How much can you spend in the US before you have to claim?

[Capt'n RC]

Hey all, I was just wondering how much CDNs are allowed to bring back from the US in terms of how much a day before having to pay taxes.

My GF and I spend about $800 or so for 5 days earlier this yr in Disney, and we're planning on going again in 08 so out of curiousity, i was just wondering if anyone knew.

Also we drive to Buffalo every so often for the day, and we're never sure how much we can actually bring back.

 

[Bonnie40]

You really arent' allowed to bring back anything for a day trip, but my brother travels down there every few weeks and spends hundreds each trip. He just has his receipts together and ready to show customs, tells them just how much and 7 times out of ten they let him go. The other 3 times he just has to pull over and pay the PST/GST. That's it! He never buys alcohol or cigarettes though...just clothes/groceries.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I agree with the PP. For one day you are technically allowed nothing. We also go over about every 6 weeks or so to shop and we spend about $100 each without any trouble. As far as having to go in once in a while and pay the taxes, the way I look at it is if I only pay 1 time out of 10 it is still in my favour.

After 48 hours you are allowed $100 and for 5 or 7 days(can't remember which) you are allowed $750 each. To bring back alcohol or tobacco you must be away for at least 48 hours.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

Technically if you are just going over to the US for the day I have found that they allow $100

According to the Government of Canada's website here are the personal exemptions:

24 hrs = $50
48 hrs = $400 (as per Budget 2007)
7 days = $750

 

[dancin Disney style]

Technically if you are just going over to the US for the day I have found that they allow $100

"Technically" they allow nothing for one day. My mom went over on Friday and she only spent $65. She had to pay the duty and taxes. It is totally random what they will allow for one day.

 

[NikP]

"Technically" they allow nothing for one day. My mom went over on Friday and she only spent $65. She had to pay the duty and taxes. It is totally random what they will allow for one day.

For the 24 hour personal exemption it is $50. That being said, you have to be able to prove you were in the US for 24 hours if required. Eg providing a hotel receipt etc. Or receipts 24 hours apart. If you go across the border and back in the same day, you are technically not allowed any exemption.

It also seems to matter what you purchased. We are always asked this. We response by telling the childrens cloths and groceries. This seems to make a differance in pulling us in to examine our receipts or not. Duty rates vary for different goods. We have yet to be charged any duty since the early 90's, but we are charged the taxes on the full amount purchased. Also Childrens cloths are only taxed with 6% GST, and most food items are not taxable, so depending on the amount spent in one day. Is it worth it for them to pull you in for less than $6.00. Not likely.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

"Technically" they allow nothing for one day. My mom went over on Friday and she only spent $65. She had to pay the duty and taxes. It is totally random what they will allow for one day.

Yes...you are correct, "technically" you are allowed $0 for a day trip but from my experience I have found that if we have $100 or less, they usually let us go.

I'm surprised that they would make you pay the taxes on the $65 (most items have no duty anymore). We were also over on Friday and I guess we were lucky...I had $300 and my friend had $260....he told us to have a nice night and waved us through.

 

[MomtoEmIs&Ow]

We live close to the border, and go over about once a month, and are always allowed about $100 each for a day trip. I just went last week and saw a sign saying that now for a 48 hr trip you can bring back up to $400 each Now I can't wait to shop when we go to Cedar point at the end of this month!!!

Lee

 

[Rachael Q]

After each absence of 24 hours or more

You can claim up to CAN$50 worth of goods without paying any duties. This is your personal exemption. You must have the goods with you when you arrive and you cannot include tobacco products or alcoholic beverages in this exemption. If the goods you bring in are worth more than CAN$50 in total, you cannot claim this exemption. Instead you have to pay full duties on all goods you bring in.

After each absence of 48 hours or more

You can claim up to CAN$400 worth of goods without paying any duties. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, only a partial exemption will apply to cigarettes, tobacco products, or manufactured tobacco. See the section "Alcohol and tobacco" for more details. Also, you must have the goods with you when you arrive.

