Avoiding Tariffs on Stuff Shipped to Canada

[HawkRod]

I don't have this issue since I am in the US, but I figured I would post this in case it helps any of our Canadian neighbors...

I was on a site looking for tires, and at the bottom they have the following note:
HTS code for Canada... HTS code 9966.00.00 for Antique Vehicle Parts. Tariff item 9966 allows for: The following vehicles, manufactured more than 25 years prior to the date of importation, and articles for use solely or principally with those vehicles. Knowing that the parts are not actually > 25 years old, but are designed for a vehicle > 25 years old, we can apply the benefits of tariff item 9966 to commodities and the duty is reduced to zero. IT SHOULD CLEARLY BE NOTED ON THE COMMERCIAL INVOICE THAT THE PARTS ARE FOR "ANTIQUE VEHICLES > 25 YEARS OLD"

Maybe all you folks already know about this, but I figured I would post it here in case it is helpful.

Hawk

P.S. Here is the site in case you want to see the note - scroll to the bottom.
https://www.kelseytire.com/antique-classic-military-series/670-15-custom-super-cushion-ww/

 

[slimt]

We still pay a tax on items brought into Canada. Each province is different. It would be the duties that would be nixed if over 25 years old. Im not sure if it only applies to cars. And maybe parts. But shippers have a broker fee that the buyer has to pay, it adds up. The dollar exchange as well.

 

[Sahara]

Yup, it’s not at all uncommon to pay over a hundred bucks postage. The faster you want it, the more expensive.
Also not uncommon to receive a bill a month or so after you received your item for “broker fees” , duty, and taxes. It’s a legit bill, just not expected.

 

[YY1]

Does this apply to private sales?

I see a reference to a commercial invoice.

 

[HawkRod]

Does this apply to private sales?

I see a reference to a commercial invoice.

I'm afraid I don't know since I live in the US. I just figured I would post it up in case it helps some of our Canadian friends.

Hawk

 

[YY1]

Can't hurt to ask your vendor to take those steps.

 

[qkcuda]

Hawk, generally car parts are exempt from duty. We do have to pay HST (sales tax) of 13%. The real issue is brokerage fees if sent by courier. That is why we often ask for packages to be sent by US Post, because our post office will sometimes not bother with handling charges or HST on small parcels. That said I had a $5.00 part shipped by USPS recently and the postage was $37.50!

 

[tnfastback]

I sent some items to Canada and had them restored. Was told to write parts for repair and restoration to be returned to shipper on the shipping documents so there wouldn't be any duty charged to him. I guess if you sold something to someone in the Canada you could write that on the documents??

 

[slimt]

Does this apply to private sales?

I see a reference to a commercial invoice.

Beings that tires are large They get shipped via a commercial carrier. Usually transport truck.

 

[Imperial One]

I'm a bit of an expert in this area. First of all, "duty and tariffs" are different taxes from sales taxes. Even if an item is duty and tariff exempt you still pay the sales tax. That will vary by province as "qkcuda" points out above. It has been my experience, regardless of where an item was made, that for items shipped from the USA to Canada, that just the sales tax is paid. If you are doing a large importation, or an importation for commercial purposes then that could be a different matter.

On top of that you have the charges that either the post office or the courier companies charge. Canada Post will typically charge you a package fee of $5.00. The Courier companies are all over the place and I try as hard as possible to have items shipped by Post rather than the courier companies.

Fact: most Canadians live along the US border, within 100 miles or so. I have a post office box in Port Huron Michigan (at the UPS Store). My post office box shows up a "Suite number" in my address so it looks like a street address. Until the COVID thing I was over there every month to pick up my mail and packages. Even if you have no need for a PO Box virtually all of companies that receive packages like the UPS Store and others allow one time shipments for a fee. For instance at the UPS Store they charge $10 to receive a package, and the fee goes up if they need a lift truck etc. I have received 4 cars at the UPS Store (3 Chrysler Imperials and one Miata), lots of engine components, as well as two hulking stoves (over 600 pounds each) for my beautiful bride. So they will receive virtually anything (wine included - I've had over 100 cases of wine (note limit is 5 cases at one time - as I found out to my cost)). As they have a street address it does not look like the item is being sent to a PO Box. It will save hundreds on shipping. That's my number one recommendation for getting stuff from the USA. The Covid thing will end and the borders will open up again. And you could just go pick up your stuff there.

 

[YY1]

Beings that tires are large They get shipped via a commercial carrier. Usually transport truck.

I read that as an invoice for the item being shipped, not the invoice for the transportation.