lmartin999

So, off to Niagara and into the US over the weekend. Will be out of Canada less than 24 hours. As we all know, CBSA enforce the rules re tax free allowances entirely randomly and with no attention to the actual law but based on mood. So, my question is, how much booze and clothes can I try to bring back (declaring them) while hoping to not be charged duty?

Former Lancastrian

So if they strictly adhered to the law then being absent for less than 24 hours means you pay on all purchases being there is no personal exemption for less than 24 hours. Do you prefer they strictly adhere to the law and charge taxes or give travellers a bit of a break if not charging them?
Some of us prefer not to be known as the grocery Police.

Oink

Just stick them in the back of the car and say nothing. I regularly bring back 120 beers plus five or six big boxes of wine. Canadian border guards are dopey ****s. In my experience I don't think they hire the best and the brightest.

lmartin999

I didn't realise they had discretion not to adher to the law. Interesting.

Former Lancastrian

We have a certain amount of discretion or common sense when allowed.
Im sure you know people who have been waved up the road with maybe up to a couple of hundred dollars in purchases for a same day trip. That was either the BSO using discretion or being told by management to do it so there are no 2 hour line ups when crossing back.
Seems like we are always in a no win situation. Enforce the rules and get slagged off or not enforce them and get slagged off.
At the end of the day its a job.

Former Lancastrian

Thats because we have to deal with travellers who are also dopey ****s.
That way we are on the same intelligence level as them so we can understand each other

lmartin999

Hm. I was told that there was no discretion when I asked about this and that anyone bringing goods over the border outside of the allowance should be paying duty.

Seems a pretty unfair system and pretty hard to defend.

Is there anything in writing about the extent of the discretion?

Former Lancastrian

Im not defending it merely pointing it out. Usually Operational Requirements is given as a determining factor as to how much is to be waved up the road.
I have no problems if they tell us to collect on all purchases nor have problems when they tell us not to collect. If everybody had to pay then the line ups would be horrendous on weekends.
I work at an airport so it really doesnt affect me.
So what would you have us do for the same day shoppers?
1. Make everyone pay
2. Use discretion

If goods are duty free but subject to in your case 13% HST then we would collect $13 on every hundred declared. That $13 is split between the Province of Ontario and the Fed Govt and goes into general revenue streams to help pay for programmes and services.
So you decide if shoppers should be paying taxes or not as we just legally collect it.

dbd33

I'd denude myself at the mall, return wearing all new clothes and with a bag of dog food in the car. I'd go to Premier Wines and pick up 2 bottles. I'd declare the two bottles and be prepared to pay if asked.

Former Lancastrian

It used to amaze me the steps shoppers would take to sneak back in the goods they had bought down there. Vodka in the washer fluid container of the car, taking down an empty Canadian cigarette packet or 2 and restocking them, wearing several layers of new clothing and the brand new look runners or shoes.
Now I just shake my head.

Jingsamichty

Sounds like East Berliners at Checkpoint Charlie, desperate to smuggle back some ordinary consumer treasures to lighten up the deprived and joyless existence on their own side.

lmartin999

Only the guards at Checkpoint Charlie were more easygoing.

Former Lancastrian

Believe it or not I actually worked at Checkpoint Charlie when the wall was up. It was mainly West Berliners and Allied troops buying the crystal and other stuff at what was then 4 to 1 ratio in the Deutsche Mark. A quick trip to the currency exchange (all highly illegal) cross over and buy the stuff.
Ah the good old days

Almost Canadian

Does every police officer pull over every driver travelling over the speed limit? Does every auditor at CRA (or whatever they are called) dispute every tax return filed, even when it appears that something doesn't appear to be correct?

For someone that is an educator of others, do you appear remarkably clueless sometimes.

BristolUK

Just as anyone driving shouldn't exceed speed limits and follow other laws; pedestrians shouldn't jay walk; cycle helmets are compulsory in some places; shops shouldn't open on certain days etc etc

But the letter of the law is not always applied.