After each absence of 7 days or more

You can claim up to CAN$750 worth of goods without paying any duties. Although you can include some tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, only a partial exemption will apply to cigarettes, tobacco products, or manufactured tobacco. See the section "Alcohol and tobacco" for more details. With the exception of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, you do not need to have the goods with you when you arrive.

To calculate the number of days you have been absent, do not include the date you leave Canada, but include the date you return. Dates matter, not times. For example, we consider you to have been absent seven days if you left Friday the 7th and returned Friday the 14th.

We travel to Seattle once a month or more. Often we only go for the day, which means that "technically " we don't qualify for any allowance. (To calculate the number of days you have been absent, do not include the date you leave Canada)

On a day trip we will spend between $50.00-$100.00 each. We always have our receipts ready. The border agents have responded with;
See you next time
You know that you don't have an allowance? Keep it in mind for next time.
You will need to go inside to pay taxes.
You're allowance is $0.00, please head inside.

We've been sent in to pay taxes on $55.00 in purchases, yet we've alsobeen waived through with $120.00.

So be prepared to pay, and if you don't have to smile nicely and buy acup off coffee on your way home.

 

[shaycamp21]

We shop in Buffalo every few months (mostly for our kids) and we always have receipts and the last few times we only went for the day have spent over $200 and they have usually let us go (we almost always have our girls with us ). Once I went with my sister and another time just DH and I went on a day trip and had to pay but that's it.


Does anyone know about alcohol how much duty you have to pay. I have heard that even paying the duty is is cheaper than buying from the LCBO. I remember my friend telling me when she went to Costco with here cousin in California and she got a case of 24 Vodka Coolers for $19.99 and we pay about $10 for $4. . I am planning on having a party this summer for DH and was thinking of buying the booze after our trip to NY city next month (going for about a week) I think we are allowed a bottle each but I was wondering if it would be cheaper to buy more and just declare and pay duty.

 

[maddiel]

Does anyone know about alcohol how much duty you have to pay. I have heard that even paying the duty is is cheaper than buying from the LCBO. I remember my friend telling me when she went to Costco with here cousin in California and she got a case of 24 Vodka Coolers for $19.99 and we pay about $10 for $4. . I am planning on having a party this summer for DH and was thinking of buying the booze after our trip to NY city next month (going for about a week) I think we are allowed a bottle each but I was wondering if it would be cheaper to buy more and just declare and pay duty.

There's a formula out there somewhere, but it's complicated, IIRC.

The duty-free stores are rarely the best bet price- or variety-wise. We've bought booze at the New Hampshire liquor store a couple of times and been over the limit and declared it and weren't charged. Also, my husband travels a fair amout and tries to bring back local specialty brands. He always declares what he has and he hasn't been charged yet for being over the limit, although he knows it's always a risk. He's never brought back way, way more though - I think the most he's brought home is 2L total of liquor instead of the 1.14L you are limited to.

M.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

I noticed that a lot of you mentioned buying groceries in the U.S. Are food prices that much cheaper?

Is there anything cheaper in Canada?

None of you mentioned filling the gas tank in your car. That's got to be cheaper on the U.S. side.

Just wondering.

BobK/Orlando

 

[dancin Disney style]

I noticed that a lot of you mentioned buying groceries in the U.S. Are food prices that much cheaper?

Is there anything cheaper in Canada?

None of you mentioned filling the gas tank in your car. That's got to be cheaper on the U.S. side.

Just wondering.

BobK/Orlando

I don't think the food is cheaper but the sellection in the US is much better. Particularly on specialty items like sugar free and fat free.

The gas I worked out once to be about 10 - 15 cents per litre less in the US.

 

[Rachael Q]

The limit per person is 1.14l of wine or liquour or combination of both. When we travel we always buy local liquour that we can't get here. We have some great rum from Puerto Rico/Bahamas etc (we bought at the liquour barn in Florida) and Bundy Rum from Australia.

