The NEXUS folks make it a point to ask if any of your purchase is tobacco or alcohol so my guess is that there's definitely 100% chance that you're going inside.

I couldn't find an official web page stating the actual calculation but found a calculator for duties.

Canadian Alcohol Duty Calculator

On a 750mL bottle of whiskey at 50% alcohol content wth $100 value, it's saying duties alone is $67.57. (I'm going assume you're going to pay PST and GST on top of that too)

Nice I was looking at that last time I was there. Maybe I'll end up picking it up next time.

Got that along with a few bags of Peruvian Giant Inca Corn this morning. Never seen kernels that freaking big.

Oops my bad I thought this wAs a thread about Mexicans.

Donald Trump?

Does anybody know what the correct procedure is to taking a package into the US to ship internationally?

Canada post wants $70 for a package to Korea, 4-6 weeks.
USPS will do it for $65 (USD), 5 business days guaranteed.

Do I declare the goods at the border verbally, explaining situation? Go in for inspection? Paperwork?

I have Nexus if it makes a difference.
TIA

Edit: What do I put for sender's address?

^you should definitely explain the situation. The officer will use his discretion on what to do, if you're not shipping for commercial purposes I don't think it would be a huge deal.

Put your own address, ups isn't going to care what address you put

explain it at the border, theyll send you inside to pay a fee, and youre on your way

Unless it's something unusual, I don't think they will ever ask him to pay anything.

I have always mailed out stuff from US to families in Asia because USPS is simply way cheaper and faster that CanPOSt.

I have mailed iPhones, iPads, watches, PS4, clothes... etc. Never had a problem. I usually just bring a box (not sealed if they want to inspect them) with the address printed and everything (the last few times I even printed out the paid label online), CBP was always cool.

It's usually the Canadian Custom on the way back that asks me a lot of question why I went there for such a short time. :fuckthatshit:

Be careful going through nexus. I went down there to mail something and they said it was commercial use of my nexus and almost took it away on the spot. I was just mailing one of my used car parts to some guy that bought it online so it was definitely not for commercial use but their definition of commercial is if I am making any money....makes sense i guess.

^It's a gift, so definitely not commercial.

I know I'm just being a pussy, but on my list of people to avoid pissing off, border agents are high up there.

Thanks everyone! Will go down on Saturday.

Nexus or regular?

not sure on what, but i guess its hit and miss with everything in general when it comes to the border. I had sold 800$ coilovers to some guy in the states, and so i told the officer i was selling coilovers and he sent me in, and inside i got asked the value, and then i paid an amount, which if i remember correctly was around 25$ figured there is some fee to sell in the states.

cant remember if i used my nexus or if i didnt have it at that point

Ok if you are bringing back alcohol (spirits specifically) less than 48 hours away, the calculations are really complex. It took me a long time to figure out the receipt, but here's the breakdown.

Example: The bottle cost $76.92 USD. CBSA converts it to $100 CAD (based on yesterday's terrible exchange rate of 1.3)

Here's what they charge you:

Duty: Zero. If it's a bottle of scotch/whisky, it's duty free. I was very surprised, even thought they made a mistake. I have no idea how/why that's the case, but no complaints. But not all spirits are duty free. Bourbon is, but vodkas aren't. It's complicated. If it's made in the USA, it's duty free under NAFTA.

Excise Tax: Calculated at $11.696 per pure liter of alcohol. For a 750ml bottle of 40% alcohol = $3.51

Provincial Markup. In BC the markup is 150%. (http://publications.gc.ca/collection...13-008-eng.pdf). It's capped at $40/liter so a 750ml bottle = $30 markup.

GST = 5%. $100 + $3.51 = $103.51 X 5% = $5.18

PST = 10%. $100 + $3.51 + $30 = $133.51 x 10% = $13.35

So if you do the math.

$0 + $3.51 + $5.18 + $30 + $13.35 = $52.04 charged at the border in this example

One other piece of advice: Had no idea but I learned yesterday Washington State has the highest taxes on spirits in the USA. Over 20% tax is charged at the cash register! Something else to keep in mind.

All I've ever done is say I'm heading down to ship a package. They usually ask if it's biz related. I just say no, and they wave me through. Once in a while they ask what it is, but you should have no problem with your situation. At worst they might go "why don't you ship it from Canada" but the price and ship time alone should be enough to justify it. Just remember, most border gaurds will have NO clue how expensive it is up here to ship internationally. So speak with respect not like they should know that already.

Both

I think the key point is still where the good would eventually end up and the nature of the transaction. In my cases, I've always made clear that the goods would essentially be out of US as soon as I arrive USPS.

For the case that a good was indeed for US (I sold my PS3 on fleebay). I told CBP about it, he asked me whether I was running eBay store as business. I said no, I was simply clearing out personal stuff on eBay. Then CBP just wave me through.

Was down in PR for gas today (Sunday), and I noticed that the US flag was flying half mast. I was gonna ask the US border guy what the deal was with the half mast, but instinct took over when he waved me through and I just drove out. FailFish

Any idea what the deal was?

Might have something to do with the shooting in Lafayette

Probably the shooting in Chattanooga Tennessee.

Nah. I bring either one bottle of wine or a 6 pack back with me whenever I go gas up. Never get sent in. I tried a 12 pack once (to see if I could get across) and they sent me in to pay. So I keep it with the former.

Went down yesterday with my wife and kids. Brought back 2 bottles of wine that cost me $14 each at Costco (their Kirkland blend California wine) and got sent inside.. ended up paying another $25 CDN in taxes on it.

Not sure what the deal is, I usually always get through if it's one bottle per adult and cheapo wine under $15 a bottle. Not like I'm trying to sneak across fancy stuff, just table wine at a decent price.

Felt like I was bent over with the neck of the bottle wrapped in sand paper. :okay:

You win some you lose some.

Went down today for some gas after the weekend and surprisingly, the waits were not bad at all. I guess the low loonie really must be hurting cross border traffic.

I been bring a 12pack everytime i go down (once in every 10 days avg). Only got sent in once in the last say...3 to 4 years....
But i see a lot of new faces at peach arch maybe they r new and more sensitive to the rules.
US border guys are pretty much the same

Whenever I go to the states, it feels like "border security".

When I come back into Canada, it feels like "border revenue".

:troll:

WHeres a good place to buy tires across the border? or website to order tires that can ship to hagens?