Just called Customs Canada (1-800-461-9999)
For a $40 bottle of Scotch, a resident of Ontario will be paying $46 dollars on top of it, which comes out to $86 in total !! yikes!!!
Originally Posted by
Phrantic
The duty one pays at Customs is different between each province. For Ontario, it's approx. 59.9% provincial tax plus the 5% gst. There is no actual 'duty' for the item, it's just outrageous provinical tax. But that's for a spirit. Wines/beer are signifigantly less, however still expensive.
The 59.9% is determined through a pro-rating system between literage and price. So for example, you're bringing back a litre bottle of 10 dollar rum from Jamacia, it would still cost about 40 dollars in taxes owed if over your exemption.
There is a loophole though, and it's not well known. You only have to pay provincial tax if you're arriving in the province in which you live. So if you live in Alberta but are going through customs in Toronto, declare all your alcohol since you will only be paying the 5% GST. Now mind you... you're 'supposed' to go to your own liquor board when arriving in your province and pay the taxes there...
If anyone else has any customs/immigration questions, feel free to ask... I'm somewhat of an 'expert' you could say
