Shipping goods to Canada while abroad - effect on duty limit?
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
I'm not sure how "goods to follow" would work in these situations where it's actually "people to follow". At least with the goods following, you show up at the airport and declare $300 of stuff with you, and another $450 is on order and will be shipped at a later date.
But if you ship $750 of stuff ahead and claim that as your allowance, what stops someone from also showing up at customs and declaring the $750 of stuff they have on them as their allowance?
But if you ship $750 of stuff ahead and claim that as your allowance, what stops someone from also showing up at customs and declaring the $750 of stuff they have on them as their allowance?
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,689
I'm not sure how "goods to follow" would work in these situations where it's actually "people to follow". At least with the goods following, you show up at the airport and declare $300 of stuff with you, and another $450 is on order and will be shipped at a later date.
But if you ship $750 of stuff ahead and claim that as your allowance, what stops someone from also showing up at customs and declaring the $750 of stuff they have on them as their allowance?
But if you ship $750 of stuff ahead and claim that as your allowance, what stops someone from also showing up at customs and declaring the $750 of stuff they have on them as their allowance?
One cannot ship stuff ahead of time and use the goods to follow declaration method.
There are custom brokers who specialize in these regulations and can advise as to the best method/timing and the proceeding and classification to make the declaration under to minimize your duty exposure.
#18
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 5,210
"goods to follow" mean exactly that. You are declaring good that are to follow after your declaration.
One cannot ship stuff ahead of time and use the goods to follow declaration method.
There are custom brokers who specialize in these regulations and can advise as to the best method/timing and the proceeding and classification to make the declaration under to minimize your duty exposure.
One cannot ship stuff ahead of time and use the goods to follow declaration method.
There are custom brokers who specialize in these regulations and can advise as to the best method/timing and the proceeding and classification to make the declaration under to minimize your duty exposure.
#19
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
I get that. I was just confused because the advice about "goods to follow" in this thread doesn't seem to fit the situation where the OP is talking about sending his stuff back before he comes back. If you are able to ship stuff back under your exemption, what's to stop that person from also bringing stuff back and claiming that under their exemption? Surely that system can't just rely on the honour system?
Last edited by ls17031; Nov 28, 2011 at 11:04 am Reason: Typo...one little letter
#20
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,553
Wondering if someone can explain the process is at customs when you tick "I have shipped goods that are not accompanying me" as yes.
We're trying to travel fairly light during our upcoming trip and was thinking about shipping back anything heavy/bulky that we purchase abroad since space might be at a premium. However, I don't want to get stuck at customs for an hour filling out a form after being transit for over 20hrs on our return journey. Would rather just haul it back with us if that's the case.
We're trying to travel fairly light during our upcoming trip and was thinking about shipping back anything heavy/bulky that we purchase abroad since space might be at a premium. However, I don't want to get stuck at customs for an hour filling out a form after being transit for over 20hrs on our return journey. Would rather just haul it back with us if that's the case.
#21
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,174
On a similar note, to what amount can you make a purchase on say a foreign store like Amazon.com and have it sent to Canada without any taxes/duties/etc. being imposed on it?
#22
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
#23
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,553
Hehe. I don't believe I missed that.
Follow up questions tho:
Does the initial screening customs agent provide you with the form or do you have to go to a secondary area?
Any idea what happens if you declare this going thru the Nexus iris scan side on the way back?
Follow up questions tho:
Does the initial screening customs agent provide you with the form or do you have to go to a secondary area?
Any idea what happens if you declare this going thru the Nexus iris scan side on the way back?
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,689
The goods to follow form is dealt with at custom secondary. Nexus would only expedite the process until secondary.
#25
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 446
Not sure what happens elsewhere.