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.