Bringing electronics into Canada

[cipher]

I've recently ordered a XMC-1 and UMC-1 from Emotiva, 2 subs from Rythmik audio and a pair of speakers from Magnepan. I'll be heading down to Niagara Falls to pick these up in about a week or two and I have some questions about bringing these products into Canada:

1) What charges (ie Duty, GST, PST) and specifically what percentages should I expect to pay on these particular components? It seems from posts I've read that some people pay Duty while others don't and some pay GST/PST while some pay just GST?

2) How does one actually bring this stuff back across the border? Do I park at the border and walk into a "customs" office? Do forms need to be filled out or is this just a verbal declaration of goods with an officer?

3) Any suggestions for preparing for this process? Should I be filling out any forms beforehand, asking vendors to slap "Made in US" stickers on the box?

Thanks in advance

[casey01]

Apr 17, 2010 1:21:30 GMT -5 cipher said:

I've recently ordered a XMC-1 and UMC-1 from Emotiva, 2 subs from Rythmik audio and a pair of speakers from Magnepan. I'll be heading down to Niagara Falls to pick these up in about a week or two and I have some questions about bringing these products into Canada:

1) What charges (ie Duty, GST, PST) and specifically what percentages should I expect to pay on these particular components? It seems from posts I've read that some people pay Duty while others don't and some pay GST/PST while some pay just GST?

2) How does one actually bring this stuff back across the border? Do I park at the border and walk into a "customs" office? Do forms need to be filled out or is this just a verbal declaration of goods with an officer?

3) Any suggestions for preparing for this process? Should I be filling out any forms beforehand, asking vendors to slap "Made in US" stickers on the box?

Thanks in advance

Generally speaking, any product made in the US is NOT subject to customs and duties. You will probably just pay the PST and GST which you would pay anyway if you purchased it locally. Considering your getting all this stuff at the same time and it will be a "little" difficult to hide the boxes, upon re-entering Canada just make sure you declare them at the border to avoid any hassles. They will ask you to fill out paperwork and pay any charges before you leave. You will need the receipts showing the value of all the items since this is the way the customs and duties charges(where applicable) are determined. There is nothing you have to do ahead of time.

Products from Emotiva which are manufactured in China are subject to 6.5% duty plus any other handling charges they "might" want to charge. Of course there is also the obligatory taxes. The fact that you are picking the items up will save you some money anyway, of course, in shipping costs and other miscellaneous items that some of the shipping companies like to arbitrarily add on to their charges.

If a company regularly ships overseas and/or to Canada, they will generally be "on record" as to their products and types and where they are made so customs will know ahead of time what and what not to charge. In the case of a US manufactured product, make sure it is marked clearly on the box and/or paperwork.

Of course, having said all that, Customs can be a little unpredictable and not add any more charges and other times where they will.

[ottaone]

I brought Emo stuff, among other things, in Dec 2009. Showed the receipts. The border agent charged GST and PST.

XMC-1 is not available yet though, nor is the UMC-1.

[visiter555]

Apr 17, 2010 1:21:30 GMT -5 cipher said:

I've recently ordered a XMC-1 and UMC-1 from Emotiva, 2 subs from Rythmik audio and a pair of speakers from Magnepan. I'll be heading down to Niagara Falls to pick these up in about a week or two and I have some questions about bringing these products into Canada:

1) What charges (ie Duty, GST, PST) and specifically what percentages should I expect to pay on these particular components? It seems from posts I've read that some people pay Duty while others don't and some pay GST/PST while some pay just GST?

2) How does one actually bring this stuff back across the border? Do I park at the border and walk into a "customs" office? Do forms need to be filled out or is this just a verbal declaration of goods with an officer?

3) Any suggestions for preparing for this process? Should I be filling out any forms beforehand, asking vendors to slap "Made in US" stickers on the box?

Thanks in advance

1. 6.5% duty from China on electronice, GST/PST or HST applicable

2. Just go in and PAY

3. Actual bills of sale

You are done at that point...

[sharkman]

As others have noted, it's pretty straight forward. When you bring the equipment back into Canada, just declare the value(add up the receipts) to the customs guard in the booth.(Don't forget your passport) He'll ask for the receipts, don't assume that a copy of them will be included in each box, print up your own before you leave home. Then he'll tell you to park it and go inside to pay. Usually just GST/PST. They may ask you where they are manufactured. Know where before hand. Don't give them complicated answers like, "The sub is made in the USA, but they brought in components from China so it's part USA and China I suppose, what do you think?" Just say where it's manufactured, and only if they want to know.

I'm going across to pick up some items on April 30 and I do it more than once a month.

[ottaone]

sharkman, which border crossing/s do you use?

[greentea123]

Since you are in Capital, the closet border is end of 416 which about 45 mins drive for you.

I picked up my XPA-2 and RC-10 from the border and I only have to pay PST + HST.

UMC come later and I decided let emotiva ship to me directly since the difference between pickup at the border and ship to me directly was about $30-$40 cdn

[sharkman]

Apr 28, 2010 21:39:34 GMT -5 ottaone said:

sharkman, which border crossing/s do you use?

I'm in BC and I use the Huntington Border crossing in Sumas Washington. I can check the web cam for border traffic before I leave and be there in about 10 minutes. If it's a longer line up I park it and walk, the store is only about 3 blocks across the border.

[solidstate]

Apr 28, 2010 23:17:03 GMT -5 sharkman said:

Apr 28, 2010 21:39:34 GMT -5 ottaone said:

sharkman, which border crossing/s do you use?

I'm in BC and I use the Huntington Border crossing in Sumas Washington. I can check the web cam for border traffic before I leave and be there in about 10 minutes. If it's a longer line up I park it and walk, the store is only about 3 blocks across the border.

Have I got good news for you!

www.thelettercarrier.com

Those guys are in Point Roberts and is a great place to get the gear shipped to. They charge next to nothing and they held my stuff for a month before I had time to pick it up.

I declared my stuff as electronics parts and paid no duty either just taxes.

[eljaycanuck]

Last weekend, I visited some buddies in the Hamilton area so, in advance of my trip there, I ordered a UPA-5 and had it shipped to the US Address (usaddressinc.com) depot in Niagara Falls, NY.

It cost me $10 to have the package held: $5/wk. for up to 50lbs.; $5 for the excess weight.

Crossing back over the border, I declared my purchase ("a power amplifier for home theatre") and I was charged just PST+GST. It was an easy transaction all around.

[Tyler wants bass!]

Being only an hour from the border I could do this for the Eureka crossing, but no passport, and a V8 I think by the time I paid for the gas, the difference wouldnt be much : /