No, you don't get the card right away.
They mail it to you and then you have to activate it IIRC. It took me a couple days to get it.

Sweet. My new passport is RFID equipped. Bonus.

That's why they need someone monitoring the traffic at the peace arch duty free to make sure they actually buy something like they do at the truck crossing.
I think we got ours in about 7 business days

I was at the truck crossing and no one was looking...what i also meant that some asses were blantantly going to the very front and cutting those people coming out if the duty free...i git into a yelling match with one of those idiots. Guy behind me started as well probabaly heard me telling the guy to go back to the end of the line
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Picked up some parcels at 24/7 parcel yesterday and came back through truck crossing and got taxed like $45. Does anyone know if I am supposed to be charged 12% on the value of the items BEFORE US tax or after US tax? Because the cashier charged me 12% tax on the total (which included 8.5% WA tax).

I was charged after US tax. The agent who rung it in deducted the shipping charges though. I originally thought the value that I declare was before tax, so when the amount the agent charged me and the value that I verbally declared was off, I went over the math the agent and that's when he clarified for me.

I'm curious to see if there is some fineprint that outlines exactly how the "value of goods" is calculated.

I asked this one time and the officer referred me to a memorandum:
Memorandum D13-4-3
CUSTOMS VALUATION: PRICE PAID OR
PAYABLE (CUSTOMS ACT, SECTION 48)

Export Duties and Taxes
16. The amount of any duties and taxes, that are paid or payable to the government of the country of
export in respect of the imported goods by reason of the goods having been exported, is to be treated as
part of the price paid or payable for those goods in determining the value for duty under section 48.
http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/d...13-4-3-eng.pdf

so them charging tax on tax is correct :okay:

You also pay tax on any labour or services you paid for down there.

Case in point, I paid about $700 for tires, with WA tax, their environmental fees, labour for mounting and balancing, as well as $20 for extended warranty thing, and I paid tax on every item.

Good information to have.

would a guy living the states be taxed bringing stuff over to sell here?
he technically didn't buy anything

It's not really about whether you bought anything or not, it's the value of the items you're taking/bringing across the border. Technically, every time you buy something in the states and bring it back, you are importing it, and clearing it yourself at the border/customs. And you are implying you are using them for personal use, not commercial purposes (ie. selling.)

This is why UPS charges you exorbitant rates when you order stuff from the states into Canada; "brokerage fees".

Likewise, a US resident bringing stuff up here to sell would have to "import" it into Canada. It may also fall into commercial categories, in which case a whole other issue occurs. I think you need to be a Canadian resident to sell stuff in Canada. I know the US has this law.

They categorize between personal use and commercial.

That being said, much like the 0$ limit for tax/duty exemption if you stay less than 24 hours, it's up to the discretion of the officers, I find.

Went across at 6:25 this morning and regular gas was 3.13/gal in Sumas. Filled up the car and a jerry can.

I also picked up a parcel at 24/7 Shipping.

I was in and out of the US in less than 15 minutes total.

Went last Saturday to grab my tires at PR. Never been given so much shit lol went thru nexus and the guy doesn't look at me for a good 6 seconds so I say Ty and keep going and he yells at me to get back here. I've gone thru before were a border agent literally stared at me without a word and I had to ask can I go, and he was like " what are you waiting for ? " lol so that's why I went this time and goddam I got reamed out lol tried explaining and he's like don't give me this bullshit. He just gave me the keys back n told me to keep going. -.-
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lol damn that sucks.

Went down yesterday, was surprised at the 1 hour line up during the 10am time. Nexus was dead quiet though :)

I never goto PR anymore, use to ship stuff all the time (last 10 years) but border guard experiences keep getting worse each trip.

24/7 in blaine and the peace arch crossing are worth the extra 10min drive.

Are you talking about the border guard experience at the regular crossings, or the ones at the Nexus lane?

With Nexus, I never get any hassle at any of the local crossings (PR, Peace Arch, truck crossing, and Sumas). In the regular lane, however, I have had a lot more poorer experience with the PR border guards.

^except for XplicitLuder, LOLOLOLOL.

I'm surprised they don't revoke your Nexus card, XplicitLuder.

Nexus only.

Last trip thru, was returning something, declared that I was shipping something back that I had picked up earlier and of course pulled inside to pay the port usage fee to shipping something from PR.

Coming back thru on the same trip, declared my $60 hockey helmet with the receipt of course and nexus guard didn't believe the price. Eventually after discussing his expertise in hockey equipment prices online and confirming the item was indeed $60 by another guard, was able to go.

Of course they didn't pull the guy behind me who filled up 4 x 5 Gallon jerry at the USA Gas station because he probably didn't declare anything except milk and tank of gas.

PR guards have nothing better because well PR has nothing except parcel pickup places. It's like shooting ducks in a barrel. I declare everything all the time, only have had issues at PR. I cross once or twice in a week regularly and sometimes 3/4 times in a week in the summer time.

So glad that 24/7 opened up.

Too many horror stories with PR, that's why I stick with Blaine. And 24/7 is awesome. I picked up packages last night from their Blaine location, so easy and fuss free. Too bad they don't have larger lockers for large items.

Just got in. From my driveway and back in less than 30 mins. Saved ~$40 filling the Rover, declared 2 bottles of wine with no hassle. Probably saved $20 on the wine as well..

Mg1 : he told me to never do that shit again or next time I'm getting arrested, brought inside, and have my nexus taken away lol just gonna stick to 24/7 dunno why I shipped them to tsb this time. Never had any issues at Blaine, and they've all taxed me so I can't related to those who say PR rarely taxes lol
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I grabbed wine from BevMo, the savings are crazy.

^how much can you bring back on a day trip. One bottle?

Technically none on a day trip, but they'll usually always let 1 bottle slide. Today I tried 2 and was fine.. I had a friend recently get a case of beer and a bottle of wine across without an issue. Luck of the draw I suppose..

Correct, you're not allowed any amount under 48 hours but usually customs will let you go through. I got 2 myself, told the border guard and she didn't care. And every time I go to BevMo I'm soooooooooo tempted to buy hard liquor because it's so cheap but it's not worth getting caught.

And one other thing; remember to sign up for the free BevMo card, you get further discounts. I picked up some cheap yellow tail for my dad, regular price for a large bottle was like $14, with the card it was like $8. Unreal savings.

Good to know about the bottle of wine, before I would just bring back a 6 pack just to be on the safe side.