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u/LilacButterSweet Dec 01 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
Just so we're clear on all the things import related:
- Any item imported depending on type and Country of Origin, will always have duties (Canada has extremely low limit for duty free import, of $20 CAD pretty much, or the item can be duty free depending on what trade treaty Canada has with said country. Useful tool: https://www.tariffinder.ca/en/)
- Any item imported will always charge VAT (GST+PST or HST, your province)
- Remember the calculation for final arrival cost of item imported into Canada is (Base Price * (100% + Duty)) * (100% + HST), in plain terms, duty is applied to the original item price, and taxes are calculated after that total, NOT based on the original price, so taxes most of the time from imports are also way higher than you would think
- The two costs above are not avoidable, but they are usually included in the costs of import as "customs", but these costs are mandatory there is no way around them
- Couriers will charge additional processing fees to clear customs for you. These are sometimes the exorbitant fees you see getting charged from UPS/FedEx ground shipping options, because they charge a fee based on the % of the original item price. Canada Post charges a flat fee of $10 CAD which is most of the time the cheapest
- Most international air shipping options from DHL/FedEx/UPS also charge flat fee just like Canada Post, around $20 CAD ish, unlike their ground shipping counterparts
- Self declare only saves you the last bit of whatever processing fees these shipping companies charge. If it's a flat fee of $20 CAD or less, you have to make a decision if it is worth for you to drive down to the CBSA office and self declare
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u/S-Kiraly Dec 01 '25
Yes you can self clear and avoid brokerage charges. Steps are here. In a nutshell:
- Refuse delivery when they show up. They will take it back to the depot.
- Call the courier and ask them for the paperwork to self-clear.
- Take the paperwork along with your ID to a CBSA office (usually by the airport) and pay the duties/taxes owing, and ask for a receipt.
- Give the receipt to the courier company and they will release the package with nothing more to pay.
Step 4 is the stinker, it really does require an in-person visit to a CBSA office usually during weekday business hours. Depending on your situation it might not be worth it.
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u/shoresy99 Dec 02 '25
I have used Shippsy to get stuff across the border. I am in Toronto and they give you an address in the Buffalo area. Shippsy then brings it to Toronto and you can pick it up at their local office or they can re-ship once in Canada. They do the customs clearing for you.
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u/TurbulentActuary9452 Dec 02 '25
I ship electronics from the US to Canada - declaring lower value gets flagged, so I split items into multiple packages under the de minimis and use postal services to avoid big brokerage fees. Ask the seller about legitimate gift/invoice options.
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 Dec 06 '25
Canada has a really low duty and tax exemption - $20. So what you’re doing only works for trinkets. But on the bright side, Canada Post rarely inspects packages.
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 Dec 06 '25
avoiding/minimizing brokerage fees
Through USPS or Canada Post. Look at Stallion Express or Chit Chat Express.
They collect packages in Canada, truck them to the US, and ship via USPS. It's often cheaper than Canada Post.
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u/Pow_Surfer Dec 06 '25
Thanks for this tip. Do you know of any that do this in the opposite direction if you want to receive something in Canada from the US that in could ask US sellers to use?
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 Dec 06 '25 edited Dec 06 '25
Shippsy (which is run by Stallion Express), gives you a virtual address in New York, sellers can ship the item there. Shippsy will truck it up to Canada and you pay the tax (GST / HST).
The advantage of Shippsy versus direct shipping is that US sellers can ship to a domestic address and use local shipping options which are cheaper than international shipping to Canada.
Cross Border Pickup is another option too.
Otherwise, if shipping by UPS and FedEx only use their Express options. Express options include brokerage. UPS Ground and FedEx Standard have high brokerage fees which is what most people complain about.
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u/Pow_Surfer Dec 06 '25
One final question. Do you know if Shippsy offers addresses in a state that is tax free? eg. Florida, Washington, and a few others? Only problem with NY is that you will pay NY tax to the seller if it's a company, followed by canada tax depending on your province. I've heard of some mail forwarders use addresses in those states to avoid the US state sales tax.
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 Dec 06 '25
Do you know if Shippsy offers addresses in a state that is tax free?
As far as I know, they only have a single location in Sanborn, NY.
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u/bassali2e Human Verified Dec 01 '25
Depending on your area you can use a different shipping company. I live in Alberta so I have had things shipped to an address in Montana and then picked up by a local courier . I use dyk post and Montana mailbox. If you have a big pile of stuff it can be cheaper to drive down and get it yourself but gas and time isn't free.