kellys247

hello again,
Having previously asked for advice i am now needing a little more lol
My husband recieved his official offer of employment today so looks like the wheels are in motion. As he is a mechanic, he will obviously need his tools shipped over in order to start new job.
Has anyone had tools shipped and know anything about price, timescales etc? How long before we leave should we ship them?
I have already done an online calculator estimate which is around £300 but would be good to compare with anyone who has already been through the process.
Thank you

Former Lancastrian

Make sure the tools don't arrive before he does.
Make a list of the tools and their approx value as tools used for a trade don't qualify for free entry and he may end up paying up to 20% taxes on the value.

Items Imported for Commercial Use

26. Goods which are temporarily imported for commercial purposes are not admissible as personal baggage. This would include goods imported for demonstration or exhibition, commercial samples, tools, or articles associated with commercial lectures or presentations. Such goods may generally be imported customs duty free, and may also be eligible for full or partial GST/HST relief, provided they meet certain conditions.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...-eng.html#a4x7

This will depend on the officer reviewing the shipment.
How are you shipping them UPS, Fedex, excess baggage etc?

kellys247

Thank you, we will more than likely be shipping by DHL, is there anyway around paying the duty on them by saying they are worth less than they are etc?
He is going to be packing them all into 1 topbox if this helps any? lol

Former Lancastrian

Mmmm let me think about that one.

Siouxie

Look into having them shipped by Air Transat Cargo - they can either go on the same flight as your husband or else afterwards separately. I wouldn't necessarily recommend sending them by DHL.

Just so you know, Former Lancastrian works for the Canada Border Service Agency so asking him about paying less duty would be a conflict for him, lol.

Has your husband checked that he will be allowed to use the tools in Canada? The safety standards here may require them to be CSA marked specifically for Canada - I know a lot of other trades people who were not allowed to use their tools here on-site.

kellys247

awwww thank you, understood lol sorry former lancastrian.
No he wasnt aware that he might not be able to use his tools over there, this is obviously something we will have to look into! thank you for the tip.
We will also look into having them on same flight also.
Thanks for all the helpful advice

Siouxie

You are very welcome.

He could use them for his personal use as his hobby (fixing cars) even if he wouldn't be allowed to use them 'on the job' at work.

I would get him to find out if he will be allowed to as if he isn't then they may not be counted as trade tools (though I would get a letter confirming that he isn't permitted to take them to work).

Don't forget to fill out goods-to-follow and goods-accompanying lists so you don't pay duty on your belongings - you need to list anything and everything you will bring over at any time in the future, even the dog. You can do this even as a temporary worker. http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Goods_To_Follow

This wiki article also has a lot of useful info about moving over: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...gistics-Canada

kellys247

Thanks, that makes sense and something we will defo give more thought to! checking out the link now

Piff Poff

As for using his own tools in the workplace, a spanner is a spanner, a wrench a wrench etc, Snap On is Snap On etc, he'll be fine using his own tools as a mechanic. We sent OH's tools in the container, wich was a pita as they ended up taking 10 or 11 weeks, so OH ened up borrowing and buying cheapies for 4 or 5 weeks.

Aviator

You can declare a lower value, but CBSA have some idea of values. You will be assessed duty (up to 20%) depending on country of manufacture and GST (5%).

Siouxie

Thanks for that Piff Poff - I wasn't sure, which is why I suggested the OP check. I know, for instance, that a carpenter friend couldn't use any of his UK power tools on-site as they didn't have the Canadian CSA mark on them. Presumably it would only be hand tools that wouldn't matter.

the undutchables

I am a carpenter to trade and I shipped most of my work tools over with our belongings. My 110v tools were fine to use here, and the tools were never questioned on whether they were for work or not. No duty charged.

It is feasible that your husbands tools are for his own personal use, and that his new company will supply him with the tools of the job.

We stressed about the things we were shipping over, going overboard with the descriptions of the items and serial numbers etc, on our Goods to follow form. The border services had very little interest, and there were no questions or issues about what we were shipping over.

Piff Poff

Mechanics tend to use air tools and the occasional drill, I know my Husband bought new electrical stuff but everything else was his own, shipped groupage and just declared tools. CBSA were not interested.

kellys247

thank you everyone, yes its only hand tools but quite a lot of them so we were struggling with the right way to ship them over i think going down the route of "hobby" is our best bet and just shipping with our other belongings.
your advice has been really helpful as has the links that have been provided.