Shipping goods to Canada while abroad - effect on duty limit?
 

I've been traveling over the past 2 months and during that time I've had to send some stuff home, mostly warm clothing that is not needed in SE Asia, however I also sent some clothes that I purchased overseas as well.

When I arrive into Canada do I have to declare the full value that I shipped, or just the goods that I purchased overseas?

Thanks

You are supposed to declare it as there is a box that says "have you shipped goods not accompanied by you"

I don't know how many people actually do that, but if you go to the letter of the law then yes

If you declare the value of shipped goods upon arrival to Canada, you will be given a special form from CBSA saying what you have shipped and the values of the shipped goods.

When the shipped goods arrive Canada, there is a possibility of them being assessed duty and tax. With the form given by CBSA, you can have the duty and tax waived. Otherwise, you will need to pay duty and tax when you pick up your shipped goods.

Your $750 exemption includes goods that accompany you and those that are to follow at a later date (have receipts to prove they really are coming JIC).

This is assuming the goods you have shipped were bought or acquired whilst on your trip. If they were previously purchased or legally imported into Canada before the trip you are currently on, when you ship them back you should document them as "Canadian Goods Returning".

You declare what you have bought or acquire while out of Canada. Separate the declaration to accompanied goods as well as goods to follow.

You will need the form issued by CBSA for goods to follow to get it into Canada duty and tax free.

You should not pay duty and tax on things you took out of Canada and bring back after your trip. However the burden of proof to CBSA that they were acquired in Canada is on you.

There are some goods that I have already sent home and arrived (addressed to my parents). Presumably if they have already arrived, no duty and tax has been assessed, or is there simply no to no if they have?

Sometimes personal belonging that are declared as such are just sent through the postal system.

The $750 personal limit applies to everything that you are bringing in as well as decalred goods to follow.

If they have received the packages, that means either there was no tax assessed, or your parents paid taxes on your behalf. These packages already went through the system and is history.

Any person can receive a mailed package worth $60 duty free(except alcohol/tobacco)

But you are liable for HST/GST/PST. If it wasn't collected then it's not declared in the "goods to follow" category, which is for the case when you are moving and are having things shipped by truck, for example.

When are you going back home? This can have a bearing on them charging duties and taxes.

When we moved back from Taiwan to Vancouver, we were away for 2 plus years, it was not considered shipping goods to Canada but moving back to Canada.

Had to list what items were purchased within the last 6 months prior to returning back to Canada. It was nominal therefore we were not assessed with any duties or taxes.

I come back in about a month, have been away for 2 months so far. I would assume this wouldn't count as moving back to Canada.

SOT from this thread, but my girlfriend and I went on a shopping trip in Vietnam, and have each spent around our duty free limit on clothing ($750). We both live in Vancouver, however she is flying to Ottawa directly from Asia (Via LAX and YYZ) for christmas to be with her family while I go to Vancouver.

We are both in Canada from Dec 18 - Jan 5, when we leave again for another 3 months.

We would like to ship all of our stuff together and will likely send it to my parents in Vancouver as it will likely arrive after we depart Canada again (no need to pay for express if we won't be need it until April). If we send it together, is there anyway that the total package can be split between the two of our duty limits, even though we will enter Canada at two different airports?

If this cannot be done, we'll send 2 seperate packages, just don't want one of us to get dinged for being ¬ $750 over their limit, while the other uses up almost nothing.

thanks

I would sent is as two goods to follow parcel with a separate corresponding declaration.

I repeat what your were quoting from me, every individual is entitled to receive *mailed* individual packages, each worth $60 or less, no duty, no tax, no HST/GST/PST. Legally you are obligated to report to your provincial government and pay PST after you have received the package released by customs. I know of no one doing that.

This has nothing to do with goods to follow.

Yes you can send 1 package with 2 recipients and clearly indicate as such, inside and outside of the package. This is based on customs officials telling me re. $60 mailed package per person rule. If the package clearly shows 2 recipients (e.g. separate gift cards inside the package, etc.), 2 x $60 applies.

Of course sending separate packages would be simpler in case you need to navigate the red tape should they decide to levy taxes.