| Eff-1 | 01-01-2013 07:11 PM |
Declaring at the border
Found this article today. Quote:
This month, BSOs in the Pacific Highway District conducted 93 seizures. Some examples are outlined below:
Douglas - Traffic Operations: On November 3, three Canadian residents returning from a day trip to the United States declared $100 worth of purchases, and they were referred for a secondary exam to verify their declaration. During the exam, officers found an undeclared designer purse valued at $12,328 with the receipt and packaging intact on the back seat of the vehicle. The purse was seized and an administrative penalty of $3,082 was assessed. Had the traveller properly declared the purse, she would have paid $1,479 in duties and taxes.
Pacific Highway - Traffic Operations: On November 15, a returning resident declared a purchase of a car to the primary officer for USD$27,000 and he was referred for a secondary exam to verify his declaration. The traveller eventually admitted that he had actually paid US$53,000 for the luxury vehicle. The car was seized for undervaluation, and once the traveller paid the duty and taxes owing on the amount that he declared ($3,186.20), plus an administrative penalty of $10,445.49 for the undervalued amount, the vehicle was returned to him. Had he properly declared the vehicle, he would have paid $6,149.65 in duty and taxes.
Abbotsford-Huntingdon Traffic: On November 16, a returning resident declared that he had purchased a motorhome for USD$168,000 while in the United States, and he was referred for a secondary exam to verify his declaration. The man provided a notarized Bill of Sale and Retail Buyer's Order from the seller for the declared value of $168,000, with a 0.00 value indicated for Less Trade In. However, the traveller eventually admitted to the border services officer that he had sold his old motorhome on consignment for $80,000 and that the seller gave him a "credit" of the $80,000 towards the new motorhome, but he did not include the trade-in value on the bill of sale. The man was arrested for undervaluation of the motorhome and the vehicle was seized. Once the traveller paid the administrative penalty of $53,698, the vehicle was returned to him. Had he properly declared the vehicle, he would have paid $12,521 in duties and taxes.
Douglas - Traffic Operations: On November 27, a returning resident declared to the primary officer that he had purchased a vehicle in the United States, and provided a receipt for $2,700. He was referred for a secondary examination to verify his declaration. During the examination, officers found an invoice in the vehicle for the amount of $27,000. When confronted with this information, the traveller admitted that he had created a false invoice so that he could avoid paying more in taxes. The traveller was arrested and his vehicle was seized. After the traveller paid $134.31, the duty and taxes owing on the amount that he declared, plus an administrative penalty of $13,296.84 for the undervalued amount, the vehicle was returned to him. Had he properly declared the vehicle, he would have paid $1,350 in duties and taxes.
| Did you really think the border guard wouldn't be suspicious when you declare a $27,000 car as only $2700?? :fulloffuck: |
