USA Shopping - Charging Duty/Tax at the Border

[casablankaman427]

Just have a question:

When you shop in the U.S. for less than 24 hours and return to customs at the border, do they always charge you duty/tax on whatever you purchase?

I'm just asking because last year I went shopping in the US twice for less than 24 hours and was never charged any tax at the border by customs. But just recently this year, I went shopping in the US for less than 24 hours and was charged tax at the border. So I'm confused as to if they charge tax randomly or if this is a new law?

[forzaroma]

I guess it depends on the Border Guard's discretion.

I've come back under 24hrs with $200 and been let go and other times had to pay duty on $100 worth of goods.

I find they like to tax equipment and electronics more so than clothing. Food has always been exempt from duty when I've paid for some reason.


Also, FYI sometimes you can get lucky with purchasing alcohol. I just came back with 10 cans of booze I bought at a gas station @ $3 each. I declared them honestly to the Border Guard and he let me go without paying a cent!

[BoogieWilliams]

The actual rule is that if your stay is under 24 hours then you are required to pay tax on whatever items you bought. If it is more than 24 hours then you are allowed to bring in $200 worth of goods. It all depends on the mood of the agent at the border.

[iamscott]

If it is more than 24 hours then you are allowed to bring in $200 worth of goods.

This is not so....the 24-hour exemption is $50, but there's a catch...if you go over $50 you lose the whole amount. (http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/new-neuf/advisory-avis/2007-09-28-eng.html)

It is true that it depends on the mood of the agent....people often report bringing back hundreds of dollars worth of purchases without being required to pay tax at the border. In my experience, you are more likely to avoid the requirement to pay tax if you do not have beer, liquor, or tobacco products.

Scott

[thelefteyeguy]

This is not so....the 24-hour exemption is $50, but there's a catch...if you go over $50 you lose the whole amount. (http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/new-neuf/advisory-avis/2007-09-28-eng.html)

It is true that it depends on the mood of the agent....people often report bringing back hundreds of dollars worth of purchases without being required to pay tax at the border. In my experience, you are more likely to avoid the requirement to pay tax if you do not have beer, liquor, or tobacco products.

Scott

guess you've been hiding under the niagara escarpment too long...it was raised as of Jun 1 2012 to $200....you URL is from 2007 09 28. ;)

http://canadaonline.about.com/od/customs/a/exemptionscdns.htm

[Homer88]

This is not so....the 24-hour exemption is $50, but there's a catch...if you go over $50 you lose the whole amount. (http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/new-neuf/advisory-avis/2007-09-28-eng.html)

It is true that it depends on the mood of the agent....people often report bringing back hundreds of dollars worth of purchases without being required to pay tax at the border. In my experience, you are more likely to avoid the requirement to pay tax if you do not have beer, liquor, or tobacco products.

Scott

It got bumped up to $200 since June, But as before, if you go over $200 (between 24 to 48 hours) you lose the whole amount.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/106-eng.html

[iamscott]

guess you've been hiding under the niagara escarpment too long...it was raised as of Jun 1 2012 to $200....you URL is from 2007 09 28. ;)

http://canadaonline.about.com/od/customs/a/exemptionscdns.htm

You're right, sorry about that!

[wszeto28]

Agree that it really depends on the border guard. I think it also depends on how believable your story is.

Example:

One time I went for a day trip and spent $50 on clothes. My gf also spent $50 on clothes. We crossed the border with no problems. The next time we went, I spent $100 and my gf spent nothing. When we pulled up to the window, the guard asked how much my gf spent. I said nothing and we got pulled over for inspection presumably because he didn't believe my gf spent nothing.

Ever since then, I've made my gf buy stuff (sounds crazy right?) and we've had no problems since.

[ninja6o4]

I buy as much as I can from the US. Computer parts, car parts, pet toys/trinkets, tires, you name it, I will check Amazon.com and others before buying here. Why? because I get a 12% discount almost every time I do :D That's on top of the actual lower price benefit from buying in the US, period. Values range from $10-$800 typically.

Guessing conservatively, I would say I am declaring various goods purchased or received at my PO Box/Receiver in Washington on a single day trip (less than 24h) 2-3 times a month. I have Nexus, and I always, always, declare the exact amount of what I am bringing back, backed up with receipts/invoices to prove it.

On less than $100, there is pretty well no hassle.
$100-300, I'm sent in to pay maybe 10% of the time.
$300-500, maybe around 1/3rd of the time.
More than $300, it's closer to every other time. I fully expect to have to pay each time.

I do live close to the border so it's very convenient for me to do it, and I don't mind going in to pay at all. The way I see it, US paid goods in general are cheaper, and every time the guard waves me through, I save a bonus 12% HST :)

Call me unpatriotic, but the US is the biggest purchaser of our exported goods, so I think they need my money more than we do; pretty fair chance it'll end up in our gov't coffers anyway :P

What everyone's biggest purchase they got through tax/duty free in a <24h trip? My wife's is the biggest I'm aware of - the border guard cleared her $3000 wedding dress with a smile and a congratulations. :lol:

[BoogieWilliams]

Agree that it really depends on the border guard. I think it also depends on how believable your story is.

Example:

One time I went for a day trip and spent $50 on clothes. My gf also spent $50 on clothes. We crossed the border with no problems. The next time we went, I spent $100 and my gf spent nothing. When we pulled up to the window, the guard asked how much my gf spent. I said nothing and we got pulled over for inspection presumably because he didn't believe my gf spent nothing.

Ever since then, I've made my gf buy stuff (sounds crazy right?) and we've had no problems since.

That's weird, they usually ask for the total amount spent. You don't really need to justify who bought what, you can just say $100 in total for everyone.