Duty from U.S. back to Canada.. how much can I spend?

Question

I live in Canada but want to travel into the U.S. for shopping...just for one day.

I think the limit is $200 for the day but I know I will spend more than that.

I would probably spend $500 to $800 considering we're a family of four.

How much duty would I have to pay on that? Is there a website/chart to go by?

Answer 1

Not sure what you mean by how much can you spend? You can spend as much as you would like to, BUT:

If you are there for less then the 24 hrs you have no personal exemption so anything you buy is subject to duty/taxes. You will pay the GST as well as PST (if you live in a province that they have the agreement to collect PST.)

I have not been able to find a website or chart that explains it fully, CBSA has the info on their website but it is just generic it does not really go into anything specific.

Your duty rate is dependent upon certain things, where the item was made, what the item is etc. One person answered a few days ago that when he went down for the day and brought back approx $200 they paid around $75 in duty.

If the items you purchase are under the NAFTA agreement(made in Canada or the US)  then you will not pay duty on them, just the tax..... even if you are there for same day shopping.

Edit: here is a news excerpt from CBC that has some useful info like NAFTA within it! http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/consum...

Answer 2

It is not so much duty as GST and PST if you go over your one day limit, for a 48 hour visit it still id $300-400 and there are some restrictions on alcohol, beer and tobacco imports still.

Answer 3

See site below for the customs allowances.