Is "artwork" from US chargable or duty free?

Original artwork, "from the artist's hand" including paintings, pastels and drawings are duty free. Commercial prints and reproductions are subject to 5.5% duty.

I suspect that the $83 you paid includes duty, brokerage fees and GST/PST.

jaybeeg wrote: ↑ Original artwork, "from the artist's hand" including paintings, pastels and drawings are duty free. Commercial prints and reproductions are subject to 5.5% duty.

I suspect that the $83 you paid includes duty, brokerage fees and GST/PST.

I thought that shipping with USPS and Canada post delivery would skip all those charges. I guess not.

Looks like you were only charged 5% GST + 9.975% QST + 9.95 Canada Post brokerage, with no duties.

You bought USD195 x ~1.25 fx rate = CAD243 each x 2 prints = CAD486.
~$72 taxes + $10 brokerage = $83

No way Canada Post is going to let a shipment valued that much slide through.

cba123 wrote: ↑ Looks like you were only charged 5% GST + 9.975% QST + 9.95 Canada Post brokerage, with no duties.

You bought USD195 x ~1.25 fx rate = CAD243 each x 2 prints = CAD486.
~$72 taxes + $10 brokerage = $83

No way Canada Post is going to let a shipment valued that much slide through.

Ahh, RFD people. Well of knowledge.

Thank you!

cba123 wrote: ↑ Looks like you were only charged 5% GST + 9.975% QST + 9.95 Canada Post brokerage, with no duties.

You bought USD195 x ~1.25 fx rate = CAD243 each x 2 prints = CAD486.
~$72 taxes + $10 brokerage = $83

No way Canada Post is going to let a shipment valued that much slide through.

Used to work for Canada Customs.
The math here by @cba530 is spot on!

Note … Just cuz Canada Post can overlook some things doesn’t mean they will
It’s like driving over the speed limit … you are in the wrong … and at the mercy of the police officer sitting at the side of the road … and his discretion / mood at the time

Yes spot on. Just received the shipping box.

You got off cheap, if it went by UPS the bill would have been $150+

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Used to work for Canada Customs.
The math here by @cba530 is spot on!

Note … Just cuz Canada Post can overlook some things doesn’t mean they will
It’s like driving over the speed limit … you are in the wrong … and at the mercy of the police officer sitting at the side of the road … and his discretion / mood at the time

Lol, agree! Even with items that are supposed to have duties, Canada Post don't charge them most of the times (but can also depend on your luck) whereas courier like DHL, ups,FedEx will charge the correct duties and taxes all the time.

Fashion goods like clothes, bags and shoes usually have up to 18% duties but CP almost never charge me duties, just taxes. Smaller value parcel under $200 are very likely to fly under the radar and skip all the taxes but that depends on your luck

Jon Lai wrote: ↑ You got off cheap, if it went by UPS the bill would have been $150+

THIS. Canada Post is by far the cheapest option to import. They will sometimes let packages in without import charges, which is a nice surprise bonus.

redflag5050 wrote: ↑ I thought that shipping with USPS and Canada post delivery would skip all those charges. I guess not.

In my experience anything around $100 and below has a chance of getting waived. Anything much more than that is guaranteed to be billed.

death_hawk wrote: ↑ In my experience anything around $100 and below has a chance of getting waived. Anything much more than that is guaranteed to be billed.

Lol … feels that way
But in reality it’s little more than random
As you say A CHANCE …
As it’s up to the discretion of the CBSA Officer
As well as any internal memos that might be circulating on ramped up enforcement, particular goods, countries coming from, etc

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Lol … feels that way
But in reality it’s little more than random
As you say A CHANCE …

Definitely. I've been assessed "properly" (aka below $100) a few times too.
While you say it's up to the agent, I would suspect that most agents wouldn't waive a higher value package (ie above $200) that often.
That's not to say they don't, but looking at "hit" rates I would imagine that it'd skew towards under $100 being a higher "miss" rate than $100+ even if it is truly random.

Side question (if you're able to answer): Do you get yelled at if you waive too much? Like if I was an agent, could I theoretically collect zero in taxes for anything that comes across my desk without getting in trouble or am I "advised" to collect reasonably?
Or is it more like just "don't be an idiot".

As it’s up to the discretion of the CBSA Officer

Paperwork I imagine?

