"Canadian Customs Trigger Level?" Topic

So, could someone PLEASE clarify what the actuall US$ level is to (Potentially) trigger a look by Canadian customs at small packages moving from the US?

Before the receont postal rate increase, I was doing at least One sale a week to Canada. mostly little suff (Less than $10 USD), but last week I did a combined shipment of $30 USD; SHould I have left that one as two separate packages?

I do like the new on line postal customs form, no more multiple carbons. But I wish there was an "Under $10 USD" or something exemption for the nickel and dime sales on ebay, you almost have to use a 7x5 box or padded mailer so there is room for the customs form.

The Threshhold's $20.00 USD CDN, so no, I'd not have combined into a $30 USD package.

link
(Section 2.2.2)

The $20 USD threshold is for customs, duties and taxes.

According to that same document at the Canada Post website;
"CBSA officers may open and inspect all incoming mail, except letters weighing less than 30 g, without permission from either the sender or the addressee."

So there is no dollar value. ANY package can trigger a look from the customs agents on a whim.

Also, keep in mind if you are splitting it to keep the value low;
"The CBSA does not consider items to be of low value in cases where a single transaction is split into smaller shipments to keep the value below $20 USDCDN."

It's obviously harder for them to catch, but if they do they will ding it with taxes and duty fees.

I would have thought NAFTA would have eliminated customs on packages to Canada. I'm just curious, but how exactly is this legally justified in light of that?

It's sales tax (which applies to both domestic and imported goods), not customs duty (which is exclusively levied on imports) so nothing to do with NAFTA, which removes the latter. If you have a sales tax and don't charge it on imports, you're effectively penalising local production over imports (precisely why most US states are trying to get sales tax applied on out of state purchases) so in theory charging it on imports is simply levelling the playing field, not penalising imports.

In practice it tends to be a bit of a ballache, since the cost of collecting the tax outweighs the tax itself on low value consignments, so it's something of a barrier to trade at the retail level…. (VAT on imports into the EU has exactly the same issue – if you're spending a few hundred the admin charge is insignificant, but it makes you think twice before spending a few tens of pounds / Euros; you either want to stay under the threshold, or go over it massively….)

Truth be told it is totally random, sometime they don't bother with packages that should be and sometimes they ding you for ones that should be exempt.

I would not split as the higher postage will offset fees in most cases.

It seems, for those who buy enough imported models, a US Post Office Box in a town along the border could be a worthwhile investment…

or this link just across the border from where I am

Sorry – its a UPS store that will recieve packages for you.

I agree with Tod. I order a lot from the US and a fair bit from the UK. I think I've only had one shipment from the UK ever get hit by customs, and my UK orders are often $100 USD-350 (thanks Dom, Brigade UK, GZG, Irregular). Even shipments from the US aren't hit that often, and most of mine are $50 USD-100.

I've probably now jinxed myself though.

Thanks Dom and Others; It must have gone through OK, Positive Feedback posted last night…

And I have not even refunded his overpayment on Postage.

(This afternoon, OK?)

I found that anything under $75.00 USD usually goes through no problem. Over that and it is a hit or miss.

Gloat: $1,000 USD threshold here in Oz.

Ignore the automated insert; that's AUS$1000.