Customs charges on furniture
Jun 21st 2011, 12:32 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Sussex, Hoping to be Oakville, ON one day!
Posts: 70
Customs charges on furniture
I just obtained a quote through www.shipit.co.uk
We are only moving 3.5 cubic metres so the quote is cheap which is fine. However, it doesn't cover:
Destination costs such as terminal / port handling, customs / quarantine inspection, treatment and clearance charges, duty or tax, administration fees, storage, delivery to residence.
Other than delivery to residence (which I can arrange) any idea what the other costs will be? Thank you
We are only moving 3.5 cubic metres so the quote is cheap which is fine. However, it doesn't cover:
Destination costs such as terminal / port handling, customs / quarantine inspection, treatment and clearance charges, duty or tax, administration fees, storage, delivery to residence.
Other than delivery to residence (which I can arrange) any idea what the other costs will be? Thank you
Jun 21st 2011, 12:56 pm
#2
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Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Customs charges on furniture
I just obtained a quote through www.shipit.co.uk
We are only moving 3.5 cubic metres so the quote is cheap which is fine. However, it doesn't cover:
Destination costs such as terminal / port handling, customs / quarantine inspection, treatment and clearance charges, duty or tax, administration fees, storage, delivery to residence.
Other than delivery to residence (which I can arrange) any idea what the other costs will be? Thank you
We are only moving 3.5 cubic metres so the quote is cheap which is fine. However, it doesn't cover:
Destination costs such as terminal / port handling, customs / quarantine inspection, treatment and clearance charges, duty or tax, administration fees, storage, delivery to residence.
Other than delivery to residence (which I can arrange) any idea what the other costs will be? Thank you
Jun 21st 2011, 1:52 pm
#3
Professional Cat herder
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: TORONTO- yay!!!
Posts: 5,707
Re: Customs charges on furniture
what you need to be aware of is that if for nay reason , customs decide to pull your shipment out for inspection then you could be liable for any costs incurred.
TBH this is true no matter who you use , its always a gamble
TBH this is true no matter who you use , its always a gamble
Jun 21st 2011, 2:24 pm
#4
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Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 328
Re: Customs charges on furniture
Also be prepared for an unloading charge if you are not able to take it immediately it lands.
Jun 21st 2011, 2:27 pm
#5
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Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Customs charges on furniture
How much are these various charges?
Jun 21st 2011, 4:26 pm
#6
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: Customs charges on furniture
Personal effects are generally tax-free, there are some exceptions though, iirc it must be something that has been in your possession for at least a year although I have no idea how they enforce that. (I'm sure I had some stuff that I'd had for less than that but no-one noticed).
The main exceptions though are alcohol, tobacco and vehicles valued over $10,000. So if you have a wine cellar you're bringing over you might want to check with CBSA. Otherwise just list everything on CBSA forms B4 and B4A, and I do mean everything. It doesn't matter if you end up not importing it, but if it's not listed, then you may have a problem. The values you should list on the form are the values today, not what you paid for it (although frankly it's largely academic as there is no tax anyway).
Basically how it works is you present those forms to CBSA at the POE, they sign off on them and check off anything in your luggage. Then you go to the CBSA office that your shipper uses when your stuff arrives, and CBSA match the manifest with the B4 and check off everything on the manifest, then they release the goods for delivery by your shipper (or you can pick them up if they're not being delivered).
One point that I would make that is not immediately obvious - if you arrive during the winter the containers are stacked outside, so if you have anything sensitive to cold weather (such as liquids) make sure they are packed appropriately because there is a real chance it may get below freezing inside the container.
The main exceptions though are alcohol, tobacco and vehicles valued over $10,000. So if you have a wine cellar you're bringing over you might want to check with CBSA. Otherwise just list everything on CBSA forms B4 and B4A, and I do mean everything. It doesn't matter if you end up not importing it, but if it's not listed, then you may have a problem. The values you should list on the form are the values today, not what you paid for it (although frankly it's largely academic as there is no tax anyway).
Basically how it works is you present those forms to CBSA at the POE, they sign off on them and check off anything in your luggage. Then you go to the CBSA office that your shipper uses when your stuff arrives, and CBSA match the manifest with the B4 and check off everything on the manifest, then they release the goods for delivery by your shipper (or you can pick them up if they're not being delivered).
One point that I would make that is not immediately obvious - if you arrive during the winter the containers are stacked outside, so if you have anything sensitive to cold weather (such as liquids) make sure they are packed appropriately because there is a real chance it may get below freezing inside the container.
Jun 22nd 2011, 4:11 am
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 9,708
Re: Customs charges on furniture
Hi
Actually the $10K limit only applies to returning residents.
Personal effects are generally tax-free, there are some exceptions though, iirc it must be something that has been in your possession for at least a year although I have no idea how they enforce that. (I'm sure I had some stuff that I'd had for less than that but no-one noticed).
The main exceptions though are alcohol, tobacco and vehicles valued over $10,000. So if you have a wine cellar you're bringing over you might want to check with CBSA. Otherwise just list everything on CBSA forms B4 and B4A, and I do mean everything. It doesn't matter if you end up not importing it, but if it's not listed, then you may have a problem. The values you should list on the form are the values today, not what you paid for it (although frankly it's largely academic as there is no tax anyway).
Basically how it works is you present those forms to CBSA at the POE, they sign off on them and check off anything in your luggage. Then you go to the CBSA office that your shipper uses when your stuff arrives, and CBSA match the manifest with the B4 and check off everything on the manifest, then they release the goods for delivery by your shipper (or you can pick them up if they're not being delivered).
One point that I would make that is not immediately obvious - if you arrive during the winter the containers are stacked outside, so if you have anything sensitive to cold weather (such as liquids) make sure they are packed appropriately because there is a real chance it may get below freezing inside the container.
The main exceptions though are alcohol, tobacco and vehicles valued over $10,000. So if you have a wine cellar you're bringing over you might want to check with CBSA. Otherwise just list everything on CBSA forms B4 and B4A, and I do mean everything. It doesn't matter if you end up not importing it, but if it's not listed, then you may have a problem. The values you should list on the form are the values today, not what you paid for it (although frankly it's largely academic as there is no tax anyway).
Basically how it works is you present those forms to CBSA at the POE, they sign off on them and check off anything in your luggage. Then you go to the CBSA office that your shipper uses when your stuff arrives, and CBSA match the manifest with the B4 and check off everything on the manifest, then they release the goods for delivery by your shipper (or you can pick them up if they're not being delivered).
One point that I would make that is not immediately obvious - if you arrive during the winter the containers are stacked outside, so if you have anything sensitive to cold weather (such as liquids) make sure they are packed appropriately because there is a real chance it may get below freezing inside the container.