Fun side story: I was bringing a few things (mostly grocery) over a land border and was once sent in to pay $2 worth of GST.
I had about $100 worth of goods (mostly grocery) with $40 being eligible for GST. I was like WTF. The agent inside was like WTF.
I like to think that it costs FAR more than $2 in wages/paperwork/admin/etc to process.

jaybeeg wrote: ↑ THIS. Canada Post is by far the cheapest option to import. They will sometimes let packages in without import charges, which is a nice surprise bonus.

The problem is that USPS/Canada Post are also the most expensive on the front end.
By far the cheapest option is to ship via UPS Ground and self account because UPS is typically the cheapest on the front end but the most expensive on the back end.

For "full service" I like DHL. Reasonable fees ($7 more than Canada Post) and reasonable shipping charges.
Also a full online portal to pay your bill so they actually deliver rather than card for pickup and payment.

At the end of the day it makes more sense to evaluate what you're shipping, how fast you're shipping, how much it weighs, how much it's worth, and how fast you need it before picking a courier.
You can't universally say USPS/Canada Post and be correct.

If it's small and light, air services typically include brokerage charges and won't be much more than ground service.
If it's $100ish, USPS/Canada Post is probably okay because there's a decent chance to be waived.
If it's very expensive, I like DHL for full service or UPS for self accounting.
If it's very heavy, I'll use DHL because USPS is expensive if it doesn't fall into flat rate.

Jon Lai wrote: ↑ You got off cheap, if it went by UPS the bill would have been $150+

I never ever buy if shipped with UPS or Fedex. Never. If not shipped USPS, I just don't buy.

redflag5050 wrote: ↑ I thought that shipping with USPS and Canada post delivery would skip all those charges. I guess not.

You thought wrong.

Any merchandise imported into Canada is subject to duties and/or taxes, regardless of the import method used.

Canada Post has a lower admin fee, and in the experience of many here, you've got a better than even chance of getting your package without any taxes and/or duties applied, however it doesn't mean you won't be charged.

"Any merchandise imported into Canada is subject to duties and/or taxes, regardless of the import method used."

Not in my case. I can't even remember the last time I paid any duties/taxes for items I bought from the US. Ranging in price from a few $$ to a few hundred $$$$. I am lucky for sure but the only times I got dinged, besides this time, was when UPS or FEDEX where used to ship. Like I said I learned my lesson. Only USPS when I need to buy from the US.

jaybeeg wrote: ↑ Original artwork, "from the artist's hand" including paintings, pastels and drawings are duty free. Commercial prints and reproductions are subject to 5.5% duty.

I suspect that the $83 you paid includes duty, brokerage fees and GST/PST.

Does that mean if I buy a "from the artist's hand" $2000 painting I won't pay duties or taxes or just no duties.

There were no duties paid for what I just received, only Qst&Gst + clearing charge ($10).

redflag5050 wrote: ↑ Not in my case. I can't even remember the last time I paid any duties/taxes for items I bought from the US.

You're not special, and you don't have a special exemption from duties and/or taxes. I certainly wish I did.

Any merchandise imported is subject to duties and taxes.

The fact you haven't been assessed them before is irrelevant, and confirms what I wrote in my original response...when you get an item through Canada Post, you've got a fairly good chance you won't be assessed. Doesn't mean you won't, and if you make an assumption you won't - you're wrong.

Each new importation is a new opportunity to be dinged.

the only times I got dinged, besides this time, was when UPS or FEDEX where used to ship.

Yup. They watch for those things cos they get money from their admin fees too. Charge like a wounded bull.

ALLCAPS wrote: ↑ You're not special, and you don't have a special exemption from duties and/or taxes. I certainly wish I did.

Any merchandise imported is subject to duties and taxes.

The fact you haven't been assessed them before is irrelevant, and confirms what I wrote in my original response...when you get an item through Canada Post, you've got a fairly good chance you won't be assessed. Doesn't mean you won't, and if you make an assumption you won't - you're wrong.

Each new importation is a new opportunity to be dinged.



Yup. They watch for those things cos they get money from their admin fees too. Charge like a wounded bull.

No, never said I was special. I wish. I have been super lucky but a bit of knowledge also helps. As in never ever use UPS and FEDEX. I didn't mind mind paying the taxes on this, it's fair enough.