing it because it is a pain in the ass for them to fill out the information by hand on the form.

There was no issue with the number of boxes or total number of cigars purchased in one transaction.

Custom rolls are a different issue.  You will NOT receive a factura for custom rolls.  Guys more educated than me can chime in on this, but it has to do with the idea that Cuba doesn't really want customs leaving the island in quantity.

Speaking of leaving the island:

CUBAN CUSTOMS:  you're officially allowed only allowed 1 (maybe 2?) bundles of customs rolls to take off the island.  YMMV.

US CUSTOMS:  you are allowedto bring back 100 Cuban cigars (or $800- value) [b]duty free[/b].  This does NOT mean you're limited to 100 cigars.  Bring as many back as you like provided they are for personal consumption, but be prepared to pay a duty (4%?) on the value of the amount over 100 cigars/$800-.  US Customs didn't even bother to ask about quantities of cigars (and rum!) that I had upon my return.  They only asked if I had purchased anything in Cuba -- I told them cigars, rum and a few t-shirts.  They waived me right through.

Thank you for the thread, I'm heading there April 7th - 15th and looking forward to bringing back a few boxes/jars myself.  Had a couple of friends that went back in December, each brought back around 4-5 boxes each along with Rum and had zero issues.

Great post, thanks

[quote author=massphatness link=topic=40935.msg168696#msg168696 date=1487188570]
Went to Cuba in November.  Purchased 10-12 boxes/jars some of which were 10-counts.  Often purchased just a single box in a transaction at an LCDH.  I obtained factura's (the actual pink official LCDH receipt) for every box.  While no one outright refused to give me one, I did get a few who grumbled about doing it because it is a pain in the ass for them to fill out the information by hand on the form.

There was no issue with the number of boxes or total number of cigars purchased in one transaction.

Custom rolls are a different issue.  You will NOT receive a factura for custom rolls.  Guys more educated than me can chime in on this, but it has to do with the idea that Cuba doesn't really want customs leaving the island in quantity.

Speaking of leaving the island:

CUBAN CUSTOMS:  you're officially allowed only allowed 1 (maybe 2?) bundles of customs rolls to take off the island.  YMMV.

US CUSTOMS:  you are allowedto bring back 100 Cuban cigars (or $800- value) [b]duty free[/b].  This does NOT mean you're limited to 100 cigars.  Bring as many back as you like provided they are for personal consumption, but be prepared to pay a duty (4%?) on the value of the amount over 100 cigars/$800-.  US Customs didn't even bother to ask about quantities of cigars (and rum!) that I had upon my return.  They only asked if I had purchased anything in Cuba -- I told them cigars, rum and a few t-shirts.  They waived me right through.
[/quote]

Technically only 20 unbanded (custom rolls) permitted to leave the island, but in reality most folks leave with 25 in each bag and some, many more! But there should be awareness that they can (and do) stop folks and will seize in some cases if over the limit.

Most of this has been covered, but I'll chime in.

Yes technically you are allowed 20 customs, but some rollers will provide caracol receipts (not facturas) and in my experience and friends, this generally satisfies customs. It seems they are more worried about product not purchased in a government store.

As far as boxed stuff goes, I have twice been asked for facturas. Once I had a jar in my carry on and they were confused as to what it was when leaving Cuba. "A jar of water?" "No...cigars" "Water?" "ughh..."

The second time, 4 of us were PULLED OFF the plane before takeoff and brought to a room where our bags were waiting. Now in this case we had 150-300 cigars in each of our checked bags so it was a matter of quantity. Many of them were customs but once we showed the boxed receipts and explained where they came from, they quickly let us get on our way and the rest of the plan gave us the stink eye for delaying it. That said, I have heard second hand that they are getting more sticky on the customs and saying "pick 20" if you can't show where they came from.

I find many of the VAR stores are hesitant to make facturas and will give excuses but that's the least of your problems in VAR. In Havana I never had a problem and mostly didn't even have to ask.