Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042
You are 100% correct- always declare everything. I'd say that I'm about 40% where I have had to pay duty. If most of what you are buying is groceries, those are GST and duty exempt. If I spend $300 on groceries and $200 on other stuff, now the border agency people have to go through your receipts to collect $10-20. I've found most of them will waive you through. They have more pressing things to deal with.
I've also found the Alberta crossings are less likely to charge you when coming back. Likely because they deal more frequently with only having to charge 5%- unlike other provinces where you'd have to also pay PST. (It doesn't matter where you enter Canada- you get charged tax based upon your home province.)
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This has been my experience as well, I'm always up front on the dollar value and I rattle off any items of concern (liquor) and they just don't seem motivated to enforce the collection of duty fees.
Heck one time landing at the airport from Cuba we were at our limit for Tobacco and over on the alcohol and they just said "yeah you're a little bit over on your alcohol allowances, just keep that mind for next time" and let us on our way.
After that experience I just figure we're due to be dinged for duty fees on of these times, so I'm always honest about what we're bringing back, even if we're over and I've yet to pay a cent in duties.