We usually have 2-3 bottles per person. Bottles in Australia are normally 1 - 1.5 litres. So we are well over our limit. We declare everything we bring, and usually they just waive us through.

We did have to pay the duty last January (2006). We had 3 bottles of rum between us - totally 4.5 litres. If you are over the 1.14 litres per person, and they charge you the duty, you pay duty on the entire amount, not just the portion you are over. And you have to pay the provincial tax, and the customs (duty). Each bottle cost approx $25.00 CDN, so $75.00. The duty and taxes came to $80.00 CDN - so more than we actually paid for the 3 bottles. They agent gave us the choice of paying, or handing over the bottles. We paid. We wanted the rum, and we figured it just equalled out for all the times we haven't had to pay.

We brought back more than our allowance from a trip to Mexico (Feb 2007) and Florida (April 2007). And we were waived through. It's just luck of the draw, I guess.

Just beware, that the duty/tax on alcohol is high.

From the Canada Border Services Agency Website.

Alcoholic beverages

You are allowed to import only one of the following amounts of alcohol free of duty and taxes:

1.5 litres (53 imperial ounces) of wine;
1.14 litres (40 ounces) of liquor;
a total of 1.14 litres (40 ounces) of wine and liquor; or
24 x 355 millilitre (12 ounces) cans or bottles (maximum of 8.5 litres) of beer or ale.
Note

We classify "cooler" products according to the alcoholic beverage they contain. For example, beer coolers are considered to be beer, wine coolers are considered to be wine. We do not consider beer and wine products not exceeding 0.5% alcohol by volume to be alcoholic beverages.

You can bring in more than the free allowance of alcohol except in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. However, the quantities must be within the limit set by the province or territory where you will enter Canada. If the value of the goods is more than the free allowance, you will have to pay both customs and provincial or territorial assessments. For more information, check with the appropriate provincial or territorial liquor control authority before coming to Canada.

 

[dsneygirl]

Does anyone know about alcohol how much duty you have to pay. I have heard that even paying the duty is is cheaper than buying from the LCBO. I remember my friend telling me when she went to Costco with here cousin in California and she got a case of 24 Vodka Coolers for $19.99 and we pay about $10 for $4. . I am planning on having a party this summer for DH and was thinking of buying the booze after our trip to NY city next month (going for about a week) I think we are allowed a bottle each but I was wondering if it would be cheaper to buy more and just declare and pay duty.

The cost on booze over your limit is huge so I don't think it would be worth it. Also the vodka coolers (Mike's Smirnoff etc) in the US aren't vodka at all. Their a "malt" beverage which is essentially flavoured beer.

I noticed that a lot of you mentioned buying groceries in the U.S. Are food prices that much cheaper?

Is there anything cheaper in Canada?

None of you mentioned filling the gas tank in your car. That's got to be cheaper on the U.S. side.

Just wondering.

BobK/Orlando

I find groceries are really hit or miss. Some stuff is a lot cheaper. Other stuff is not. Eggs, milk and other staples tend to be cheaper. But anything like cookies, chips, pop, yogurt is roughly the same. You really have to know your prices.

 

[piglets]

I know that everyone has already indicated that you are not allowed any allowance for a same day visit, so I won't go on about that.

Just wanted to add that it's definitely a hit and a miss when you declare. The girls from work go over to Buffalo twice a year (7 of us in a van!) Last year, we declared about $1000 between all of us - waved through. Earlier this year, however, we declared less - probably about $500 between us all and we were pulled over to pay.

It's just the luck of the draw!

 

[digskat]

We were over on Saturday and declared $200 for us and the kids. and were waved on thru.

 

[MikeyA50]

We live only 15 minutes from the border and therefore we go over every weekend. They allow us $15 each when less than 24 hrs. So for our family of 4 that's $60. Groceries are separate, they don't care how much you spend on groceries as long it does not include liquor or tobacco.