Slapped with $80 duties on a package from an overseas relative
I just went to the post office to pick up a package sent by a relative living abroad that contains some clothing items with a declared value of around $150 and was told that to claim it I need to pay $80 or so in duties.
I've occasionally had the relative send me clothing items as gifts like this in the past and it's the first time this is happening.
How should I deal with this? Paying $80 to claim items worth in total about $150 sounds too much. Especially considering that my relative had to already spend ~$30 in shipping cost, this makes it totally not worth it.
I do see here http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/posta ... x-eng.html that gifts from abroad by mail with value over $60 is dutiable, but that web page doesn't show how the amount of the duty would be calculated. In any case just on the basis of what's on that page, I am being subject to a duty of $80 for a value of $90 ($150-$60). Does this make sense?
I was told at the post office I could just return the package to the sender, but would like to avoid it. I am curious about the basis for calculation of the duty, and whether there is a way to appeal this.
As I said, this is the first time this is happening despite similar gifts in the past. Is this a crap shoot? Does the border services agency do a random check? Is my duty so high because they didn't believe the declared value on the package? I was shown the package by the post office person and it didn't seem like it was officially opened, so what would've been the basis for their decision? How can I avoid this in the past, or at least know what to expect when receiving stuff from abroad?
I can see this happening on my own overseas purchases too, so I think I should know.
I've occasionally had the relative send me clothing items as gifts like this in the past and it's the first time this is happening.
How should I deal with this? Paying $80 to claim items worth in total about $150 sounds too much. Especially considering that my relative had to already spend ~$30 in shipping cost, this makes it totally not worth it.
I do see here http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/posta ... x-eng.html that gifts from abroad by mail with value over $60 is dutiable, but that web page doesn't show how the amount of the duty would be calculated. In any case just on the basis of what's on that page, I am being subject to a duty of $80 for a value of $90 ($150-$60). Does this make sense?
I was told at the post office I could just return the package to the sender, but would like to avoid it. I am curious about the basis for calculation of the duty, and whether there is a way to appeal this.
As I said, this is the first time this is happening despite similar gifts in the past. Is this a crap shoot? Does the border services agency do a random check? Is my duty so high because they didn't believe the declared value on the package? I was shown the package by the post office person and it didn't seem like it was officially opened, so what would've been the basis for their decision? How can I avoid this in the past, or at least know what to expect when receiving stuff from abroad?
I can see this happening on my own overseas purchases too, so I think I should know.