Canadian Transformers News and Discussion Forum

[Zenith27]

2.2.1
Customs duties and taxes
Any item mailed into Canada is potentially subject to duty and/or taxes with few exceptions. The CBSA collects provincial sales taxes (PST) and Harmonized Sales Taxes (HST) according to the province of residence on most taxable imports valued at over $20CAD.

Customers with questions regarding the collection of these taxes should call CBSA Border Information Service (BIS):

Within Canada
Outside Canada
1-800-461-9999
1-204-983-3500 or 1-506-636-5064 (long distance charges will apply)
For more information on mail imports, visit cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/postal-postale/menu-eng.html.

A handling fee of $9.95CAD per dutiable or taxable mail item is applied. This fee is in line with the government’s efforts to help recover costs from those who benefit from services, and is similar to arrangements in the United States and other countries.

Mail items containing merchandise enter Canada through CBSA screening centres, are inspected by CBSA Officers and assessed for applicable customs duties, taxes and charges. If duties and/or taxes are owed, items will be delivered along with the E14 Customs Invoice indicating the amount that the addressee must pay before the package can be released to them. Canada Post collects the fees on behalf of the CBSA and accepts the following methods of payment:

cash
certified cheque or uncertified business cheque (payable to Canada Post Corporation)
credit card (Visa, Master Card or American Express)
commercial account.
Upon payment and receipt of the item, importers should retain a copy of the E14 Invoice as a receipt for their records.

Old complaint about Canada Post. It used to be $5 or so many years ago and has gone up since then.