How to avoid paying customs fees?

[Bosox Blair]

Hello Jeff,

There is no such thing as "customs fees". In most cases, on the retail purchase of an item entering Canada from any other country, you could possibly be subject to 3 different amounts you would have to pay.

First, there is sales tax. Depending on your province, you have to pay your provincial rate of tax plus GST. In my experience, if the item is shipped via USPS (if from the USA) they don't bother with small value items - I can't recall ever paying taxes on anything worth less than $50.00. Also, if the item is a gift, there should be no tax. The sender has to declare the item as a gift. The customs people don't have to accept that at face value, and the sender could be in some trouble if the item is falsely declared as a gift.

Second there is import duty. This does not apply on sports cards printed in the US or Canada. This should not be charged, and in my experience it isn't.

Third, there are fees charged by the carriers for their "service" in importing your item(s). This is one reason to always prefer USPS. If there is no tax payable, USPS charges no fee at all - Canada Post just delivers it. If there is tax payable, they hit you for a $5.00 fee (supposedly for documentation, etc.). FedEx charges more for the same thing - in the range of $10-$15.00. And UPS are the ultimate bandits, charging up to $40.00 for the same thing - I never, ever use them.

Cheers,
Blair

[Exhibitman]

The US customs forms require us to state under penalty of perjury that the item is whatever we describe it as being. Sorry, but I do not think it is right to ask a seller to break his country's law so the buyer can save a few bucks in taxes.

[Anthony S.]

I've always requested that Canadian buyers move to the US before I send them the card. I've only had about a 35% success rate, though.

[calvindog]

In addition, it's unpatriotic not to pay customs tax.

[byrone]

Originally Posted by calvindog

In addition, it's unpatriotic not to pay customs tax.

Boston Tea Party 2010!

[Jacklitsch]

And then there's the guy (who will remain nameless) who has me ship to a buddy in the U.S. just across the border and then he comes over and picks up his cards.

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by Jacklitsch

And then there's the guy (who will remain nameless) who has me ship to a buddy in the U.S. just across the border and then he comes over and picks up his cards.

Hi Steve,

This could be a very legitimate arrangement. When Canadians go into the US and stay for a period of time, they acquire the right to bring goods back with them (tax and duty free shopping limits). After 48 hours in the US, those limits are significant. So if he stays at his buddy's place for the weekend, he would have the right to bring back some cards without any tax payable.

Cheers,
Blair

[jb217676]

I have the answer. All American sellers can move to Canada. A six pack of Steam Whistle and a nice toque will be waiting for you upon entry, eh!

[Jim VB]

I agree with Adam, 100%! Never try to avoid whatever fees, taxes, or duties are actually owed. It's not worth it.

Now, if there is some dispute about how they are classifying something, then get it straightened out, but don't try to avoid what's owed.


Now..., if you choose to disregard that advice, at least don't talk about it on a public message board.

[Jacklitsch]

I once marked the customs declaration "repatriated items returning to homeland" and got away with it.

They were C46 Imperial Tobacco Canadian baseball cards.

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

The US customs forms require us to state under penalty of perjury that the item is whatever we describe it as being. Sorry, but I do not think it is right to ask a seller to break his country's law so the buyer can save a few bucks in taxes.

I agree completely.

Cheers,
Blair

[jb217676]

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure what to call these different fees. Instead of calling them "customs fees" i'll call them "taxes". I never gave this subject any thought before because I have never had to pay these taxes. I just found it strange that I all of a sudden had to pay three times in the same week when I haven't had to pay once in over a year. Would Canada Post be targeting me specifically or is this just bad luck on my part. The card I paid $600.00 for (seller marked the value at 480.00) slipped through but lately I am having to pay $13.00 in import taxes on a $60.00 card.

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by jb217676

...lately I am having to pay $13.00 in import taxes on a $60.00 card.

Wow - that is rare in my experience...they don't always bother with such small amounts. But the quick math tells me they probably hit you for the $5.00 carrier's fee plus your taxes in Ontario (provincial tax plus GST). That would total around the amount you paid.

Cheers,
Blair

[barrysloate]

Hosers!

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Hosers!

Take off, eh!

[Jim VB]

A nice "toque"????


Is that like "One Toque Over the Line Sweet Jesus"? Seems that might cause trouble at the border!

[aro13]

I have found that anything with a declared value of over $100 is going to get taxed. Anything less has been hit and miss, for me at least.

What I think is important, though, is to make certain the seller puts the declared value as the price that you paid and not the BOOK value.

[baseballart]

Originally Posted by jb217676

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure what to call these different fees. Instead of calling them "customs fees" i'll call them "taxes". I never gave this subject any thought before because I have never had to pay these taxes. I just found it strange that I all of a sudden had to pay three times in the same week when I haven't had to pay once in over a year. Would Canada Post be targeting me specifically or is this just bad luck on my part. The card I paid $600.00 for (seller marked the value at 480.00) slipped through but lately I am having to pay $13.00 in import taxes on a $60.00 card.

Anything sent by Canada Post that has a value for duty over $20, Canada Post gets to charge $5.00 to collect the HST. Many times Canada Post will feel that the small amount of tax collected is not worth the trouble, and deliver the item without collecting the tax.

As others have said, the value for duty has to be properly declared. It is an offence to do otherwise. (I don't need more clients)

Max

[FUBAR]

Max is correct.... it is $20 cdn value. They are more lenient with it now then they used to be. Back when ebay first started, they used to open my packages and assign values to my items. I once bought a 10$ card but the customs people assigned a $1200 price tag on it after they assessed its value and guess what value they taxed me on. Even though i proved to them their mistake, i was told it was too bad! I filed to get my money back but it never came!

No one has ever refuse to put down the declared value i asked them to, but a few here seem to have issue with it. I have a US friend for such instances should they ever occur.

To me, collecting taxes on a second hand item shouldn't be allowed, its double dipping at its finest. And if trying to avoid paying more taxes then i already do makes me a bad person, then so be it! The gov't already bends me over daily!