FAQ About Cross Border Shopping / CBSA

[Ebola]

www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca FOR EVERYTHING CANADA BORDER RELATED

[Narci]

If your coming back into BC, baby/children's clothing is subject to only 1 tax (I forgot which one it is).

If your bringing back, say a camera, into Canada and it cost $300 but you were gone for over 48 hours, you will be exempt. Even though the CSBA agent lets you though, go into the customs office and ask for then to charge you 0 dollars on the camera with a receipt because it was exempt from taxes. (Not many CSBA agents would know this so you might have to tell them why you want a $0 tax receipt.)

Why?

Because if you ever go out of country and come back, CSBA has every right to ask you for proof of taxes paid. They can charge you tax on that camera which you were exempt from initially but if you had that $0 tax receipt, its proof you were exempt from taxation. That green card you can fill out with the items serial # and description on it, its proof you left the country with that item and coming back in...But it's still no proof you paid taxes on that item.

[cwb27]

If your coming back into BC, baby/children's clothing is subject to only 1 tax (I forgot which one it is).

If your bringing back, say a camera, into Canada and it cost $300 but you were gone for over 48 hours, you will be exempt. Even though the CSBA agent lets you though, go into the customs office and ask for then to charge you 0 dollars on the camera with a receipt because it was exempt from taxes. (Not many CSBA agents would know this so you might have to tell them why you want a $0 tax receipt.)

Why?

Because if you ever go out of country and come back, CSBA has every right to ask you for proof of taxes paid. They can charge you tax on that camera which you were exempt from initially but if you had that $0 tax receipt, its proof you were exempt from taxation. That green card you can fill out with the items serial # and description on it, its proof you left the country with that item and coming back in...But it's still no proof you paid taxes on that item.

Kids clothes are PST Exempt.

I have no clue where you're getting this zero dollar receipt thing from? All you need is a Form Y38 (the green card) showing that the goods were in your possession when you left Canada. This is all you need. They're not going to look at the Y38 then started playing 50 questions on if you paid tax on the item.

[Narci]

Kids clothes are PST Exempt.

I have no clue where you're getting this zero dollar receipt thing from? All you need is a Form Y38 (the green card) showing that the goods were in your possession when you left Canada. This is all you need. They're not going to look at the Y38 then started playing 50 questions on if you paid tax on the item.

I asked custom agents/supervisors, just as you said, the Y38 form means the good were on you when you left Canada, it's still no proof of taxes were paid. i.e. a reciept from Futureshop or Besy Buy. If they wanted to, they CAN ask you for proof of taxes paid on an item.

i.e. say I bought a rolex in HK but when I came back into canada, I never declared it and got away with it. Nect time I leave I can still fill out a Y38 as proof of origin (that i'm leaving Canada with it) but technically it's not proof that I paid taxes on the item. If I come back into Canada and present the Y38 card, they can still ask if I paid taxes on the item if it was bought in Canada and they still can ask me to produce a reciept as proof of taxes paid.

[cwb27]

I asked custom agents/supervisors, just as you said, the Y38 form means the good were on you when you left Canada, it's still no proof of taxes were paid. i.e. a reciept from Futureshop or Besy Buy. If they wanted to, they CAN ask you for proof of taxes paid on an item.

i.e. say I bought a rolex in HK but when I came back into canada, I never declared it and got away with it. Nect time I leave I can still fill out a Y38 as proof of origin (that i'm leaving Canada with it) but technically it's not proof that I paid taxes on the item. If I come back into Canada and present the Y38 card, they can still ask if I paid taxes on the item if it was bought in Canada and they still can ask me to produce a reciept as proof of taxes paid.

Did you ask for a Y38 when you were coming BACK to Canada? Because of course that's the answer you're going to get.

If you arrive at the border with your goods (i.e. a camera) and get waived on thru, ONCE YOU'RE IN CANADA, take the goods (camera) to a CBSA office and then get a Y38. I don't know about Ebola, but I don't think I've ever seen/asked a person for their proof of taxes paid receipt when they show a Y38.

I mean no disrespect here, but I think you're confusing details.


And yes, I understand your example with regards to the watch, I'd say more often than not receipts are not requested by the officer when filling out a Y38. I can tell you right now that it's quite common for receipts to be lost, in that situation, I don't think that would be grounds to deny someone a Y38.

[canabiz]

Guys you may want to add what method of payment are accepted at the border offices regarding tax/duties.

Cash/Personal checks/Debit Card/Credit Card

For Credit Card, do you take Visa or MC or will you take anything like AMEX, Diners International, JCB etc.

Is American dollars accepted or it has to be Canadian currency for cash?

There was a letter to the Ottawa Citizen not too long ago complaining about a wait of up to 3 hours while some officers went to Gananoque to get some rolls of papers for receipts. In this day and age, you would think this is not something that should have happened, but it does and due to the isolation of the border crossings, people will generally cut some slack here.

[nutscreative]

Wow, FAQ are very helpful...cos i am planning trip in end of Nov. Thanks for all the information.

[CSK'sMom]

Check the border wait times here http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html or by calling 1-800-715-6722. For those crossing in Niagara after consulting the previously posted border delay sites choose the appropriate crossing with the shortest wait. Before leaving home have appropriate directions to your shopping destinations from all 3 bridges into the US.

Ebola you may want to add that kids age 14 and over should carry photo id when crossing into the US. We routinely get asked for it by the US guys. A school photo ID card is acceptable.

[Chr1s]

Great post!

This should be made a Sticky.

[CinnamonX]

What about taxes/duties on grocery items?

[Ryan]

This thread is a finalist for the Most Helpful Thread of the Year! If you think it should win, be sure to vote here:

[runningdog]

Wow, great thread and great PM advice. Thanks.

I didn't even know this thread existed until is saw the poll for most helpful thread.

[kurtblak]

If you are flagged for failing to report a purchased product; ie. bottle of wine and your name/car plate is placed into the CBSA computer...

can CBSA still pull/find your name even if you change your license plates.

(ps...I'm asking this because I want to show that there is nothing criminal about my request yet I predict Ebola will hide and refuse to answer like all good bureaucrats - the concept of transparency and openness is totally alien to them - hence the mistrust held by the general public).

[cwb27]

If you are flagged for failing to report a purchased product; ie. bottle of wine and your name/car plate is placed into the CBSA computer...

can CBSA still pull/find your name even if you change your license plates.

(ps...I'm asking this because I want to show that there is nothing criminal about my request yet I predict Ebola will hide and refuse to answer like all good bureaucrats - the concept of transparency and openness is totally alien to them - hence the mistrust held by the general public).

I think you know the answer to your question already.

[brunes]

Can you please post the specifics on what duty you WILL BE CHARGED for liquor you bring into Canada if you are NOT over the bonder for 48 hours, or have been over more than 48 hours but exceed the duty-free limit?

I have never ever been able to find this information anywhere in the guide or the website - it is very obtuse.

All the information given ever says is "this is what you can bring over for free if you are over 48 hours" - but nothing says what you will be charged if you are not over for 48 hours,. or what you are charged on amounts over the limit if you are over more than 48 hours. It is almost like they do not want it known or something.

I have often been across the border and really wanted to bring back some cases of Samuel Adams lager (I really like it and you can't get it around here), but am afraid of the duty charges since I have no clue what they would be.

Also, if you have any kind of a CBSA "suggestions" program for you employees - can you please make the suggestion to them that they put this information in some obvious place, like in the brochure you can pick up at the crossing? I am not the only person I know who has asked this question. LIquor is one of the most wanted things to import by a lot of people for a variety of reasons, price is not the sole factor.