US-Canada Duty/Tax
 

I have a package coming in next week that I purchased from eBay, and I am not sure how much I should declare at the border.

The total cost of the item is $260.00, however, a $200 gift certificate was used at checkout, so I ended up paying $60.00 for the item.

At the border, do I declare $260.00 or $60.00 for the taxable amount?

TIA!

The value of the product, which is what ever the price is before shipping and taxes

I just bought something off ebay for $390 recently. Had it shipped to TSB in Point Roberts and declared that amount, didn't have to pay shit. If it isn't a larger amount like over 500 they might just let you go (from experience).

It's really by luck really...sometimes you get taxed by customs, other times not.

It depends if the item is in packaging and is with tags..coming from experience that was the only time I had to pay taxes.

Just declare your stuff, on average, they let me go probably 50-60% of the time. That means in the last 2 years, i've probably saved $1500-2000 in tax alone.

Just be completely honest with them

I once told en straight up I bought over 600 bucks worth of stuff and also told them we were aware of taxes and were ready to be taxed. Guy told me to have a nice day and we didn't pay a penny.
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Yeah just be honest, especially if it's just $260
The chances are slim that they'll bother taxing you for a relatively small amount like that.

I went through point roberts several times and never got taxed. Purchases were from $200-800. Once i tried to lie to them the actual price but they knew somehow the bs in my words. I told them the total which around 700 and after getting fully searched, they told me to leave. And no taxes :woot:.

+1 for just being honest. Taxes on 260 is like 30 bucks. The peace of mind is worth more than 30 bucks
Posted via RS Mobile

well either way hes being "honest", you guys are answering completely different questions.

It's a debatable topic.

Say a person went to Europe for holiday.

Scenario A:
Person A's relative give him a iphone4 as a present.

Given the fact other shopping he have done, the iphone4 present is obviously over his $750 seven days limit. You would declare it.

Scenario B:
Person B's relative give him a $500 itune gift card.

Question - do you declare the itune gift card then? Would it be more viewed as a "good" or more as "money"? What if it was not in itune gift card - but Chinese red pocket?

I dont think it was a question about honesty

because willy just doesn't know if you're supposed to declare what you paid for an item ($$$) or how much an item actually costs

I remember requesting a refund from customs for what i was charged in taxes, because the online store listed the Original price rather than the Sale Price (i contacted the store about this and they quoted me some terms/conditions thing where they're supposed to list the orignal price), and customs gave me a refund and only took taxes off the sale price

so i can understand how one could be confused in a situation like this

you're most likely going to have to pay taxes for the full amount Willy but it doesn't hurt to tell/show them the breakdown of fees/payment (including the gift certificate)

$260 because the value of the product is still 260. you just happened to only pay 60 of it while someone else paid the 200. in the end the total amount paid was 260.

got through with $4000 worth of car parts once no tax. all declared with invoice

You definitely declare $260.

It seems like Canada Border Services has really changed their policy on charging duties in the last few years.

I've been buying online and having it shipped to Point Roberts for about ten years now. In the past, they used to pull you in to pay duties even for amounts under $100... but now it seems they've gotten way more lenient. I used to have to pay duties all the time... but in the last 2-3 years, I've been waived through everytime.

Don't play games. Declare stuff you bring back to the full value.
Once you mess up and they catch you you're tagged.
not worth the future trouble.

I have Nexus, I roll up, say "hi i have $$$ in whatever" before the guy even says anything. (which is what I was told to do for verbal declaration) So far *knock on wood* I haven't been taxed. the max I had at once time was $400.

^

My buddy has been caught ONCE for lying, he now has to get his car inspected every time he wants to get past the border.

They catch you once, you'll have lots more trouble in the future.