loss

My mum and sister are visiting me and we staying a few days at Niagara Falls, ON anyway we plan to cross into the US for a day for shopping purposes etc,

I will be traveling into the US my CND passport and my sister and Mum on British, will this cause problems.

coming back to canada does my mum have to pay duty and hst ? if she is flying back to england in a week.

Piff Poff

Those with a UK passport will have to complete the visa waiver thingy ($6 us I believe - they do take credit cards)), depending on how busy they are will depend on how long you will be held up, it's a simple process. Have no idea on taxes though.

Aviator

On a day trip Anything you bring back will be subject to CDN tax and duty where applicable. Visitors to Canada are not exempt, they will have to pay as well.

A few groceries you may get away with.

MarylandNed

Personal exemptions are low for a day trip. $50 I think. If you bring back goods worth more than that, you pay duty on the lot.

Aviator

This is completely incorrect.

For under 24 hours there is no exemption. Over 24 hours it is $50, read here for the rest. http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/publications/p...-eng.html#s2x9

You don't pay 'duty on the lot'. Duty depends on the tariff code and where the items are made. Under NAFTA items are duty free, some foreign made items are duty free. Anything over the exemption will attract tax however.

lmartin999

Are you sure about this? I have always been curious about this scenario. It seems to me that as long as the goods would be leaving the country with the visitor they would be exempt (as the visitor has left the country and re-entered). If the items were to remain in Canada or be gifts I can see it. Otherwise why would they have to pay duty etc?

Aviator

This can be the case, sometimes the visitor will be asked to leave a security deposit and fill in an E29B, temporary admission permit. Usually a lot more hassle than its worth for a days shopping. It is not supposed to get around the exemptions and importation rules though.

It is up to the officer at the POE.

Visitors leaving and reentering are otherwise subject to the same exemptions as residents.

Granma Nessie

A few years ago when I had gone over to Canada see my daughter and family we all went over the Rainbow Bridge for a 24 hour shopping trip. On the way back at the border we were stopped by a grim faced , big ,butch female officer who meant business. We had purchased quite a lot of items and she made us open the boot and was going through all the bags. She then asked to see our passports and it was great to see her face fall when she saw my British passport and I said all the items were mine. She then waved us through with no further questions and my family said they would be taking me over the border on future trips!

Granma Nessie

bmnewmarket

just as an addition, last time I was there they also will take the fingerprints of anyone. So if they don't want their prints on record with homeland security you better skip the trip!

pennyhp

When we were visiting Canada before we lived here as pr's, anytime we crossed over for day trips into the States and bought stuff the canadian border people just asked whether the goods would be staying in Canada and if they were coming home to England with us we didn't have to pay anything.

MarylandNed

Hardly "completely incorrect"...

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 in Canada 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.

wolstie

How's it hardly "Completely Incorrect"? It was incorrect, and the Aviator was spot on in highlighting it. Under 24 hours there is no exemption (unless the goods are made in the States or Mexico - see NAFTA). AFTER 24 hours, you get the $50 exemption.

We often nip over the border once every other month to stock up on groceries. For anyone in the Ottawa area, I highly recommend crossing at Cornwall or Prescott.

MarylandNed

The confusion was caused by my use of the term "day trip". I meant a trip of at least a day - not a trip of less than 24 hours.

wolstie

Ah ok, my definition of a day trip to the states is popping over for just a few hours to stock up on chicken and cheese.

MarylandNed

Right - that's how probably everyone would interpret it. My fault for using the wrong term.