Receiving Packages From U.S. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Coelah · 10-17-2006, 03:21 PM

Is there anyone here who gets alot of packages from the US? A friend of mine wants to send me a pretty big package..about the size of a computer case box. He's being told there will be taxes or brokerage fees that will be very high. I've heard that if it's labelled as a gift or if you ship using the postal service instead of a shipping company that there are no charges. There is no money changing hands in this, does that affect it in anyway? Is it different if an individual sends something as opposed to a company, he has his own company and can use that?

Basically I don't have a clue how it works. Anyone know the rules on these sorts of things?

Fobby · 10-17-2006, 03:28 PM

tell him to ship it through USPS. UPS and Fedex will make a killing on brokerage fees. Also, if he uses his company to send you something, and it's declared as a gift.. that can be a little fishy...

Tron_fdc · 10-17-2006, 03:31 PM

If there's no money changing hands then it is a gift, and should be labelled as such. That way you won't pay duties or GST. Not sure about brokerage though.

To be safe, avoid UPS. Their brokerage is INSANE. Use USPS (US Postal Service).

Scorponok · 10-17-2006, 03:32 PM

I got a lot of stuff shipped to me via Ebay. Basically, it comes down to how much the item is valued at. If it's more than $20, they will charge you customs and GST. If less, usually I get it without paying anything. (This from a post office worker too.) I've had things shipped to me via UPS and USPS without any problems.

Coelah · 10-17-2006, 03:46 PM

He says it's valued at $250-300 canadian. But it is a gift. So that means taxes won't be charged? And what exactly are the brokerage fees for?

mykalberta · 10-17-2006, 03:49 PM

I am pretty sure gifts are charged GST and the 5$ customs handling fees.

No one really knows what the UPS brokerage fees are, my guess is that they charge that to their customs people to expidite your package.

MYK

ken0042 · 10-17-2006, 04:01 PM

I seem to recall that gifts of a certain value are still taxable.

As said above, get him to use USPS. And to make sure he encloses a card if it is in fact a gift.

Tron_fdc · 10-17-2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Tron would know, he's an expert at recieving packages.

And where would I be without my #1 inspector????

MattyK · 10-17-2006, 04:17 PM

I've recently ordered three items from the US via UPS; all were marked as gifts with a total marked value of about $150. All three arrived COD, and I was charged an extra $30 or so per package

USPS, I had no problems. UPS is the devil.

Bobblehead · 10-17-2006, 04:26 PM

I received my truck's nerf bars when shipped through Fedex Ground. I wasn't charged anything extra - did I get off lucky?

Fobby · 10-17-2006, 04:36 PM

Most of the time, the quote from UPS/Fedex to ship something from the US to Canada is from the Origin to the Canada Border. The broken that UPS/Fedex charges is for them to clear custom for you, and ship it to your door. That's the response I got from them the last time I called.

GreenTeaFrapp · 10-17-2006, 05:36 PM

There are also options like Express and Expedited that will include the brokerage fees. I've ordered stuff from BH Photo using UPS and there were no extra customs fees, just sales tax, when I received the goods.

CRXguy · 10-17-2006, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I received my truck's nerf bars when shipped through Fedex Ground. I wasn't charged anything extra - did I get off lucky?

Recently or a long time ago? I bought headlights for my car a couple years ago, and I didnt get the the bill from FedEx until a couple weeks after.

Best bet for anything from the U.S., go U.S. Postal.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 10-17-2006, 11:58 PM

Yeah, USPS is the way to go. My wife and I tried to give our old computer to her brother, and the poor guy got dinged with a 150 dollar brokerage fee. And it WAS labelled as a gift.

blankall · 10-18-2006, 12:08 AM

Just got a package today w/ an extra 30 dollar brokerage fee despite the fact it was only worth about 80....

apparently ups charges brokerage fees on all ground orders. Like other people said USPS or air mail

jolinar of malkshor · 10-18-2006, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I am pretty sure gifts are charged GST and the 5$ customs handling fees.

No one really knows what the UPS brokerage fees are, my guess is that they charge that to their customs people to expidite your package.

MYK

As far as Customs purposes are concerned I believe you are able to receive gifts, tax and duty free, if the value of the gift is or less $50.

OilersBaby · 10-18-2006, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

As far as Customs purposes are concerned I believe you are able to receive gifts, tax and duty free, if the value of the gift is or less $50.

Yeah that's correct...if the value is more than 50, you have to pay taxes.

Sittler · 10-18-2006, 08:45 AM

Stay the hell away from those b@stards at UPS.
www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shipping/cost/zones/customs_clearance.html

Go USPS if you can.

Here is the scoop in a nutshell:

"Gifts from friends and relatives, valued at $60CDN or less, are duty and tax exempt. Goods imported into Canada, valued at $20CDN or more, are subject to all duties and taxes."
http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/b06-e.asp

So, if you get the contents sent as a gift and they are valued at for example $100 you will then pay GST on $40 of that as well as a flat duty fee of $5.

Hope that helps.