Are there any loopholes regarding US/canada border duty?

Question

I am planning to go shopping in Seattle just for the day (im canadian) and i was wondering if there are loopholes to get out of paying taxes or duty at the cnd border? Do you pay duty if you wear the clothes?

Answer 1

You could wear the clothes.  You could hide the clothes and lie.  Or you could pay the duty which isn't that much.  Or you could stay for 7 days and buy 700 bucks worth of c**p duty free.

Answer 2

Go down with your oldest thrift shop c**p on, toss it when you get the new clothes, and wear as much of it back as you can. Or, just declare it and pay the difference - on most clothing, there is no duty, they just want to collect the GST. Keep the receipts though, if you don't have them, they might estimate the costs. That leather coat from Burlington Coat Factory that was a steal for $99 might get estimated by a Canadian Customs officer at $500 if you can"t prove the price.

Answer 3

There are limits on the amount you can bring back into Canada.  As long as you can prove that what you purchased is under the limit, no problem.  You will need to check with Canadian authorities on what you are allowed to bring in depending upon how long you are away.

Answer 4

Keep in mind that all the loopholes described are actually illegal and it does not cost that much to pay the fees.  You are supposed to pay duty, even if you are wearing the clothes.  Enjoy the shopping.

Answer 5

Well there are a couple of ways if you are a bit deviant! Wear really old clothes that you won't mind throwing away and wear new stuff back, make sure you toss the receipts though, and of course you can send "gifts" to yourself from Seattle it will cost you for postage but it won't be that much just have a return address from a hotel, or if you happen to know a friend from there. If you have no receipts or tags on the clothes, they cannot prove that it was bought in the U.S then you should be alright, just don't get greedy and be pleasant and honest about the goods that you are claiming at the border, I know for a one day visit the allowable duty free is $50, which isn't much. But yeah there are ways around it, and if you want to bring back more then it might be worth it to stay a couple nights in hotel and after 3 days you are allowed $400. Good luck happy cross border shopping!