Are American sales tax part of the border exemption amount?

[Capricornxs]

Sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong section, but I'm just wondering, if the exemption limit is $200 (for 24 hrs absence), is that the total amount spent on an item or the purchasing price of the item? So if the price is $190, and sales tax is 9%, total spent would be $207, would I still have to pay the duty and taxes?

Thanks.

[Frank]

Customs calculate the totals based on Total Amount spent incl. taxes.
99.99 % of the time they won't bother you paying taxes on $7.00

[mbg]

What would be the big deal paying duty and tax on $7, anyway?

[Capricornxs]

Oh I wouldn't mind paying duty JUST on the extra $7, but reading from the CBSA website, it states that:


Goods must be in your possession at time of entry to Canada. We remind all travellers absent from Canada from between 24 and 48 hours, that if the value of the goods you have purchased abroad exceeds $200 after a 24 hour absence, duty and taxes are applicable on the entire amount of the imported goods. Travellers who are absent for periods of 48 hours or more will have the applicable exemption level credited against the total value of goods.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/106-eng.html

So I'd be paying duty/taxes on the entire amount...

[ronin1701]

What would be the big deal paying duty and tax on $7, anyway?

Tax is tax. Why would you want to pay more than you need to?

[gilboman]

Tax is tax. Why would you want to pay more than you need to?

Because a lot of people dont really care about 91 cents, not that sad and pathetic yet