[ShiraiwaRiku]

Anyone here familiar with the Canadian Tax/Duty stuff?

how much extra do we have to pay if we buy parts from US?

I heard that you can shipped it to Pt Roberts and pick it up yourself from there.. but where in Pt Roberts? like in their postal office or...?

I think many of us would love to know this information...

Thanks in advance

[rikuF10]

I used to mail-order things from the US, and send it to a mail-box centre near the US/Canada border (sort of like a private Postal office with mail boxes). You can rent a box and have your stuff send there. Then you have drive down to pick it up.

I think there are many of them near the border and in Point Robert.

[rikuF10]

Also, if you buy from one state and send it to another states....there is no tax....

When you bring it back to Canada, you have to pay GST + Duty....and Duty is different for different products.

correct me if I am wrong.

[Juve29]

If I'm not mistaken you have to pay the GST (which apparently will be 6% as of July 1st), plus provincial tax. I believe that the duty fee is about 8% but I'm not sure.

[Hawkshaw]

Originally Posted by RikuE90

I used to mail-order things from the US, and send it to a mail-box centre near the US/Canada border (sort of like a private Postal office with mail boxes). You can rent a box and have your stuff send there. Then you have drive down to pick it up.

I think there are many of them near the border and in Point Robert.

In theory though, when you drive it back accross the border, does the border patrol not have the right to search the vehicle and charge you the duty at that point?

I know in practice you can probably slip it by, but in theory having it shipped accross the border and bringing it accross the border yourself should be no different.

[findtom]

Originally Posted by Hawkshaw

In theory though, when you drive it back accross the border, does the border patrol not have the right to search the vehicle and charge you the duty at that point?

I know in practice you can probably slip it by, but in theory having it shipped accross the border and bringing it accross the border yourself should be no different.

You will have to declare it because they will ask you if you're bringing anything back with you. You can lie... but it's not worth getting busted.


Is what you're buying made in North America? If so there is no duty, so you only pay sales tax on the declared value.

[paullo]

GST & PST. That's what you'll pay to bring stuff over the border. There is some other Duty charges for other things,.. like wine & smokes, etc. But car parts are just the two taxes.

I've had stuff shipped to Pt. Roberts for a long time, and it's dead easy. The extra duty hardly makes a dent - example: recently bought the Porter Cable 7424 through Amazon.com. All told it cost me just under $150 CDN (including duty, taxes, shipping, etc). Canadian Tire has it listed for $299 + tax. Well worth the drive down.

As for where to get it shipped... you can go down to the USPS office and get a PO box, and pay the annual fee. But some places won't ship to PO boxes, so.. send it to:

Your Name c/o The Letter Carrier
145 Tyee Drive
Pt. Roberts, WA
98281


If you give them your phone number, they'll call you when your package has arrived. They also charge $2.00 US / $2.30 CDN to receive your package (handling fee, of sorts). After that, go buy some 'cheaper-than-vancouver' gas, and get back in the line to Canada.

[ShiraiwaRiku]

Originally Posted by paullo

As for where to get it shipped... you can go down to the USPS office and get a PO box, and pay the annual fee. But some places won't ship to PO boxes, so.. send it to:

Your Name c/o The Letter Carrier
145 Tyee Drive
Pt. Roberts, WA
98281


If you give them your phone number, they'll call you when your package has arrived. They also charge $2.00 US / $2.30 CDN to receive your package (handling fee, of sorts). After that, go buy some 'cheaper-than-vancouver' gas, and get back in the line to Canada.

Can you Explain more on that? thanks

and you siad the car parts just two taxes..

what if I buy form other people?

wouldn't the price vary?

so I can just make up a price and just pay that amount of tax?

[paullo]

I'm sure there's a website on the topic of what's taxable and what's not. Assume that everything is,.. the gov't needs it's share

As for buying from other people; you'll need to take an invoice or printout of your email transaction, etc. with you. If you 'make up' a price,.. you could lose the item, get fined, lose your car, etc. Best not play that game. Customs agents aren't stupid; if you don't have your invoice or paperwork with you, they'll likely charge you what ever the full tax based on retail value of the item, as if it were new, regardless of whether it's used or not. So, if you buy anything off ebay, you'll be asked to provide proof of winning bid, that you're who it is on the paperwork, etc.

You can always take your chances, and just chuck it in your trunk and not declare it. But they'll know... Don't worry though, I'll stop and give you a lift back into town as they're impounding your car

Best of luck!

Can you Explain more on that? thanks

and you siad the car parts just two taxes..

what if I buy form other people?

wouldn't the price vary?

so I can just make up a price and just pay that amount of tax?

[ShiraiwaRiku]

Originally Posted by paullo

I'm sure there's a website on the topic of what's taxable and what's not. Assume that everything is,.. the gov't needs it's share

As for buying from other people; you'll need to take an invoice or printout of your email transaction, etc. with you. If you 'make up' a price,.. you could lose the item, get fined, lose your car, etc. Best not play that game. Customs agents aren't stupid; if you don't have your invoice or paperwork with you, they'll likely charge you what ever the full tax based on retail value of the item, as if it were new, regardless of whether it's used or not. So, if you buy anything off ebay, you'll be asked to provide proof of winning bid, that you're who it is on the paperwork, etc.

You can always take your chances, and just chuck it in your trunk and not declare it. But they'll know... Don't worry though, I'll stop and give you a lift back into town as they're impounding your car

Best of luck!

I see..

Your Name c/o The Letter Carrier
145 Tyee Drive
Pt. Roberts, WA
98281

what is the above address?

[paullo]

It's the UPS / General Store in Pt. Roberts. It's where you would send stuff if you didn't have a PO Box at the USPS outlet.

Right side of the street on Tyee Road, 2nd batch of buildings past the border. There's also a liquor store there. Can't miss it, cause it's the only thing on that side of the street for a while. Way before you get to the gas stations.

[flush01]

ask your seller to ship it as a gift, or warranty repaired, that way you don't pay any tax on it

[Ghunger]

If it's a car part couldn't you have it shipped to a shop in Blaine or Bellingham, drive down, have it installed, then drive back? Also, isn't there a certain amount that you can buy and bring back per day? I know I've bought stuff every time I go up to Whistler or Vancouver on vacations and never had to pay duty or customs on anything. It may be different for Canadian citizens going back to Canada though. I'm only familiar with US citizens coming back into the US.

[ShiraiwaRiku]

Originally Posted by paullo

It's the UPS / General Store in Pt. Roberts. It's where you would send stuff if you didn't have a PO Box at the USPS outlet.

Right side of the street on Tyee Road, 2nd batch of buildings past the border. There's also a liquor store there. Can't miss it, cause it's the only thing on that side of the street for a while. Way before you get to the gas stations.

thanks for the navagating...

so I can just get the seller to send it there with my name on it and I can just go there and pick it up?

[ShiraiwaRiku]

Originally Posted by flush01

ask your seller to ship it as a gift, or warranty repaired, that way you don't pay any tax on it

I see...

thanks for the info

[ShiraiwaRiku]

Originally Posted by Ghunger

If it's a car part couldn't you have it shipped to a shop in Blaine or Bellingham, drive down, have it installed, then drive back? Also, isn't there a certain amount that you can buy and bring back per day? I know I've bought stuff every time I go up to Whistler or Vancouver on vacations and never had to pay duty or customs on anything. It may be different for Canadian citizens going back to Canada though. I'm only familiar with US citizens coming back into the US.

Blaine and Bellingham.. is it close to Vancouver??

do you know any good shops?

Canadian Customs is just ..... world famous ....

[Ghunger]

Blaine is the small town right at the border where Highway 99 / I-5 cross the border. About 20 miles south on I-5 is Bellingham which is a much larger city so I figured it would be more likely to have a decent shop. I don't know of any good shops there off hand but It's a decent sized city so it must have something.

[ShiraiwaRiku]

Originally Posted by Ghunger

Blaine is the small town right at the border where Highway 99 / I-5 cross the border. About 20 miles south on I-5 is Bellingham which is a much larger city so I figured it would be more likely to have a decent shop. I don't know of any good shops there off hand but It's a decent sized city so it must have something.

I'll try and find out more

thanks for the info